13:10 Leopardstown

Tuesday 26 December 2023

All12:0012:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:30

Mercedes-Benz South Dublin Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2)

Off time: 13:12 | Winning time: 4m 4.50s

Nurburgring^t²³

Age: 3| Weight: 11-2| J: R Deegan| T: J P O'Brien| D

11/2

Thrice-raced winner over hurdles. 2 wins from 3 runs this season. 17/2, won 10-runner Winter Festival Juvenile Hurdle at Fairyhouse (16f, soft) 23 days ago by ½ length from Kala Conti.

Form: 1D1

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Batman Girac^h,t1²³

Age: 3| Weight: 10-13| J: M J M O'Sullivan| T: W P Mullins| BF| D

33/1

Fair hurdler. First run since leaving E. Grall when well-beaten seventh of 10 to Nurburgring in Winter Festival Juvenile Hurdle at Fairyhouse (16f, soft, 7/4) on IRE NH debut 23 days ago.

Form: 61-7

Cossack Chach^t1⁴⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 10-13| J: Conor Stone-Walsh| T: J P O'Brien

18/1

Twice-raced winner over hurdles. 1 win from 2 runs this season. 4/1, second of 7 in juvenile hurdle at Down Royal (16.9f, soft) 45 days ago. Tongue strap on 1st time. Open to progress.

Form: 12

Eagle Fang^p1²³

Age: 3| Weight: 10-13| J: Simon Torrens| T: W Durkan

66/1

Fair maiden on the Flat. Thrice-raced maiden. 18½ lengths third of 10 to Nurburgring in Winter Festival Juvenile Hurdle (16/1) at Fairyhouse (16f, soft) 23 days ago. Cheekpieces on for 1st time.

Form: 223

Kaleosun^p1²³

Age: 3| Weight: 10-13| J: Mark Walsh| T: G Elliott| D

80/1

Fairly useful hurdler. 16/1, well-beaten fifth of 10 to Nurburgring in Winter Festival Juvenile Hurdle at Fairyhouse (16f, soft) 23 days ago. Cheekpieces on for 1st time. Very hard to make a case for.

Form: 21-415

Karafon¹⁰⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 10-13| J: D A Jacob| T: W P Mullins

18/1

Fair maiden on the Flat. Fairly useful form when third in Auteuil listed race on hurdle debut. First run for yard after leaving Y. Fouin. May well do better for leading new stable.

Form: 3

Mighty Bandit³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 10-13| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott

13/8

Promising sort. 3/1, decisive winner of 12-runner juvenile hurdle at Punchestown (16.7f, soft) on NH debut 31 days ago, staying on well. Smart prospect.

Form: 1

Ose Partir^h,t²³

Age: 3| Weight: 10-13| J: J J Slevin| T: M Brassil

80/1

Fairly useful Flat winner. Twice-raced maiden. Tailed-off ninth of 10

Form: 29

Kargese^h1²²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 10-9| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins

4/1

Useful form. 33/10 and hooded for 1st time, won 8-runner Group 3 Prix Sagan at Auteuil (17.4f, soft) by 2 lengths from Terra Bella. First run for yard after leaving D. Sourdeau De Beauregard. Could have a big say.

Form: 12-1

Kala Conti²³

Age: 3| Weight: 10-6| J: Danny Gilligan| T: G Elliott| D

7/2

Useful hurdler. ½-length second of 10 to Nurburgring in Winter Festival Juvenile Hurdle at Fairyhouse (16f, soft, 11/4) 23 days ago, clear of rest. Has good chance on form but Kennedy on Mighty Bandit.

Form: 112

Karia Des Blaises²⁵⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 10-6| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins

40/1

Won 12-runner minor event hurdle at Moulins (17.4f, good to soft, 24/1). Off 8 months. First run for yard after leaving Emmanuel Clayeux. One of a 4 new recruits in this for the Willie Mullins yard.

Form: 1-

Miss Manzor²³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 10-6| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: W P Mullins| D

18/1

Won 11-runner novice hurdle at Dieppe (15.9f, good to soft, 3/1). Off 7 months. First run for yard after leaving C. & Y. Lerner. Interesting runner for top new stable.

Form: 1

Forecasts

Mighty Bandit (13/8), Kala Conti (7/2), Kargese (4/1), Nurburgring (11/2), Karafon (18/1), Cossack Chach (18/1), Miss Manzor (18/1), Batman Girac (33/1), Karia Des Blaises (40/1), Eagle Fang (66/1), Ose Partir (80/1), Kaleosun (80/1)

It's interesting that Jack Kennedy seemingly prefers MIGHTY BANDIT to his more-established stablemate Kala Conti. That filly can turn around recent Fairyhouse form with Nurburgring on 7 lb better terms and provide the chief threat. It'll also be fascinating to see what the betting makes of the 5 Willie Mullins runners, 4 of whom are starting out for the stable after coming over from France, Kargese possibly best of them.