14:05 Listowel

Friday 22 September 2023

All13:3514:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:35

Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle (Listed)

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 3m 54.9s

Fils D'oudairies⁷⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny Gilligan⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 149| D

16/1

2 wins from 3 runs this season. 18/1, career best when winning 13-runner Grimes Hurdle at Tipperary (16f, good) 78 days ago by 2¾ lengths from Sharjah, kept up to work. A very smart effort will be needed under clear top weight.

Form: 145-F11

Filey Bay^t¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Simon Torrens| T: E Mullins| OR: 142| D

14/1

Another very good advert for his shrewd yard, placing in Betfair and County hurdles in the spring and shaping well from too far back when fifth in a big field at Galway in August. Also won over 2m on the Flat later in August and latest effort over 7.5f can be ignored. Big player back hurdling.

Form: 3/1123-5

Icare Allen^t⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 140| BF| D

7/1

Creditable third of 16 in handicap hurdle at Galway (22.6f, soft, 4/1) 48 days ago, faring best of those ridden prominently. Back down in trip. Can make presence felt.

Form: 300-843

Magic Tricks⁷⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: J S McGarvey| T: G Elliott| OR: 139| D

28/1

66/1, 15 lengths ninth of 13 to Fils D'oudairies in Grimes Hurdle at Tipperary (16f, good) 78 days ago.

Form: 07232/9

Shecouldbeanything²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 139| D

5/1

2 wins from 3 runs this season. Career best when winning 10-runner handicap hurdle (2/1) at Killarney (17f, soft) 28 days ago, comfortably. Much respected under Kennedy.

Form: 261-151

Cash Back⁴⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-1| J: K Callaghan⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 138| BF| D

25/1

Bit below form second of 6 in minor event hurdle (10/11) at Cork (18.7f, good to soft) 46 days ago. Only a return to his very best will suffice.

Form: 20-2302

Glan⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Jordan Gainford| T: G Elliott| OR: 135| BF| CD

25/1

C&D winner. 1 win from 3 runs this season. Pulled up in handicap hurdle at Galway (16f, good to soft, 4/1) 50 days ago, behind when pulled up before 2 out.

Form: 4P0-51P

Horantzau D'airy^t⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 130| D

13/2

1 win from 2 runs this season. 4/1, below form fourth of 8 in novice hurdle at Galway (20.7f, good to soft) 50 days ago, not ideally placed. Back down in trip.

Form: 2234-14

Thecompanysergeant²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: D King⁽⁵⁾| T: A B Joyce| OR: 130| CD

6/1

Career best when winning 7-runner novice hurdle at Kilbeggan (19f, good to soft, 2/1) 28 days ago. Pulled up in his previous handicap at Galway but his mark is workable on his novice form.

Form: 3212-P1

Aime Desjy⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 129| D

14/1

2/9, didn't need to be at best when winning 14-runner novice hurdle at Kilbeggan (16f, good to soft) 41 days ago, going clear. Makes handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 4/134-1

Ifiwerearichman^h⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: P Nolan| OR: 129| D

16/1

1 win from 3 runs this season. Career best when winning 20-runner handicap hurdle (28/1) at Galway (16f, good) 49 days ago by ½ length from Volantis, always holding on. More on his plate off 7 lb higher now.

Form: 246-441

Volantis⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: M J M O'Sullivan| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 126| D

6/1

Winner in hurdle at Fairyhouse in February. Good ½-length second of 20 to Ifiwerearichman in handicap hurdle (28/1) at Galway (16f, good) 49 days ago. Likely capable of even better and high on the shortlist.

Form: 2441-22

Man O Work³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Cian Cullinan⁽⁷⁾| T: P G Fahey| OR: 125| D

11/1

Excellent 3 lengths second of 13 to Filey Bay in maiden (14/1) at Tramore (16f, good) 36 days ago, no match for winner. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Looks competitive on form.

Form: 24FP7-7

The Big Chap^t⁷⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: P W Flynn| OR: 123

20/1

9/2, career best when winning 10-runner handicap hurdle at Sligo (16.9f, good) 75 days ago, kept up to work.

Form: 221-3P1

Wouldn't You Agree^b²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: M M McDonagh⁽⁵⁾| T: E Griffin| OR: 121| CD

80/1

C&D winner. Latest win in hurdle at Bellewstown in July. 20/1, 37¾ lengths last of 10 to Shecouldbeanything in handicap hurdle at Killarney (17f, soft) 28 days ago.

Form: 75-7010

Captains Nephew^t¹⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Cian Quirke⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 118| D

25/1

Winner in hurdle at Clonmel in February. Creditable sixth of 18 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (16.4f, good to soft, 16/1) 150 days ago. Something to find on form.

Form: 357166-

My Gaffer¹¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: J P Ryan| OR: 118| CD

16/1

8/11, didn't need to be at best when winning 18-runner novice hurdle at Limerick (16.4f, good to soft) 119 days ago, pushed out. Unexposed but this a tough ask on handicap debut.

Form: 21435-1

Non-Runners

Effernock Fizz²

Weight: 10-5| Age: 8

T: C Collins J: Carl Millar

Presenting Lad²³

Weight: 10-0| Age: 7

T: M M McNiff J: Reserve 1

Forecasts

Shecouldbeanything (5/1), Thecompanysergeant (6/1), Volantis (6/1), Horantzau D'airy (13/2), Icare Allen (7/1), Man O Work (11/1), Filey Bay (14/1), Aime Desjy (14/1), My Gaffer (16/1), Fils D'oudairies (16/1), Ifiwerearichman (16/1), The Big Chap (20/1), Cash Back (25/1), Captains Nephew (25/1), Glan (25/1), Effernock Fizz (25/1), Magic Tricks (28/1), Presenting Lad (50/1), Wouldn't You Agree (80/1)

It's surely only a matter of time before FILEY BAY lands a valuable handicap hurdle and perhaps this will be the day. Ross O'Sullivan's Volantis is another who likely has his name on a nice prize before long after shaping well in a couple of handicaps this summer and he's second choice ahead of Icare Allen, who looks the pick of the Willie Mullins quartet, and Shecouldbeanything.