12:00 Leopardstown

Sunday 26 December 2021

All12:0012:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:30

Leopardstown Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 12:00 | Winning time: 4m 1.6s

Bright Idea²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: P E Corbett| T: P Nolan

150/1

Fairly useful Flat winner. Once-raced maiden over hurdles. 50/1, twelfth of 18 in novice hurdle at Cork (16f, soft) on NH debut 21 days ago.

Form: 0

Dartington¹⁰⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott

25/1

Fairly useful Flat winner for Marcus Tregoning. Well worth a check in market on jumps debut for new yard.

Form:

Figurehead^t⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: H P Cleary⁽⁷⁾| T: Michael G Cleary| OR: 112

28/1

Fairly useful hurdler. Solid efforts in defeat last twice, latest when second of 20 in novice hurdle at Cork (16f, heavy) 56 days ago. Rejoined yard after leaving Patrick G.Kelly.

Form: 394322

Flaming Moon²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Keith Donoghue| T: M J Smith

14/1

Useful Flat winner who posted promising third of 18 in novice hurdle at Cork (16f, soft) on NH debut 21 days ago. Open to improvement.

Form: 3

Golden Sandbanks¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: B Browne| T: P W Flynn

250/1

Modest maiden on the Flat, making GB/IRE jumps debut. 50/1, eleventh of 13 in handicap at Dundalk (10.7f) 18 days ago.

Form:

Hercule Du Seuil^h1⁴³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins

9/2

Promising second on sole start in France 14 months ago. Since joined Willie Mullins and has to be of interest on yard debut. Wears hood.

Form: 2-

Hey Johnny⁷⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: J B Foley⁽⁵⁾| T: T Mullins| D

16/1

Dual winner in bumpers, latest when taking 4-runner event at Punchestown (16f, good to soft, 9/2) 74 days ago, always holding on. Must be respected on switch to hurdling.

Form: 6-14431

Hiaou⁵⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott

8/1

Promising individual. Third of 14 in novice hurdle (14/1) at Naas (19f, good to soft) on NH debut 50 days ago. Stable having good spell. Should have more to offer.

Form: 3

Homard De Chausey

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: J M Moore| T: P Nolan

150/1

Crillon gelding. Dam 11f winner on Flat in France.

Form:

Huckleberry Rock¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: K C Sexton| T: S Crawley

300/1

Twice-raced maiden. 150/1, tenth of 23 in novice hurdle at Naas (18.8f, soft) 10 days ago. Up against it.

Form: 00

Made For Minds⁶⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: L P Dempsey| T: R O'Sullivan

150/1

Fair Flat winner, making GB/IRE jumps debut. Twenty first of 22 in handicap (4/1) at Navan (14f, soft) 67 days ago.

Form:

Marvel De Cerisy²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: H Morgan⁽³⁾| T: H De Bromhead

18/1

Point winner who posted promising third of 13 in novice hurdle at Wexford (16.4f, heavy) on NH debut in October. Ran poorly since though and has bit to prove now.

Form: 1-3P

Money Heist⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr J Dunne⁽⁷⁾| T: G P Cromwell

125/1

Once-raced maiden. 50/1, eighteenth of 21 in novice hurdle at Navan (16f, good to soft) on NH debut 8 days ago.

Form: 32-0

Shining Aitch⁶⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: S Fitzgerald⁽⁵⁾| T: T G McCourt

125/1

Bagged third success on Flat at Wolverhampton in October but plenty on plate on hurdles debut for new connections here.

Form:

Sphagnum²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Dillon Maxwell⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Broderick

300/1

Urban Poet gelding. Dam unraced.

Form: 6P

State Man⁵⁸⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins

8/13

Promising second in big-field listed newcomers race at Auteuil (14.9f, soft) 19 months ago. Now with Willie Mullins and must be taken seriously with Paul Townend on board.

Form: 2-

Tallon^h,t²³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: C D Timmons⁽³⁾| T: J Magnier

200/1

Once-raced maiden. Hooded tongue strap on, sixth of 13 in bumper at Down Royal (16.4f, soft, 25/1) on NH debut. Off 7 months. Makes hurdles debut.

Form: 6

Teed Up⁸³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Brian Hayes| T: E Mullins

50/1

Fairly useful Flat winner but has been below par both starts this year and has plenty to prove on jumps/yard debut.

Form:

Watch House Cross²³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Sean Flanagan| T: H De Bromhead

12/1

€30,000 3-y-o, Libertarian gelding. Dam unraced sister to useful hurdler/fairly useful chaser (2m winner) Rindoon. Won point in May and market may prove best guide to claims on hurdles bow.

Form: 21-

Whatsavailable⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Simon Torrens| T: M F Morris

40/1

Promising type who found improvement when sixth of 21 in novice hurdle at Punchestown (19.6f, good to soft, 5/1) 43 days ago. Should be more to come.

Form: 6-36

Music Of Tara^t1⁹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: D Robinson| T: H De Bromhead

22/1

£130,000 3-y-o, Kayf Tara filly. Won sole start in points in September and is another interesting newcomer to watch in the market. Wears tongue strap.

Form: 1

Non-Runners

Jazzelle⁶⁰

Weight: 11-2| Age: 4

T: G P Cromwell J: J G Gilligan

Forecasts

State Man (8/13), Hercule Du Seuil (9/2), Hiaou (8/1), Watch House Cross (12/1), Flaming Moon (14/1), Hey Johnny (16/1), Marvel De Cerisy (18/1), Music Of Tara (22/1), Dartington (25/1), Figurehead (28/1), Whatsavailable (40/1), Teed Up (50/1), Jazzelle (100/1), Money Heist (125/1), Shining Aitch (125/1), Bright Idea (150/1), Made For Minds (150/1), Homard De Chausey (150/1), Tallon (200/1), Golden Sandbanks (250/1), Sphagnum (300/1), Huckleberry Rock (300/1)

STATE MAN looks to be Willie Mullins first string and gets the nod in what should prove an informative contest. Hiaou and Hercule du Seuil are open to plenty of improvement and are feared most.