Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:31 | Winning time: 4m 46.7s

Mount Frisco¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Conor Clarke| T: J P Ryan| OR: 109| BF

13/2

Eleven runs since last win in 2024. Has struggled over fences lately so hopes are pinned on the return to hurdles sparking a revival.

Form: 4-23FP6

Bayou Belle³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Thomas O'Connor⁽²⁾| T: J P Fahey| OR: 96

3/1

Remains a maiden after 16 NH runs. Might have needed recent Sligo outing after 4 months off and claims on her Sligo third back in October.

Form: 223430

Mickey Cohen⁶⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: N J Ryan| T: N Meade| OR: 104

4/1

Fair maiden on the Flat. Thrice-raced maiden. 100/1, last of 7 in juvenile hurdle at Naas (15.7f, good to soft) 64 days ago but could come into his own now handicapping over further.

Form: 907

T Or Coffey^p,t²³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: Finn Brickley⁽²⁾| T: Paul Mulligan| OR: 102

14/1

Thrice-raced maiden over hurdles. Blinkered for 1st time, eighth of 14 in handicap at Dundalk (12f, 33/1) 23 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Up in trip. Cheekpieces back on. Makes handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 300

Real Empire¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: P Hanlon| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 93

7/4

12/1, creditable seventh of 18 in handicap hurdle at Naas (16f, good to soft) 10 days ago, finishing with running left. Yard having good spell. Gets the vote.

Form: 0-66U07

Circus Act^b²³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Ben Kennedy| T: J Nash| OR: 92

11/1

One win from 21 NH runs. Fourteen runs since last win in 2023. Eighth of 9 in handicap hurdle (7/1) at Downpatrick (21.8f, good). Off 7 months.

Form: 3-5P468

Give Her Hollie^t1²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: H E Sexton| T: C Collins| OR: 87

28/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 150/1, pulled up in novice hurdle at Wexford (16f, good to soft) 27 days ago. Tongue strap on 1st time. Makes handicap hurdle debut. Uphill task.

Form: 770P

Forecasts

Real Empire (7/4), Bayou Belle (3/1), Mickey Cohen (4/1), Mount Frisco (13/2), Circus Act (11/1), T Or Coffey (14/1), Give Her Hollie (28/1)

REAL EMPIRE showed a bit of promise at Naas last time and gets the vote in a race where nothing arrives with particularly compelling claims. Noel Meade's Mickey Cohen could improve in handicaps and is second choice ahead of Bayou Belle.