13:05 Cork

Friday 17 January 2025

All12:3013:0513:4014:1514:5015:2516:00

Goldcrop Novice Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:05 | Winning time: 4m 19.00s

Maroto^h1,t¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Slevin| T: A McNamara| OR: 110

50/1

Fair hurdler who was below form on first run since leaving W. P. Mullins when seventh of 8 in novice hurdle at Limerick (19f, soft) 19 days ago. Return to handicaps in her favour at least with a hood now reached for.

Form: 6F20-37

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Dumb Love²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Aidan Kelly⁽⁵⁾| T: Gerard O'Leary| OR: 107| D

15/2

Lightly-raced winner over hurdles. Winner in hurdle at Sedgefield in September. Creditable eighth of 19 in handicap hurdle (33/1) at Leopardstown (16f, good) 22 days ago. Not dismissed out of hand.

Form: 4-3318

Miss Maxfort^h1²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Phillip Enright| T: N Stokes| OR: 107

9/2

Improved on hurdles debut form when winning 14-runner maiden at Wexford (16.5f) in October. Seemingly never figured when fourteenth of 19 on handicap hurdle debut at Leopardstown (16f, good, 9/1) 22 days ago but it remains early days with her. Hood on 1st time.

Form: 210

Liberated Light^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr J L Gleeson⁽³⁾| T: J & T Kiely| OR: 104

7/2

11/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, career best when winning 13-runner handicap hurdle at Limerick (16f, soft) 21 days ago by ½ length from Wardens Whisper, crucially jumping better than is often the case. Little more required from revised mark, however.

Form: 308781

Bold Brook²²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Simon Torrens| T: Miss D O'Shea| OR: 102

16/1

Lightly-raced maiden under NH rules. 17/2, eleventh of 16 in novice hurdle at Listowel (16f, good to soft). First run for yard after leaving Cian Michael Collins. Makes handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 35P6-40

Crescent Moon²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Flanagan| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 102

17/2

Promising start when runner-up in a Naas bumper in April. Minor promise in trio of quick-fire maiden hurdles this winter and likely he's brought along with handicaps in mind. One to note for in-form stable.

Form: 22-580

Wardens Whisper^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Tiernan Power Roche⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 93

6/4

Good ½-length second of 13 to Liberated Light in handicap hurdle (7/2) at Limerick (16f, soft) 21 days ago. Has good chance on form.

Form: 0-P0322

Walk Of The Roses⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Mike O'Connor| T: J J Mangan| OR: 90

25/1

Fair winner at 2m in bumpers. 7/1, first run since leaving David Pipe when tenth of 13 in handicap hurdle at Thurles (15.9f, good to soft) 49 days ago. Plenty to find on form.

Form: 2-23630

Ben Purple¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: Daniel King| T: J P Ryan| OR: 85

66/1

Elusive Pimpernel gelding. Pulled up in novice hurdle (150/1) at Limerick (19f, soft) 19 days ago, reminders early final circuit. Makes handicap hurdle debut. Risky proposition.

Form: P-R00P

El Phenomeno⁹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: M J McDonagh| OR: 85

33/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Pulled up in handicap hurdle (20/1) at Limerick (21f, good to soft) 90 days ago, slow 4 out and dropping away quickly. Too soon to be writing him off but the market can likely prove a useful guide back from a break.

Form: 600-P

Non-Runners

Half Past Tipsy²²

Weight: 11-8| Age: 6

T: G P Cromwell J: Shane Fitzgerald

Forecasts

Wardens Whisper (6/4), Liberated Light (7/2), Miss Maxfort (9/2), Dumb Love (15/2), Half Past Tipsy (8/1), Crescent Moon (17/2), Bold Brook (16/1), Walk Of The Roses (25/1), El Phenomeno (33/1), Maroto (50/1), Ben Purple (66/1)

WARDENS WHISPER finished a place behind Liberated Light when the pair met at Limerick 21 days ago, yet the latter doesn't boast consistency as his strong suit (also makes mistakes) so it could be worth chancing the former to reverse those placings here. Crescent Moon appeals as a likely improver now handicapping and could also feature.