13:10 Leopardstown

Friday 29 December 2023

All12:0012:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:25

BeattheBank.ie Irish EBF Mares Hurdle (Grade 3)

Off time: 13:10 | Winning time: 5m 7.40s

Risk Belle²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 137

13/8

Useful hurdler. 7/4, career best when winning 6-runner Mullinan Hurdle at Fairyhouse (16f, soft) 27 days ago by 3½ lengths from Nusret, easily. Moving back up in trip shouldn't be an issue and she looks the pick of the Willie Mullins-trained quartet.

Form: 4F316-1

Space Tourist⁶⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins

18/1

Useful hurdler. 3 wins from 5 runs this season. 6/4, career best when winning 6-runner listed mares event at Limerick (22.7f, heavy) 69 days ago by 4¾ lengths from Riviere D'etel. This is more demanding.

Form: 3-11821

Double Pink^h⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: M J M O'Sullivan| T: D G Murphy| OR: 115| D

66/1

Fair hurdler. 1 win from 3 runs this season. Career best when winning 5-runner minor event hurdle at Wexford (20f, heavy, 12/1) 42 days ago. Much more on her plate in this more exalted company.

Form: C61-621

Hispanic Moon³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 137

6/1

Useful chaser. First run since leaving David Cottin when winning 6-runner listed mares event (20/1) at Punchestown (18.2f, soft) by 1¾ lengths from Saylavee, driven out. Meets that rival on 4 lb worse terms here, though. One of 3 representing the Henry De Bromhead stable.

Form: 18216-1

Jetara¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Kennedy| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 135| D

5/2

Useful hurdler. 2 wins from 3 runs this season. 2/1, career best when winning 6-runner listed hurdle at Punchestown (19.2f, heavy) 17 days ago by 6 lengths from A Penny A Hundred, going clear. Each-way chance.

Form: 20P-811

Pink In The Park¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 125

28/1

Fairly useful hurdler. Creditable 8½ lengths fifth of 9 to Birdie Or Bust in listed hurdle (11/1) at Thurles (15.9f, good to soft) 12 days ago. Back up in trip. Appears to be the outsider of the four trained by Willie Mullins.

Form: 3-11345

Saylavee³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 135

7/1

Useful hurdler. 10/1, good 1¾ lengths second of 6 to Hispanic Moon in listed mares event at Punchestown (18.2f, soft) 33 days ago. May well turn the tables with that rival here on these revised terms.

Form: 51500-2

Telmesomethinggirl²²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 142| D

7/1

Useful chaser. Below form 23¼ lengths third of 7 to Saint Sam in a Grade 3 chase (10/3) at Killarney (20f, good) when last seen 7 months ago. Switches from chase to hurdles. Big chance if she fires on all cylinders.

Form: F/212F-3

Non-Runners

Magical Zoe⁴⁹

Weight: 11-3| Age: 5

T: H De Bromhead J: A P Heskin

Anna Bunina²⁶

Weight: 10-11| Age: 7

T: J C McConnell J: D A Jacob

Forecasts

Risk Belle (13/8), Jetara (5/2), Magical Zoe (5/2), Hispanic Moon (6/1), Telmesomethinggirl (7/1), Saylavee (7/1), Space Tourist (18/1), Anna Bunina (20/1), Pink In The Park (28/1), Double Pink (66/1)

Willie Mullins has saddled six of the last seven winners of this and RISK BELLE is taken to enhance that already impressive record. She looked an improved model when making a winning reappearance in a Grade 3 contest at Fairyhouse and probably has more to offer given her age and low mileage. The 4-y-o certainly won't have things all her own way, though, particularly if Telmesomethinggirl is anywhere near her best back hurdling. The latter's stablemate Magical Zoe also merits respect.