14:20 Thurles

Thursday 4 November 2021

All12:1012:4513:2013:5014:2014:5515:30

Ballagh Mares Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:21 | Winning time: 4m 55.70s

De Lady In Red³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: D J McInerney| T: B Connell| OR: 119| D

4/1

Bumper winner who showed improved form to open her account over hurdles in 14-runner maiden at Roscommon (20f, good) 38 days ago, always holding on. Mark looks fair and expected to go well.

Form: 52-11

Betty Zane²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: C J Orr| T: Ciaran Murphy| OR: 116

4/1

1 win from 3 runs this season. Creditable fourth of 9 in handicap hurdle (7/1) at Punchestown (16f, good to soft) 22 days ago. Up in trip. Has to be taken seriously.

Form: 952-164

Forgetthesurprise^t⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Miss A B O'Connor⁽⁵⁾| T: N Madden| OR: 116

28/1

2 wins from 3 runs this season. Thirteenth of 14 in handicap (11/1) at Dundalk (12f) 8 days ago. On an upward curve when last seen over hurdles so not taken lightly back in this sphere.

Form: 0/2P-711

Rebel Early⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: W J Burke| OR: 116| D

20/1

Third of 6 in maiden chase at Wexford (20f, good to soft, 14/1) on debut over fences 155 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles and not ruled out.

Form: 166-033

Trees Valley⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Derek McGrath⁽⁷⁾| T: W J Burke| OR: 111| D

66/1

Tongue strap on for 1st time, pulled up in maiden chase (25/1) at this course (20.6f, good) 14 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles.

Form: 3U603P

Aprils Joy^t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: C D Maxwell| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 110| D

11/1

1 win from 2 runs this season. 6/1, creditable second of 22 in handicap at Navan (14f, soft) 15 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Can make presence felt if in the mood.

Form: 13BP-10

Ya Ya Baby¹¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 109

25/1

Winner of juvenile hurdle at Cork in April but disappointing since. Up in trip.

Form: U210-5P

Loudest Whisper^v1¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Jordan Gainford⁽³⁾| T: E D Delany| OR: 104

12/1

Respectable sixth of 22 in handicap at Navan (14f, soft, 22/1) 15 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Visor on 1st time. Bit below form on last hurdle run.

Form: 1835U7

Misty Millie^t³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Donnelly| OR: 104

14/1

Fifteen runs since last win in 2019. Fifteenth of 16 in handicap (9/1) at Bellewstown (12f, good to soft) 35 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Good on last hurdle run and one to consider.

Form: 550742

Nell's Well²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Mark McDonagh⁽⁷⁾| T: S O O'Brien| OR: 102| D

9/4

Resumed progress to get off the mark in 10-runner maiden hurdle at Tramore (20.3f, good) 21 days ago, always holding on. Should remain competitive back in handicap company.

Form: 442P6-1

Game And Glory³²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: A W Short| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 97

33/1

17/2, fifth of 8 in handicap hurdle at Killarney (22.8f, soft) 32 days ago.

Form: 3-63445

Something Sweet¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Phillip Enright| T: R J McGrath| OR: 97| CD

6/1

C&D winner. Twenty three runs since last win in 2019, but posted creditable fourth of 16 in 23f handicap hurdle at this course (good, 8/1) 14 days ago.

Form: 466634

Gold Creek^p¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: Gavin Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: Aengus King| OR: 93

25/1

Remains a maiden after 24 NH runs, and below form back in this sphere when tenth of 16 in handicap hurdle (28/1) at this course (23f, good) 14 days ago.

Form: PF3650

Sani Pass¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: Simon Torrens| T: R Hackett| OR: 93

80/1

66/1, fared no better on first run since leaving Henry De Bromhead when seventh of 8 in novice chase at this course (20.6f, good) 14 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles.

Form: 552967

Non-Runners

Different Beat²

Weight: 9-12| Age: 6

T: G P Cromwell J: Reserve 1

Forecasts

Nell's Well (9/4), Betty Zane (4/1), De Lady In Red (4/1), Something Sweet (6/1), Aprils Joy (11/1), Loudest Whisper (12/1), Misty Millie (14/1), Different Beat (16/1), Rebel Early (20/1), Gold Creek (25/1), Ya Ya Baby (25/1), Forgetthesurprise (28/1), Game And Glory (33/1), Trees Valley (66/1), Sani Pass (80/1)

An opening-looking handicap with the vote going to BETTY ZANE, who promises to be suited by this step up in trip after shaping as if in need of a stiffer test when fourth on her handicap debut at Punchestown last month. De Lady In Red's opening mark looks a fair one judged on her Roscommon win and she remains unexposed, with Misty Millie another to consider back hurdling.