13:40 Down Royal

Tuesday 21 January 2025

All12:4013:1013:4014:1014:4215:1515:47

Coors Mares Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 4m 12.04s

Aurora Princess⁴⁶⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Carl Millar⁽⁵⁾| T: L Breen| OR: 106| BF

33/1

Ninth of 12 in handicap (33/1) at Dundalk (12f). Off 15 months. Switches from Flat to hurdles. First run for yard after leaving Emmet Mullins. Good second on last hurdle outing.

Form: 00850/2-

Doctor Nightingale²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Cian Cullinan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Hayes| OR: 106

14/1

Failed to come on for recent run when sixth of 9 in handicap hurdle (22/1) at Tramore (16.8f, heavy) 20 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 1-69U66

Katherine³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: H E Sexton⁽⁷⁾| T: A Sexton| OR: 106

16/1

Latest win in hurdle at Fairyhouse in October. Below form ninth of 18 in handicap chase at Naas (16f, good to soft, 11/1) 36 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles.

Form: 411B79

Lady Rose Hackett²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 104

8/1

Made the frame in a trio of maiden hurdles prior to shaping as if amiss in a first-time tongue strap on handicap debut at Leopardstown last time. Worth another chance.

Form: 15-3240

Thisistheway⁸⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Cian Quirke⁽⁵⁾| T: Yvonne Latta| OR: 104| BF| D

9/2

Latest win in hurdle at Cork in October but found it tougher going when only seventh of 11 on handicap debut at Wexford (16.4f, heavy, 7/2) 85 days ago.

Form: 196-517

Albatala^t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Alex Harvey⁽⁵⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 97

5/2

Showed improved form when excellent second of 15 in handicap hurdle at this course (17.2f, good to soft) 26 days ago, running on. Has to be taken seriously.

Form: 00-65R2

French Hill²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Conor Stone-Walsh⁽⁵⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 96

8/1

Shaped as if amiss when pulled up in handicap hurdle (14/1) at Limerick (19f, soft) 23 days ago, weakening soon after 3 out. Yard in good form but has work to do.

Form: 880-29P

Mayos Vendangeur^p,t³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Tiernan Power Roche⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 87

10/3

8/1, shaped as if still in good form when fifth of 12 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (16.5f, good to soft) 38 days ago. Enters calculations.

Form: 456325

Miss Gitana²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Jake Coen⁽³⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 95

8/1

Well held completed starts in juvenile maiden hurdles, though fair on Flat and capable of better now switched to a handicap.

Form: 7F00

Forecasts

Albatala (5/2), Mayos Vendangeur (10/3), Thisistheway (9/2), Miss Gitana (8/1), French Hill (8/1), Lady Rose Hackett (8/1), Doctor Nightingale (14/1), Katherine (16/1), Aurora Princess (33/1)

ALBATALA showed significant improvement when runner-up to a well-treated sort here last month and a reproduction of that form could be enough to see her go one better. Mayos Vendangeur is proving consistent and should make her presence felt once more, with Lady Rose Hackett worth another chance having shown promise prior to shaping as if amiss on her handicap debut.