14:05 Thurles

Sunday 23 January 2022

All13:0013:3014:0514:4015:1515:4516:15

Horse & Jockey Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 4m 1.20s

Goulane Chosen¹⁷⁷

Age: 13| Weight: 11-12| J: D F O'Regan| T: S Spillane| OR: 130| C

22/1

Course winner. 2 wins from 5 runs this season. Latest win in hurdle at Sligo in July. Creditable fourth of 17 in handicap hurdle at Galway (16.7f) in July. Yet to win from mark this high over timber.

Form: 1-U1314

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Pearl Of The West^t²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Shane Fitzgerald⁽⁵⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 130| D

22/1

Eighth of 18 in handicap hurdle at Leopardstown (16f, soft, 80/1) 27 days ago, chasing leaders until home turn before fading. Rider takes off a handy 5 lb now.

Form: 01P40/8

Aarons Day^t²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: B Browne| T: O McKiernan| OR: 127| D

9/1

Quirky sort. 13/2, respectable fourth of 15 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (19.1f, heavy) 23 days ago, running on late.

Form: 1/2867-4

Whatsnotoknow^t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: M F Morris| OR: 125| CD

7/2

Course winner, in process of running creditably when unseating after 2 out at Leopardstown (3m) 26 days ago. One to bear in mind with booking of Blackmore catching the eye.

Form: 04235U

Light Brigade⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: J B Foley⁽⁵⁾| T: C Byrnes| OR: 124| D

9/2

14/1, bit below form eleventh of 18 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (2m) 56 days ago, making no impression. Worth noting when market speaks in his favour.

Form: 4112-40

Andratx^t³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: H Morgan⁽³⁾| T: M M McNiff| OR: 122

80/1

Blinkers on for 1st time in this code, ninth of 13 in handicap hurdle (25/1) at this course (16f, good to soft) 35 days ago. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 6/72-F29

Sullane Hill^p,t1¹²³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: A McCurtin⁽³⁾| T: P C O'Connor| OR: 121| CD

80/1

Course winner. 40/1, thirteenth of 17 in handicap hurdle at Listowel (24f, good to soft) 123 days ago. Significantly back down in trip. Tongue strap on 1st time. Others more persuasive.

Form: 1584-40

Charlie Stout^t⁵⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-1| J: Brian Hayes| T: S Nolan| OR: 119| CD

50/1

Course winner. Pulled up in handicap chase at Navan (20f, good to soft, 28/1) 50 days ago, tailed off when pulled up early in straight. Switches from chase to hurdles. Down in trip.

Form: C13/7-9P

The Greek^t²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 119| D

4/1

Career best when winning 26-runner handicap hurdle (14/1) at Leopardstown (16f, soft) 28 days ago, all out. Should remain competitive.

Form: 324F41

For Everyone²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Ian Power| T: M M McNiff| OR: 118| D

33/1

Lightly-raced winner over hurdles. Sixteenth of 18 in handicap hurdle (40/1) at Leopardstown (16f, soft) 27 days ago, unable to sustain effort.

Form: 911/60

Dreamsrmadeofthis⁷⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Mark Walsh| T: E Bolger| OR: 112| D

15/2

Lightly-raced winner over hurdles. Hooded for 1st time, eighth of 11 in handicap hurdle at Cork (16f, soft, 16/1) 70 days ago. Needs to step up markedly on that to figure but it remains early days.

Form: 18-98

Francois²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Richard Condon⁽⁷⁾| T: Mary Ellen Doyle| OR: 112

11/1

Fairly useful Flat winner. 22/1, ninth of 16 in handicap hurdle at Limerick (20f, heavy) 27 days ago. Down in trip. now but he's not the easiest to assess.

Form: 1/99

Gaius⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: J M Moore| T: N C Kelly| OR: 111

50/1

First run since leaving M. Mescam when fifth of 9 in claimer at Dundalk (12f, 40/1) on IRE debut 46 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Has good chance on pick of form.

Form: 7P63-47

Union Park^t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: N J Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 102

10/1

16/1, creditable fourth of 13 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (2m) 22 days ago. Each-way claims.

Form: 806474

Western Sea³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 9-12| J: Shane O'Callaghan⁽⁷⁾| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 102| CD

7/1

Career best when winning 8-runner handicap chase (4/1) at this course (18f, good to soft) 35 days ago. Looks a live player from lower hurdles mark.

Form: 353531

Non-Runners

Cafe Con Leche²³

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: M J Smith J: Liam McKenna

Cregane Ned²⁷

Weight: 10-6| Age: 8

T: P O'Flynn J: Darragh O'Keeffe

Forecasts

Whatsnotoknow (7/2), The Greek (4/1), Light Brigade (9/2), Western Sea (7/1), Dreamsrmadeofthis (15/2), Cregane Ned (15/2), Aarons Day (9/1), Union Park (10/1), Francois (11/1), Cafe Con Leche (20/1), Goulane Chosen (22/1), Pearl Of The West (22/1), For Everyone (33/1), Charlie Stout (50/1), Gaius (50/1), Andratx (80/1), Sullane Hill (80/1)

WESTERN SEA gained reward for his recent consistency when ending a long losing run over fences 5 weeks ago here, rallying well to regain the lead close home. Operating from a lower hurdles mark, he could well follow up. The Greek and Whatsnotoknow head up the dangers, whilst Gaius needs monitoring back over hurdles.