15:05 Thurles

Saturday 21 December 2024

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

Horse & Jockey Hotel Rated Novice Hurdle

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 5m 41.50s

Millforce⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 125

5/1

Thrice-raced winner over hurdles. Winner in hurdle at Bellewstown in August. Good fourth of 5 in novice hurdle (5/2) at Cheltenham (24f, good) 56 days ago. One to consider.

Form: 2-21124

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Sequoiaspirit³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Liam Quinlan⁽³⁾| T: R Hackett| OR: 121

11/2

Fairly useful hurdler. Career best when winning 23-runner handicap hurdle (28/1) at Navan (22.4f, good to soft) 34 days ago, driven out. Player with this step up in trip a likely plus.

Form: 269441

Brave Fortune²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: J J Doyle| T: P M J Doyle| OR: 116

2/1

Fairly useful hurdler. Creditable third of 12 in novice hurdle at Fairyhouse (20.2f, good, 11/2) 21 days ago, running on late. Can give a good account.

Form: 32-6313

Drumgill³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Daniel King| T: J P Ryan| OR: 116| C

10/1

Fairly useful hurdler/chaser who bagged 2m6f maiden chase here last month. The form pick back in this sphere.

Form: 848041

Stuntman Steve²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Flanagan| T: G P Cromwell

22/1

Thrice-raced winner under NH rules. Winner in hurdle at Clonmel in November. 25/1, seventh of 12 in novice hurdle at Fairyhouse (20.2f, good) 21 days ago. More is needed.

Form: F-PP117

Grooveykindoflove^p³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 112| CD

4/1

Lightly-raced winner over hurdles. Evens and cheekpieces on for 1st time, career best when winning 10-runner novice hurdle at this course (22.9f, good) 30 days ago. Trainer going well but this demands more.

Form: 522-21

Heroes Rise²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott| OR: 114

16/1

Fairly useful hurdler. Winner in hurdle at Listowel in June. 25/1, eighth of 12 in novice hurdle at Fairyhouse (20.2f, good) 21 days ago. Yard in good form so could bounce back.

Form: 8-31648

Takt De Touques^t¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr N McParlan| T: Gerald Quinn

8/1

Lightly-raced sort who went 3-4 in this sphere in 8-runner novice hurdle at Sedgefield (19.8f, soft) 15 days ago. Open to further improvement. Very much one to consider.

Form: 11-1121

Well Del²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Donagh Meyler| T: Liam G O'brien

28/1

Fair winner at 19f in chases. 9/1, seventh of 10 in handicap chase at Fairyhouse (21.5f, good) 21 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 3-41567

Forecasts

Brave Fortune (2/1), Grooveykindoflove (4/1), Millforce (5/1), Sequoiaspirit (11/2), Takt De Touques (8/1), Drumgill (10/1), Heroes Rise (16/1), Stuntman Steve (22/1), Well Del (28/1)

This could go the way of SEQUOIASPIRIT who arrives on the back of a career-best victory in a big-field Navan handicap. Recent course chase victor Drumgill appeals as the one to chase him home back in this sphere, with Takt de Touques and Heroes Rise best equipped to fight it out for minor honours.