16:00 Gowran Park

Thursday 25 January 2024

All13:0513:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:30

Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle (80-123)

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 4m 49.0s

Champagne Platinum²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: L Donnelly⁽⁴⁾| T: E Bolger| OR: 119| D

11/1

Twelve runs since last win in 2022. Sixth of 11 in handicap hurdle (25/1) at Leopardstown (23.4f, heavy) 28 days ago. Significantly down in trip. Others preferred.

Form: 04P-766

Action Motion^p,t⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: D King| T: D Hogan| OR: 113| D

18/1

Ninth of 14 in handicap at Dundalk (10.7f, 20/1) 9 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Cheekpieces back on. Work to do.

Form: 40P-85F

Bynx²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: L A McKenna⁽²⁾| T: M Hassett| OR: 112

5/1

6/1, career best when winning 9-runner handicap hurdle at Tramore (16.8f, heavy) 24 days ago, kept up to work. 7 lb higher now but not taken lightly.

Form: 568501

Nathan Wells³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Danny Gilligan| T: G Elliott| OR: 110

11/4

Thrice-raced maiden. Back on track when fifth of 18 in novice hurdle (12/1) at Limerick (16f, heavy) 30 days ago and should have more to offer on switch to handicapping.

Form: 375

Don't Talk^t²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Gavin Brouder| T: K Thornton| OR: 108| D

7/2

Opened his account at Fairyhouse (16.1f) last month and improved on that when following up in 16-runner handicap hurdle at same course (20.6f, heavy, 9/2) 24 days ago, driven out. 9 lb higher now but must enter calculations.

Form: 40-P811

Whateys Quest²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Philip Byrnes| T: C Byrnes| OR: 102

16/1

Thrice-raced maiden. Seventh of 15 in novice hurdle (150/1) at Limerick (16f, heavy) 28 days ago, unable to sustain effort. May do better now sent handicapping.

Form: 907

Billy Lee Swagger²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: J P O'Sullivan| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 97

2/1

Much improved when winning 22-runner handicap hurdle at Punchestown (16.7f, heavy) 25 days ago. 8 lb higher now but likely has more to give yet.

Form: F-84001

Non-Runners

Big Island³⁹

Weight: 11-2| Age: 7

T: W J Lanigan J: Richard Condon

Ca Plane Pour Moi³⁰

Weight: 10-11| Age: 6

T: Colm Murphy J: Sarah Kavanagh

Forecasts

Billy Lee Swagger (2/1), Nathan Wells (11/4), Don't Talk (7/2), Bynx (5/1), Big Island (6/1), Champagne Platinum (11/1), Ca Plane Pour Moi (14/1), Whateys Quest (16/1), Action Motion (18/1)

Preference is for BILLY LEE SWAGGER, who upped his game significantly when scoring at Punchestown last month and remains low mileage. Don't Talk and Nathan Wells head the list of dangers.