12:30 Tramore

Wednesday 1 January 2025

All12:0012:3013:0513:4014:1514:5015:25

Jimmy Shanahan Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:30 | Winning time: 4m 33.09s

Whiskeywealth³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: John Shinnick⁽⁵⁾| T: T O'Brien| OR: 121| C

7/2

Hurdles/chase winner who ran well after 5 months off when fifth of 14 in handicap hurdle at Galway (2m, heavy) in October. Struggling long way out when pulled up back over fences at Fairyhouse a month later and he needs to bounce back returned to this sphere.

Form: 11P0-5P

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Belle The Lioness^t²⁵⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 119

4/1

Fairly useful mare who ran creditably when seventh in big field mares' handicap at Leopardstown (18f) back in February. Not in same form when fifth of 7 in handicap hurdle at Ballinrobe (17.6f, soft) in April but she returns from 8 months off with her yard going well.

Form: 10/3275-

Dark Note^v¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr A P Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 119| C| D

9/2

Fourteen runs since last win in 2023. 14/1 and visor on for 1st time in this code, third of 18 in handicap hurdle at Thurles (16.1f, good) 11 days ago. Merits consideration.

Form: 374003

Diamond Nora^t⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Philip Donovan⁽⁵⁾| T: D Queally| OR: 118

5/1

Lightly-raced winner over hurdles. 20/1, career best when winning 9-runner handicap hurdle at Limerick (16f, soft) 43 days ago, conceding first run in a slowly-run race before keeping on well. Remains lightly raced and likely there's more to come.

Form: 1001-81

Irish Blaze¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Jordan Gainford| T: C Collins| OR: 115| D

17/2

Proved more miss than hit over fences last summer and, following 6 months off, in process of running below form when unseating rider home turn in handicap at Thurles (2m) 11 days ago.

Form: 30-046U

Doctor Nightingale¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Cian Cullinan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Hayes| OR: 108

22/1

First run since leaving Gordon Elliott when respectable sixth of 13 in handicap hurdle at Navan (16f, good to soft, 66/1) 17 days ago. Something to find on form.

Form: 61-69U6

Rockbrook⁶⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Aidan Kelly⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 101

9/2

Well backed after 5 months off and proved better than ever when doubling career tally in 14-runner handicap hurdle at Galway (2m, heavy) in October, rallying well to regain the lead final 50 yds. Possibilities from revised mark.

Form: 9862-P1

Splendid Choice²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: Simon Torrens| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 95

33/1

Cheekpieces on for 1st time, ran no sort of race after 6 months off when twenty first of 22 in handicap hurdle (20/1) at Cork (20f, soft) 24 days ago. Needs to leave that well behind.

Form: 5P3-080

Aclass²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Cian Quirke⁽⁵⁾| T: J P Flavin| OR: 93

12/1

Lightly-raced maiden under NH rules. 250/1, twelfth of 20 in novice hurdle at Cork (15.7f, soft) 24 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut and one to note if the market speaks in his favour.

Form: U45-090

Non-Runners

Flidais¹⁴²

Weight: 11-2| Age: 7

T: J P Ryan J: Danny Mullins

Forecasts

Whiskeywealth (7/2), Belle The Lioness (4/1), Rockbrook (9/2), Dark Note (9/2), Diamond Nora (5/1), Flidais (6/1), Irish Blaze (17/2), Aclass (12/1), Doctor Nightingale (22/1), Splendid Choice (33/1)

DIAMOND NORA proved very easy to back on the back of 6 months off but did well to score having conceded first run in a slowly-run race at Limerick 6 weeks ago and, with her yard going along nicely, she's of interest again up 7 lb. Dark Note and the returning Belle The Lioness are others fancied to feature. Rockbrook is another who commands a second look.