14:35 Gowran Park

Thursday 27 January 2022

All13:0013:3514:0514:3515:0515:3516:07

Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle (80-123)

Off time: 14:35 | Winning time: 5m 27.3s

Mythical Hero³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: T N Brett⁽⁴⁾| T: Ms M Mullins| OR: 120

14/1

Showed only a bit in bumpers but made a winning debut over hurdles in 22-runner maiden at Cork (2m) in November. Still in need of the experience next time and may well improve moving into handicaps.

Form: 30-15

Rebel Early^p¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Derek McGrath⁽⁴⁾| T: W J Burke| OR: 120| CD

14/1

C&D winner. Career best when winning 10-runner handicap hurdle at Cork (20f, heavy, 11/1) 19 days ago, keeping on well. May prove vulnerable from this 7 lb higher mark.

Form: 033901

Instant Return^p1²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Shane O'Callaghan⁽⁴⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 119

40/1

Again ran poorly when fourteenth of 15 in handicap hurdle (25/1) at Punchestown (19.1f, heavy) 27 days ago. Cheekpieces on for 1st time but has plenty to prove.

Form: 2112/00

Robbin'hannon²⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: A McCurtin| T: M A Gunn| OR: 118

80/1

80/1, shaped as if needing the run after 34 months off when eleventh of 15 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (19.1f, heavy) 27 days ago.

Form: 04205/0

Rebel Ivy³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: S Fitzgerald⁽²⁾| T: J Motherway| OR: 117| D

5/1

17/2, career best when impressively winning 16-runner handicap hurdle at Limerick (20f, heavy) 32 days ago, leading on bridle before 2 out. 10 lb hike for that but enters calculations.

Form: 94-2531

Teescomponentsyess^t³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Shane Fenelon⁽⁴⁾| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 116| D

16/1

14/1, proved a different proposition reverted to hurdling when winning 16-runner handicap hurdle at Limerick (20f, heavy) 31 days ago, having run of race. Up 7 lb and should remain competitive.

Form: 1-4P0P1

Swelltime¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Mike O'Connor⁽²⁾| T: W J O'Doherty| OR: 115| C

33/1

Course winner. 18/1, first run since leaving Joseph G. Murphy when below form 34¼ lengths sixth of 10 to Rebel Early in handicap hurdle at Cork (20f, heavy) 19 days ago.

Form: 2086-46

Poker Party^t³¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: H Morgan| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 114| D

16/1

40/1 and tongue strap on for 1st time, shaped as if needing the run after 22 months off when thirteenth of 28 in handicap chase at Leopardstown (24.2f, soft) 31 days ago. Back over hurdles.

Form: 3U143/0

Someday^p³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Philip Donovan⁽²⁾| T: Yvonne Latta| OR: 111

20/1

Cheekpieces on for 1st time, shaped as if better for the run when eleventh of 28 in handicap hurdle at Leopardstown (20f, soft, 33/1) 30 days ago, fading from home turn.

Form: U3590-0

Fierami^t³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Jordan Gainford| T: G Elliott| OR: 110

14/1

9/1, possibly failed to stay when seventh of 18 in handicap hurdle at Limerick (24f, heavy) 30 days ago, every chance early in straight.

Form: 5142-07

Auckland^v²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: R Deegan| T: A Mullins| OR: 109

5/1

20/1, good second of 11 in minor event hurdle at Limerick (16f, heavy) 29 days ago, every chance when stumbling after 2 out. Back up in trip. Shortlist material.

Form: 732U72

Bite That²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: J B Foley| T: P J Flynn| OR: 107

33/1

Lightly-raced maiden under NH rules. 11/1, possibly unsuited by conditions when pulled up before 4 out in novice hurdle at Tramore (21.4f, heavy) 26 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 0-P23P

The Gradual Slope¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: M M McDonagh⁽⁴⁾| T: S O O'Brien| OR: 106

7/2

17/2, bit below form fifth of 20 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (20.6f, heavy) 10 days ago. May need further still, so others more persuasive.

Form: 366045

Hostage To Fortune^p1⁴¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: E Walsh| T: B Connell| OR: 102| BF| CD

9/1

Fairly useful winner at 20f in chases. Best effort when third of 14 in handicap hurdle (7/5) at Fairyhouse (23.5f, heavy). Off 13 months. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Player if ready to roll.

Form: 64/3213-

The Truant¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: J P O'Sullivan| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 102

25/1

Probably remained in form when seventh of 15 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (16f, heavy, 9/2) 10 days ago. Not taken lightly upped in distance.

Form: 635527

Kells Priory⁹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: Richard Condon⁽⁴⁾| T: Louise G Lyons| OR: 95

33/1

Pulled up before 2 out on handicap hurdle debut at Down Royal (24.1f, soft, 20/1) 90 days ago. Tough to fancy on that evidence.

Form: 40576P

Think Positive^p³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: P J O'Hanlon⁽⁴⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 95

80/1

One win from 23 NH runs. Eighteen runs since last win in 2019. 50/1, tailed-off fifteenth of 16 to Teescomponentsyess in handicap hurdle at Limerick (20f, heavy) 31 days ago.

Form: 830700

Robindevidastar^t¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-13| J: N J Ryan⁽⁴⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 91

7/1

Winner in hurdle at Punchestown in November. 9/1, creditable fourth of 20 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (20.6f, heavy) 10 days ago. Tongue strap back on. Each-way claims.

Form: 46-1P64

Forecasts

The Gradual Slope (7/2), Rebel Ivy (5/1), Auckland (5/1), Robindevidastar (7/1), Hostage To Fortune (9/1), Rebel Early (14/1), Mythical Hero (14/1), Fierami (14/1), Teescomponentsyess (16/1), Poker Party (16/1), Someday (20/1), The Truant (25/1), Kells Priory (33/1), Swelltime (33/1), Bite That (33/1), Instant Return (40/1), Think Positive (80/1), Robbin'hannon (80/1)

Cases can be made for several but AUCKLAND put up his best performance yet in this sphere when runner-up at Limerick last month. Back up in trip here, Anthony Mullins' charge can open his account over timber. Rebel Ivy registered an impressive first success last time so she must enter calculations despite being hiked up 10 lb, along with Mythical Hero and Hostage To Fortune.