12:35 Leopardstown

Friday 26 December 2025

All12:0512:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:30

Thorntons Recycling Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 12:37 | Winning time: 3m 56.4s

Doctor Du Mesnil²⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins

2/1

Doctor Dino gelding who looked something out of the ordinary when running out an 11-length winner of a 14-runner Cork bumper (19f) in April. Exciting prospect now attentions switch to hurdling on return.

Form: 1-

Eagle's Quest⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: R Deegan| T: Ms M Mullins

80/1

Some promise in bumpers but yet to better modest form in this sphere, finishing a well held fourth of 5 in a Punchestown maiden (20.7f) 6 weeks ago. Probably one for handicaps moving forward.

Form: 4/463-34

El Cairos²³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| D

8/15

Irish point winner who scored on bumper debut at Newbury (16.3f) last winter and improved in defeat thereafter, fifth in Champion Bumper at Cheltenham and probably should have won when runner-up at Punchestown (16.4f) in May. Exciting prospect now starting out for new stable.

Form: 1/152-

Genuine Article²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Brian Hayes| T: G Keane

150/1

Fairly useful 1m Flat winner who was at long odds and never figured starting out in this sphere when twenty third of 26 in maiden at Navan (2m, heavy) 3 weeks ago. Stamina far from assured for this discipline and best watched at present.

Form: 0

Gerrymandering²⁰²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Simon Torrens| T: W J McLernon

150/1

Twice-raced maiden. Sixteenth of 22 in novice hurdle at Punchestown (16.4f, good, 125/1) in June, weakening usual 3 out. Best watched back from 6 months off.

Form: PB-0

Goin'⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Daniel King| T: A J Martin

150/1

Fair Flat winner. Once-raced maiden over hurdles. 25/1, ninth of 15 in maiden hurdle at Down Royal (16.9f, good to soft) 55 days ago. Likely type for handicaps further down the line given connections.

Form: 9

Good Option²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Shane Fitzgerald| T: G P Cromwell

125/1

Once-raced maiden. Ninth of 26 in novice hurdle at Navan (16f, heavy, 80/1) on NH debut 20 days ago. Longer trips promise to be more his bag further down the line.

Form: 2-9

Good Time Tommy⁵⁰⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Kevin Sexton| T: G P Cromwell

100/1

Once-raced maiden. Sixth of 13 in bumper at Roscommon (15.4f, soft, 22/1) on NH debut. Off 16 months. Makes hurdles debut. First run for yard after leaving John Joseph Hanlon.

Form: 6-

Grandy Lane^t³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell

66/1

Just touched off in a Sligo maiden hurdle (20f) on sole start for Ian Patrick Donoghue back in May and similar story on yard/bumper debut at Clonmel last month. Clearly not 100% when well held at Punchestown subsequently and likely he can get back on track.

Form: P8-226

Kilgame^t²⁸⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead

18/1

Fair hurdler. Third of 11 in bumper (5/1) at Wexford (16f, good to soft) on bumper debut in March. Had displayed ability over hurdles previously and he's certainly not without each-way hope here.

Form: 2/53-

Murat^h⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Cian Quirke| T: P Lawlor| BF| D

11/2

2-2 in bumpers just under a year apart and he found only one too good starting out in this sphere when second of 16 in novice hurdle at Naas (2m, heavy) last month, albeit beaten a long way. Surprise were he not capable of better.

Form: 1-12

Navagio^h⁷⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Kieren Buckley| T: Ciaran Murphy

150/1

Fairly useful handicapper on Flat (stays 9.5f), confirmed return to form when fifth of 11 in handicap at Nottingham (8.3f) when last seen in October. Market best guide now hurdling for new yard.

Form:

Ozark's Walk¹³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Brian Barry⁽⁷⁾| T: R Dunne

100/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Creditable second of 9 in bumper (9/1) at Kilbeggan (16f, good to soft) 139 days ago. Makes hurdles debut.

Form: 0-242

Pat's Legacy³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Donagh Meyler| T: Ian Donoghue

80/1

Walk In The Park gelding who showed ability when seventh of 22 in novice hurdle at Navan (20.2f, heavy, 40/1) on NH debut 39 days ago. Will need to step up on that if he's to play a prominent role here, though. Down in trip.

Form: 7

Silver Salute⁶²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr J Dunne⁽⁷⁾| T: Ian Donoghue

125/1

€10,000 3-y-o, Workforce gelding. Dam (h90), maiden hurdler, half-sister to fairly useful hurdler/fair chaser (stayed 21f) Bright Legend. Maiden pointer, third last time (Oct 25).

Form: 53225-3

Tyson Fury²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan| D

33/1

Smart handicapper at best on Flat (stays 2m) who confirmed he retains ability following 18 months off when third of 7 in handicap at Dundalk (12f) 21 days ago. Worth a check in the betting now attentions switch to hurdling.

Form:

Umpire's Call¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Luke Dempsey| T: J P Dempsey

150/1

Once-raced maiden. 80/1, shaped with no encouragement when pulled up in novice hurdle at Punchestown (19f, heavy) on NH debut 15 days ago, pulled up before last.

Form: P

Urban War^h,t⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Gavin Brouder| T: J J Hanlon

125/1

Fairly useful Flat winner. Off over 3 years and seemingly being brought along gradually in 2 hurdle runs this winter, hooded for 1st time when tenth of 16 in novice hurdle at Fairyhouse (16f, soft) 52 days ago. Another who will hold more chance once switched to handicaps.

Form: 70

Daisy Fingall³⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Mike O'Connor| T: H De Bromhead

150/1

Once-raced maiden. 12/1, sixth of 14 in novice hurdle at Fairyhouse (18.4f, good to soft) on NH debut. Off 11 months. Open to progress.

Form: 6-

Is She Now³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr B M Coonan⁽⁷⁾| T: V C Ward| OR: 87

200/1

Poor hurdler. Ninth of 11 in handicap at Dundalk (16f, 10/1) 30 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles and she faces another uphill task here.

Form: 08-0586

Marions Diva²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: James Smith⁽⁵⁾| T: S Crawley

200/1

Twice-raced maiden. Fifteenth of 26 in novice hurdle at Navan (16f, heavy, 125/1) 20 days ago, racing off the pace and never landing a blow. Can only be watched.

Form: 00

Scathach

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Liam McKenna⁽⁵⁾| T: R O'Sullivan

80/1

Affinisea mare. Half-sister to 3 winners, including smart hurdler/useful chase winner Western Ryder and useful chaser Fire Attack. Dam (b81), lightly raced in bumpers, closely related to smart hurdler/chaser (stayed 21f) Brewin'upastorm. Market can guide on racecourse bow.

Form:

Forecasts

El Cairos (8/15), Doctor Du Mesnil (2/1), Murat (11/2), Kilgame (18/1), Tyson Fury (33/1), Grandy Lane (66/1), Pat's Legacy (80/1), Eagle's Quest (80/1), Scathach (80/1), Ozark's Walk (100/1), Good Time Tommy (100/1), Silver Salute (125/1), Good Option (125/1), Urban War (125/1), Umpire's Call (150/1), Navagio (150/1), Genuine Article (150/1), Daisy Fingall (150/1), Goin' (150/1), Gerrymandering (150/1), Is She Now (200/1), Marions Diva (200/1)

DOCTOR DU MESNIL looked something out of the ordinary when powering clear of 13 rivals on bumper debut at Cork back in the spring and, very much appealing as the type to make his mark now hurdling for his leading yard, he earns the vote. That said, El Cairos took high rank himself in bumpers for previous connections and also commands serious consideration on debut for Gordon Elliott. Murat may emerge best of the remainder.