16:13 Listowel

Saturday 31 May 2025

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1316:4817:20

Insurance Wise Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 4m 55.60s

Littlebiggie^h²²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Liam Quinlan⁽³⁾| T: R Hackett| OR: 121

12/1

Winner in hurdle at Killarney in May 2024. Failed to settle when 18½ lengths last of 7 to Jetara in listed mares event at Limerick (22.8f, good to soft) in October. Should be competitive back in handicap company following a break (has won fresh).

Form: 122247-

Cafe Con Leche¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr A D Bustin⁽⁷⁾| T: C Byrnes| OR: 120

50/1

Ran even worse when pulled up in claiming hurdle (9/2) at Clonmel (19.6f, good to firm) 16 days ago, losing touch after 3 out. Hard to recommend unless market speaks in his favour.

Form: 0/092-9P

West Cork Wildway⁴⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: A McCurtin| T: P O'Flynn| OR: 116| D

25/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2021 and isn't the force of old. Visored for first time when fourth of 7 in hunter chase at Cork (20f, good to soft, 9/4) 40 days ago. Bit to find back over hurdles.

Form: 4/95224-

Howdoyalikeherhome^b1¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny Gilligan| T: G Elliott| OR: 115

5/1

Career best when winning 7-runner handicap hurdle at Down Royal (22f, good) keeping on gamely. Ran at least as well in defeat when creditable third of 10 in handicap hurdle at Killarney (20.2f, good to soft, 11/2) 19 days ago. One to consider with blinkers on first time.

Form: 2R541-3

Gold Speed^p1³⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 11-6| J: Eoin G Kelly⁽⁷⁾| T: A Murray| OR: 114| CD

6/1

C&D winner hinted at a revival at Punchestown (19.4f, soft) in November. May have needed the run after 5 months off (though had gone well fresh in the past) when fourteenth of 22 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (16.4f, good to soft, 22/1) 30 days ago. Needs to improve for headgear/longer trip.

Form: 21/8580-

Free Flow⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: T P Harney⁽⁷⁾| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 113

9/1

Opened his account over hurdles at the third attempt, matching his fair Flat form, when landing 16-runner novice hurdle (10/3) at Thurles (15.6f, good) 77 days ago, travelled well and kept up to work. Could progress on handicap hurdle debut over longer trip.

Form: 631-

Rockstown Girl^t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Ewing| T: A McCann| OR: 112

14/1

Fairly useful hurdler, winning 2m maiden at Tipperary and 19.5f novice at Chepstow last season. Up against it on two starts in Listed mares novice company subsequently and didn't get far before unseating on chase debut 2 weeks ago. This represents a drop in class back over hurdles. Not ruled out.

Form: 31F70-U

Long Gone⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Kevin Sexton| T: D Queally| OR: 110

14/1

Bumper winner back to best to win 8-runner novice hurdle at Tramore (16.6f, good to soft, 10/3) 48 days ago, always holding on, thought her task made easier by late departure of 2 rivals. Up in trip and respected on handicap debut.

Form: 3/14631-

Meet My Loreley^t¹⁹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Flanagan| T: B Connell| OR: 110

16/1

Caught the eye when making late headway to finish creditable fourth of 10 in novice hurdle at Thurles (22.9f, good). One to consider on handicap hurdle debut though she may prove best over further still.

Form: F/0P244-

Brilliant Light⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Paddy Hanlon⁽⁷⁾| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 108

12/1

Winner of 2m Worcester maiden last year. Too keen when 6¾ lengths fifth of 7 to Howdoyalikeherhome in handicap hurdle at Down Royal (22f, good, 7/1) 48 days ago. Can be competitive if more settled down in trip.

Form: 621305-

Down Around^b³²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: D Robinson| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 107| D

14/1

One win from 23 NH runs and found run of good form coming to a halt when 33/1, bit below form twelfth of 25 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (19.4f, good to soft) 32 days ago. No surprise to see him bounce back down in class.

Form: 214530-

Spring Meadow^t¹⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Jake Coen⁽³⁾| T: E McNamara| OR: 107| D

16/1

Unreliable sort. Landed a gamble when winner of a handicap hurdle at Limerick in October. Ran poorly when last seen, fifteenth of 20 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (20f, soft, 18/1) 150 days ago. Others preferred.

Form: 0/3F100-

Fast Felix^h,t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Gary Noonan⁽⁵⁾| T: E McCarthy| OR: 105

15/2

Maiden ran creditably after 7 months off fifth of 9 in handicap hurdle at Killarney (17f, good to soft) 20 days ago. Place prospects stepping back up in trip.

Form: 63364-5

Miss Corby^h⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Josh Williamson⁽⁷⁾| T: M F Morris| OR: 105

5/1

Back in headgear, left previous efforts behind and landed a significant gamble when winning 13-runner novice hurdle (11/4) at Ballinrobe (16.8f, good) 50 days ago. Should be suited by step up in trip and starts life in handicaps on an appealing mark.

Form: 6/9751-

Duty Bound^t⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Donagh Meyler| T: J P Flavin| OR: 101

10/1

Winner on chase debut in August. Wasn't seen to anything like best effect back hurdling after 7 months off eighth of 14 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (16.1f, soft) 40 days ago, hampered and nearly came down. Can step forward back up in trip with tongue strap refitted.

Form: 645108-

Carlas Big Jim¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Daniel King| T: L J Archdeacon| OR: 100| D

33/1

Below form on latest hurdles outing and fared little better over fences when ninth of 15 in handicap chase (22/1) at Killarney (20.4f, good to soft) 19 days ago. Reverts to smaller obstacles with questions to answer.

Form: 7562P-9

Non-Runners

Chef's Kiss⁶⁰

Weight: 10-3| Age: 5

T: P J Rothwell J: Aidan Kelly

Forecasts

Howdoyalikeherhome (5/1), Miss Corby (5/1), Gold Speed (6/1), Fast Felix (15/2), Free Flow (9/1), Duty Bound (10/1), Brilliant Light (12/1), Littlebiggie (12/1), Rockstown Girl (14/1), Down Around (14/1), Long Gone (14/1), Spring Meadow (16/1), Meet My Loreley (16/1), Chef's Kiss (16/1), West Cork Wildway (25/1), Carlas Big Jim (33/1), Cafe Con Leche (50/1)

Having landed a gamble when successful at Ballinrobe last month, MISS CORBY looks set to be suited by this longer trip on handicap debut and remains open to further improvement. She can follow up at the expense of Howdoyalikeherhome who's improved since joining the Gordon Elliott team, with Rockstown Girl not ruled out facing a more realistic assignment back over hurdles.