15:40 Thurles

Thursday 23 November 2023

All12:1012:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:40

Start Christmas Here December 17th (Q.R.) Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 4m 9.3s

Anycity^t⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr I Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: J Larkin

250/1

Once-raced maiden over hurdles. Nineteenth of 20 in handicap (66/1) at Navan (10f, soft) 50 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Tongue strap on for 1st time in this code. Hard to fancy.

Form: 5/

Diamboy Des Carres^h¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr R James⁽⁷⁾| T: S Doyle| D

11/8

Promising individual. Excellent second of 15 in novice hurdle at Gowran (16f, heavy, 11/2) 12 days ago. Should progress and very much one to note in a race that lacks depth.

Form: P2/41-32

Lorca⁴³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr H Hunt⁽⁷⁾| T: E J O'Grady

125/1

Twice-raced maiden over hurdles. 80/1, thirteenth of 14 in handicap at Dundalk (12f). Off 14 months. Switches from Flat to hurdles. 5/14 on last hurdle outing.

Form: 8/5-

Wandering Rocks^t¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr J Dunne⁽⁷⁾| T: W Durkan

28/1

Fairly useful Flat winner. Twice-raced maiden over hurdles. Fairly useful winner at 10f on flat. Eighth of 18 in novice hurdle (10/1) at Cork (16f, soft) 18 days ago.

Form: 38

Westport Cove^h1²⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| D

10/11

Winner in bumper at Fairyhouse in January. Tailed off in Champion Bumper 8 months ago but faces much more realistic assignment on hurdling debut. The one to beat.

Form: 10-

Ankud^p1²¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr H C Swan⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott

13/2

Thrice-raced maiden. 10/1, fourteenth of 22 in bumper at Punchestown (16.4f, good to soft). Off 7 months. Makes hurdles debut. Cheekpieces on for 1st time.

Form: 230-

Burru^h¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr J C Barry⁽³⁾| T: Bernard Crowley

14/1

Twice-raced maiden. Seventh of 22 in novice hurdle (100/1) at Naas (16f, soft) 11 days ago.

Form: F5-3337

Givehimthehonour¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr B Finn⁽⁷⁾| T: P Nolan

50/1

Lightly-raced maiden under NH rules. 200/1, sixth of 15 in novice hurdle at Gowran (16f, heavy) 12 days ago.

Form: 1/38-86

Knocknaconnery^t1¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr J O'Grady⁽⁷⁾| T: S Curling

250/1

Thrice-raced maiden under NH rules. 300/1, tenth of 17 in novice hurdle at Clonmel (19.4f, heavy) 14 days ago. Tongue strap on for 1st time.

Form: 7-70

Port Nelson²²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: A J Martin| D

33/1

Twice-raced maiden. Fifth of 12 in novice hurdle (50/1) at Ballinrobe (17.4f, soft). Off 7 months. Needs to do more

Form: 105-

Youmli¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Miss P Elvin⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell

250/1

Thrice-raced maiden. Fifteenth of 18 in novice hurdle at Cork (16f, soft, 250/1) 18 days ago.

Form: 000

Symbas Spirit²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: Mr J C Canavan⁽⁷⁾| T: S Curling

150/1

Once-raced maiden. 80/1 and hooded, twelfth of 15 in novice hurdle at this course (16.1f, soft) on NH debut 21 days ago. Others make more appeal.

Form: 0

The Dooner Citizen⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr Alan O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: E M O'Sullivan

125/1

Once-raced maiden. Eighth of 18 in novice hurdle at Listowel (20f, soft, 125/1) on NH debut 62 days ago. RESERVE.

Form: 8

Non-Runners

Frontispiece³²

Weight: 11-12| Age: 9

T: E McNamara J: Mr D Doyle

Summer Melody³³

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: C Byrnes J: Mr R W Barron

Coulrophobia¹⁴

Weight: 11-4| Age: 4

T: N Stokes J: Ms J I Stokes

Evans Secret²⁷

Weight: 11-4| Age: 4

T: M M McNiff J: Reserve 1

An Peann Dearg⁶¹⁴

Weight: 11-4| Age: 6

T: P Nolan J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Westport Cove (10/11), Diamboy Des Carres (11/8), Summer Melody (7/2), Ankud (13/2), An Peann Dearg (13/2), Burru (14/1), Frontispiece (20/1), Wandering Rocks (28/1), Port Nelson (33/1), Evans Secret (33/1), Givehimthehonour (50/1), Coulrophobia (100/1), Lorca (125/1), The Dooner Citizen (125/1), Symbas Spirit (150/1), Knocknaconnery (250/1), Youmli (250/1), Anycity (250/1)

WESTPORT COVE looked a good prospect when winning his first outing in bumpers and his only subsequent run is easily excused, so he's the most appealing on hurdling debut after 8 months off. Diamboy Des Carres is the danger following a good second in a novice hurdle at Gowran and Summer Melody is likely to return to form back in calmer waters.