14:00 Leopardstown

Saturday 28 December 2024

All12:2012:5013:2014:0014:3515:0515:40

Savills Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 14:01 | Winning time: 5m 56.10s

Asterion Forlonge^t²⁴⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 155| C

15/2

Very smart chaser. 13/2, creditable 6½ lengths second of 11 to Teahupoo in Champion Stayers' Hurdle at Punchestown (23.5f, good to soft), going with enthusiasm. Capable of taking a hand in the finish, provided he is ready to roll following an 8-month absence.

Form: 052612-

Beacon Edge^p²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Danny Gilligan| T: G Elliott| OR: 147| D

14/1

Very smart chaser. 25/1, 9¼ lengths third of 4 to Lossiemouth in Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse (20f, good) 27 days ago. Cheekpieces back on and he looks vulnerable from a win point of view.

Form: 124513

Bob Olinger⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 159| BF

3/1

High-class chaser. Creditable 3½ lengths second of 8 to Home By The Lee in Lismullen Hurdle (11/8) at Navan (20.2f, good to soft) 42 days ago. 5 lb better off with that rival now but couldn't be sure that this step back up in trip is what he wants.

Form: 3/1122-2

Hewick^b⁵⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Jordan Gainford| T: Miss T L Cogan| OR: 155| D

4/1

Top-class chaser. Winner of 4 of his 23 starts in this sphere. Good second in the Champion Chase at Down Royal (3m, good to soft) last month. One to consider on debut for new yard.

Form: 163-232

Home By The Lee^b⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 155| C

15/8

Very smart hurdler. Course winner. 7/1, didn't need to improve to win 8-runner Lismullen Hurdle at Navan (20.2f, good to soft) 42 days ago by 3½ lengths from Bob Olinger, driven out. Blinkers back on and another bold show on the cards.

Form: 3533-61

Noble Yeats^h,t²⁵⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Donagh Meyler| T: E Mullins| OR: 151| D

22/1

High-class chaser. Below form nineteenth of 32 in handicap chase (12/1) at Aintree (34.3f, soft), never travelling well. Off 8 months. Switches from chase to hurdles. Hood back on.

Form: 4/72170-

Rocky's Diamond⁸⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-10| J: Shane Fitzgerald| T: D Queally| OR: 130

66/1

Lightly-raced winner over hurdles. 12/1, career best when winning 11-runner handicap hurdle at Gowran (24f, good) 84 days ago. Probably capable of better still but he's biting off more than he can chew here.

Form: 01-51

Sandor Clegane^b1,t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: P Nolan| OR: 140| BF

8/1

Smart chaser. Second of 4 in minor event hurdle (7/4) at Clonmel (24f, soft) 25 days ago. Will need to improve for the fitting of blinkers if he's to play a leading role.

Form: 42244-2

Forecasts

Home By The Lee (15/8), Bob Olinger (3/1), Hewick (4/1), Asterion Forlonge (15/2), Sandor Clegane (8/1), Beacon Edge (14/1), Noble Yeats (22/1), Rocky's Diamond (66/1)

HOME BY THE LEE was safely held in this race 12 months ago but he landed the 2022 edition and looks the way to go on the back of his reappearance success in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan where he proved too strong for Bob Olinger and six others. The latter renews rivalry on 5 lb better terms but the jury remains out as to whether he stays this far and a bigger threat may be posed by Asterion Forlonge, who was runner-up in this 12 months ago and was also second in a Punchestown Grade 1 in April.