13:22 Thurles

Saturday 20 December 2025

All11:3712:1212:4713:2213:5714:3215:0515:40

WTW Willis Handicap Hurdle

4YO plus | 2m 26y | 12 Runners | Turf

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny Mullins| T: J M Barrett| OR: 128| D

Pulled up in handicap chase (28/1) at Killarney (20.8f, good to soft) 119 days ago, pulled up before seventh. Switches from chase to hurdles. First run for yard after leaving Gavin Patrick Cromwell.

Form: 860P-9P

Railway Hurricane^p,t²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Keith Donoghue| T: P W Flynn| OR: 122| D

66/1, pulled up in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (20.5f, soft) 21 days ago, pulled up last. Down in trip.

Form: 33474-P

Ephesus^p,t²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Daniel King| T: D Hogan| OR: 120

40/1, twelfth of 14 in handicap at Dundalk (12f) 24 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles and not disgraced back down in trip.

Form: 14U-704

Cafe Con Leche²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr A D Bustin⁽⁷⁾| T: C Byrnes| OR: 118| D

Latest win in hurdle at Cork in November. 28/1, tenth of 13 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (19.4f, soft) 28 days ago. Trainer going well. Not easy to catch right.

Form: P00410

Fast Felix^h,t⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Gary Noonan⁽³⁾| T: E McCarthy| OR: 116| D

Pulled up in handicap hurdle at Down Royal (16.9f, good to soft, 28/1) 49 days ago, weakening before 3 out. Hood back on but still needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 39115P

St Faz^t³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 116

Blundered late on when seventh of 11 in handicap chase at Cheltenham (15.9f, soft, 15/2) 34 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles and worth another chance for his current yard.

Form: 125657

My Gaffer⁶⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Michael Kenneally⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 114| D

Below-par tenth of 12 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (20.2f, good to soft) 66 days ago. Back down in trip. Has good chance at these weights if back on his A-game.

Form: 051750

Fiver Friday⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Eoin Staples⁽⁷⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 112| D

Lightly-raced sort who won over hurdles at Naas in April for Paul Traynor. Shaped well for new yard when third in 1m2f Flat handicap at the Curragh in October. A likely player back in this sphere.

Form: 137-7

Half A Chance^p²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: P Hanlon⁽⁷⁾| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 111| D

Eleven runs since last win in 2024. 15/2, respectable fifth of 8 in handicap hurdle at Taunton (19f, good to firm) 23 days ago. Enters calculations.

Form: 022325

Magic Day⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 111| BF

Made mistakes when eighth of 10 in novice chase at Wexford (19.6f, soft) on her debut over fences 55 days ago. Switches to hurdles and one to consider for stable in good form.

Form: 33210-8

Kotkito Bello^p²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Tiernan Power Roche⁽³⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 110| C

7/2, career best when winning 9-runner handicap hurdle at Punchestown (16.9f, soft) 27 days ago, always holding on. Progressing recently so he's well in the mix again.

Form: 439311

Rokathir²⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Mike O'Connor| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 108

Winner in hurdle at Punchestown in February. Eighteenth of 20 in handicap hurdle at Cork (24.4f, soft, 10/1). Off 8 months but trainer going well so possibilities.

Form: 43/0F10-

Forecasts

St Faz (7/2), Kotkito Bello (4/1), Fiver Friday (6/1), Half A Chance (7/1), Magic Day (8/1), Cafe Con Leche (10/1), Rokathir (12/1), Ephesus (12/1), Fast Felix (14/1), Visionarian (16/1), My Gaffer (16/1), Railway Hurricane (20/1)

Plenty are in with a shout but it could pay to side with FIVER FRIDAY who made a promising start for Gavin Cromwell when runner-up on the Flat at the Curragh and remains with few miles on the clock in this sphere. Handily-weighted St Faz rates a big danger though, while Half A Chance, Kotkito Bello and Magic Day can all have a say too.