18:15 Tipperary

Thursday 6 July 2023

All17:1017:4018:1518:5019:2520:0020:30

Kevin McManus Bookmaker Grimes Hurdle (Grade 3)

Off time: 18:15 | Winning time: 3m 46.40s

Icare Allen^t¹¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 140| D

11/1

Smart hurdler. Below form seventeenth of 26 in handicap hurdle at Cheltenham (21f, soft, 25/1) 113 days ago, unsuited by step up in trip. Back down in trip. Yard in good form so could bounce back.

Form: 143/300-

Da Capo Glory²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Mike O'Connor| T: Padraig Butler| OR: 137| D

25/1

Useful hurdler. Evens, landed 5-runner minor event hurdle at Punchestown (19.8f, good) 26 days ago. In the mix.

Form: 13/402-1

Fils D'oudairies³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 145

18/1

Smart hurdler. 11/8, won 5-runner minor event hurdle at Ballinrobe (18.3f, good) 38 days ago by neck from Cash Back. In the picture.

Form: 0145-F1

A Wave Of The Sea⁸²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Shane Fitzgerald| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 138| D

125/1

Useful chaser. Bit below form ninth of 39 in handicap chase (66/1) at Aintree (34.3f, good) 82 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles. Significantly back down in trip. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 4P03P9-

Cash Back^h³⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-1| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 142| BF| D

14/1

Smart chaser. Creditable neck second of 5 to Fils D'oudairies in minor event hurdle (5/4) at Ballinrobe (18.3f, good) 38 days ago. Stable in good form. Considered.

Form: 02320-2

Jeff Kidder²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: N Meade| OR: 143| D

33/1

Fairly useful hurdler. 4/1, held in third when unseated rider last in minor event hurdle at Punchestown (19.8f, good) 26 days ago won by Da Capo Glory. Plenty to find on form here though.

Form: 1113/7-U

Magic Tricks⁵¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: J S McGarvey| T: G Elliott| OR: 140| D

66/1

Smart hurdler. Good second of 27 in handicap hurdle at Leopardstown (16f, soft, 9/1). Off 17 months so needs to hit the ground running.

Form: 007232/

Sharjah^t⁶⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 155| D

4/6

Very smart hurdler. 14/1, 14 lengths fourth of 6 to State Man in Punchestown Champion Hurdle at Punchestown (16f, good to soft) 69 days ago. Stable in good form. Very much the one to beat.

Form: 232424-

Sole Pretender^h³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: J J Slevin| T: N Lee| OR: 150| CD

7/1

Smart hurdler. C&D winner. Nine wins from 23 NH runs. Good second of 15 in handicap chase at Ballinrobe (23f, good, 7/2) 38 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles. Took this event in 2021 so he's a player.

Form: 33333-2

Visionarian⁸⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Sean Flanagan| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 134| D

12/1

Smart chaser. Two wins from 6 runs last season. 6¼ lengths third of 5 to Banbridge in Manifesto Novices' Chase at Aintree (19.9f, good, 14/1) 84 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles and not discounted.

Form: 112263-

Tekao^h⁷²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: Simon Torrens| T: W P Mullins| OR: 133| BF| D

15/2

Lightly-raced winner over hurdles. Creditable third of 18 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (16.4f, good to soft, 9/2) 72 days ago, running on. Stable having good spell. Shortlisted.

Form: 31303-

Effernock Fizz^p,t¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: C Collins| OR: 132| CD

33/1

Useful chaser. C&D winner. Three wins from 15 runs last season. Third of 4 in minor event chase (10/3) at Wexford (19.8f, good to soft) 16 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles. Possibilities.

Form: 62-2433

Enfranchise¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Brian Hayes| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 118

200/1

Thrice-raced maiden over hurdles. Useful winner at 12f on flat. 16/1, won 9-runner handicap at Down Royal (10.3f, good) 12 days ago, just holding on. Switches from Flat to hurdles and needs considering.

Form: 0-54

Non-Runners

Shanroe¹³

Weight: 11-1| Age: 9

T: K Thornton J: Donagh Meyler

Forecasts

Sharjah (4/6), Sole Pretender (7/1), Tekao (15/2), Icare Allen (11/1), Visionarian (12/1), Cash Back (14/1), Fils D'oudairies (18/1), Da Capo Glory (25/1), Shanroe (25/1), Jeff Kidder (33/1), Effernock Fizz (33/1), Magic Tricks (66/1), A Wave Of The Sea (125/1), Enfranchise (200/1)

Willie Mullins's very smart SHARJAH is favoured by these weights so is very hard to oppose despite a rare below-par effort when fourth in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle last time. 2021 victor Sole Pretender appeals most of the rest with Ballinrobe runner-up Cash Back and C&D winner Shanroe set to fight it out for minor honours.