16:20 Thurles

Thursday 6 February 2025

All13:2514:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:55

Killinan Handicap Hurdle (0-100)

4YO plus | 2m 6f 88y | Good | 18 Runners | Turf

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Phillip Enright| T: O McKiernan| OR: 97| BF

Improved model this winter, opening his account at Cork in December and stepped up again when second of 19 in handicap hurdle back there later that month. Possible he would have won if meeting the last better and clear chance again despite career-high mark.

Form: 7-24F12

Nells Choice^p,t⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Jordan Gainford| T: C Collins| OR: 91

Tongue strap on for 1st time, not disgraced when seventh of 13 in handicap hurdle (11/1) at Fairyhouse (20f, good to soft) 54 days ago. Each-way possibilities stepping back up in trip.

Form: 042887

Blue In The West³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: E F Gallagher| OR: 90

Well beaten on first 2 starts back from a lengthy absence but showed much more spark when second of 15 in handicap hurdle at Tramore (21.6f, heavy, 12/1) 36 days ago. Rates a player here with a repeat.

Form: 5P3-0P2

Kilcrea Castle^p1²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Mike O'Connor| T: J J Mangan| OR: 90

Lightly-raced maiden. Ninth of 11 in novice hurdle (80/1) at Cork (16.9f, soft) 20 days ago. Significantly up in trip for handicap debut.

Form: 9-P09

Misty Milan²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Philip Donovan⁽⁵⁾| T: D Queally| OR: 90

Promising individual. Fifth of 11 in handicap hurdle at Clonmel (20f, soft, 9/2) 22 days ago. Feasible to think she can do better still in handicaps with that run under her belt for shrewd yard. Considered.

Form: 90070-5

Mighty Soldier^t¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Kevin Sexton| T: J Fahey| OR: 89

Lightly-raced maiden. 12/1, very good third of 17 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (19.2f, heavy) 10 days ago, faring best of those held up. Remains less exposed than most and he's worth a second look on the back of that.

Form: P-07973

Only You Norah^h¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Niall Moore⁽⁷⁾| T: D Commins| OR: 89

50/1, fifth of 7 in novice hurdle at this course (19.8f, good) 18 days ago. Hood on 1st time but more needed if she's to defy this sort of mark back in handicap company.

Form: 78C865

Dalmatic³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Carl Millar⁽⁵⁾| T: W J O'Doherty| OR: 88

40/1, produced best effort to date with a recent run under his belt when good third of 17 in handicap hurdle at Naas (18.9f, heavy) 32 days ago. That effort suggests this even longer trip is worth exploring.

Form: P07003

Free Parking^t⁸¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: B W Harvey| T: J C McConnell| OR: 87

80/1, showed nothing following a 12-month layoff when twenty first of 23 in handicap hurdle at Navan (16f, good to soft) 81 days ago. Steps back up in trip now but much more required if he's to feature.

Form: 0800F-0

Lacken Forest^h,t⁶⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr M Doyle⁽⁷⁾| T: G M Doyle| OR: 87

Lightly-raced maiden. 66/1, fourteenth of 15 in handicap hurdle at Clonmel (16.4f, soft) 65 days ago. Much more needed now upped significantly in trip.

Form: P0-50

Maid On The Moon^b1¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Ms H Phillips⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss E Lalor| OR: 87

Posted a good third in mares' handicap hurdle at Tramore (21f) in November. Set very stiff tasks in Graded chase contests subsequently and this rates a much more suitable assignment returned to smaller obstacles.

Form: 40U345

Duce Bigalow⁶⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: J J Slevin| T: S Neville| OR: 86

Thrice-raced maiden. 200/1, twelfth of 18 in novice hurdle at Clonmel (19.4f, soft) 65 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut. Should progress.

Form: P2-080

Lummi Island^p1⁷⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Philip Byrnes| T: D Deacon| OR: 86

40/1, below form eleventh of 19 in handicap hurdle at Tipperary (16.5f, soft) 76 days ago. Significantly back up in trip. Cheekpieces on 1st time.

Form: 70-7000

Muskerry Rock^b1,t³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Gavin Brouder⁽³⁾| T: M F Morris| OR: 86

Creditable third of 12 in a handicap chase (10/1) at Limerick (22.6f, soft) 29 days ago. Back over hurdles with yard in good form and respected on handicap debut in this sphere with blinkers enlisted.

Form: 008363

Avandra^p1²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Tiernan Power Roche⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 84

Creditable fourth of 10 in handicap hurdle (10/1) at Punchestown (19.6f, soft) 24 days ago, hampered 2f out and plugging on. Cheekpieces on 1st time and this further increase in trip could unlock a little more progress.

Form: 9-56054

Fortuna Lora^b1²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: D King| T: D Hogan| OR: 84

Seventh of 15 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (20f, soft, 28/1) 21 days ago, beaten long way out. Blinkers need

Form: 060U87

Navy Waves^p²³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: E Dwan⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs J Cashin| OR: 83| C

Course winner. Fifteen runs since last win in 2022. Good third of 15 in handicap hurdle at Kilbeggan (24.4f, good to soft, 13/2) in June, losing second final 50 yds. Absent since but well worth a second look.

Form: 840-433

Whatsyourstatus^t¹⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: Aidan Kelly⁽⁵⁾| T: G O'Loughlin| OR: 97

Creditable third of 10 in handicap chase at this course (21.8f, good, 9/1) 18 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles. Tongue strap back on. Reserve 1.

Form: 1697-53

Non-Runners

Nicoles Getaway⁴⁹⁴

Weight: 10-4| Age: 7

T: S Aherne J: M J M O'Sullivan

Miss Lia³²

Weight: 11-10| Age: 5

T: P J Rothwell J: Reserve 2

Roxboro River²²

Weight: 12-1| Age: 6

T: Miss T L Cogan J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

One And Only (3/1), Misty Milan (6/1), Navy Waves (7/1), Blue In The West (8/1), Muskerry Rock (8/1), Avandra (10/1), Mighty Soldier (10/1), Miss Lia (11/1), Dalmatic (12/1), Nells Choice (12/1), Maid On The Moon (16/1), Whatsyourstatus (20/1), Duce Bigalow (20/1), Roxboro River (25/1), Lummi Island (25/1), Only You Norah (25/1), Kilcrea Castle (25/1), Lacken Forest (25/1), Fortuna Lora (25/1), Nicoles Getaway (33/1), Free Parking (50/1)

Having showed improved form when opening his account at Cork in December, ONE AND ONLY stepped up further and may well have followed up had he met the last better when runner-up back there 55 days ago (the pair clear). He shades the vote to come out on top, with Misty Milan, Mighty Soldier and Blue In The West others to consider. Navy Waves also commands a second look on her first start for 7 months.