15:40 Clonmel

Wednesday 15 January 2025

All12:2512:5513:3014:0014:3015:0515:40

Tipperary Handicap Hurdle (0-100)

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 5m 38.07s

Elusive Guy¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Peter Smithers⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Fahey| OR: 100

15/2

Creditable sixth of 18 in handicap hurdle (16/1) at Limerick (19f, soft) 17 days ago. Should come forward from that given it was his first start for 10 weeks.

Form: 070/80-6

Mount Shenshan^h¹⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Danny Mullins| T: T Mullins| OR: 99

20/1

Shantou gelding who showed some promise in bumpers and steadily progressive in this sphere, fourth of 13 in novice hurdle at Ballinrobe (22.4f, soft, 11/2) 142 days ago. Hood back on and there ought to be better to come now handicapping.

Form: 83-7664

Doyen For A Drink¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Aidan Kelly⁽⁵⁾| T: Gerard O'Leary| OR: 95

13/2

Winner in hurdle at Cartmel in August. 9/1, fell in handicap hurdle at Limerick (20f, soft) 19 days ago, yet to be asked for effort fully when falling 2 out. Worth siding with to confirm promise of that run here.

Form: 28-415F

Coffeys Forge⁵⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Danny Gilligan| T: G Elliott| OR: 90| BF

11/2

Modest maiden who was gambled on but ultimately tired having been ridden too aggressively when eleventh of 14 in novice hurdle at Limerick (18.7f, soft, 2/1) 57 days ago. Made a very interesting yard switch ahead of this and market confidence behind him again would look significant.

Form: 607990

Misty Milan²⁶⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: L A McKenna⁽⁵⁾| T: D Queally| OR: 90

9/2

Lightly-raced maiden. 25/1, twelfth of 19 in handicap hurdle at Tipperary (16f, good to soft). Off 8 months. Up in trip. Surprise were she not capable of better for shrewd yard.

Form: 90070-

Not So Simple^b¹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Slevin| T: N Lee| OR: 90

66/1

Veteran who was off over 2 years and went with no encouragement when eighth of 11 in handicap hurdle at Limerick (20f, soft, 100/1) 19 days ago, beaten long way out. Best watched at present.

Form: 5192P/8

Bossofthebus⁸²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: John Shinnick⁽⁵⁾| T: T O'Brien| OR: 88| BF

7/1

3/1, first run since leaving P. Tobin when good seventh of 16 in handicap hurdle at Sligo (20.3f, soft) 82 days ago, untidy 2 out and weakening. May need to drop further in the weights before becoming of interest.

Form: 00900-7

Castlehill Boy^t⁴³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Flanagan| T: Brendan Walsh| OR: 88

12/1

Creditable sixth of 15 in handicap hurdle (20/1) at this course (19.4f, soft) 43 days ago. May be sharper now given that was his first start for 7 months.

Form: 0/597-76

Rorkes Drift⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Cleary-Farrell⁽⁷⁾| T: G Kelleher| OR: 88

40/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 40/1, ninth of 14 in novice hurdle at this course (16.4f, soft) 43 days ago. Up in trip. Makes handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 50079

Ardfert Mary¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: J P Ryan| OR: 81

16/1

Remains a maiden after 17 NH runs. Fifth of 12 in handicap chase at Tramore (22.8f, heavy, 17/2) 14 days ago, headway around 3 out but not sustain effort. Type to bounce back returned to hurdles over this shorter trip.

Form: P60255

Johnny Cakes^p⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Tiernan Power Roche⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 79

9/4

9/2, tenth of 15 in handicap hurdle at this course (19.4f, soft) 43 days ago, beaten early in the straight. Rider takes off a handy 7 lb.

Form: 0P7-440

Non-Runners

Donegal Danny¹⁸

Weight: 11-2| Age: 7

T: M J McDonagh J: Cian Quirke

Forecasts

Johnny Cakes (9/4), Misty Milan (9/2), Coffeys Forge (11/2), Doyen For A Drink (13/2), Bossofthebus (7/1), Elusive Guy (15/2), Castlehill Boy (12/1), Donegal Danny (12/1), Ardfert Mary (16/1), Mount Shenshan (20/1), Rorkes Drift (40/1), Not So Simple (66/1)

DOYEN FOR A DRINK was in the process of showing improved form when falling 2 out at Limerick 19 days ago (going best at the time) and she's fancied to confirm the promise of that run and double her career tally. Mount Shenshan has improved gradually and could yet have more to offer now handicapping. Coffeys Forge on debut for Gordon Elliott and Donegal Danny complete the shortlist.