13:33 Limerick

Friday 26 December 2025

All12:2512:5813:3314:0814:4015:1515:50

Defender Novice Hurdle (Grade 2)

  • 4YO plus  |   Class 1  |   2m 7f  |   Heavy  |   5 Runners  |   Turf  |   Weighed In
  • Off time: 13:33  |   Winning time: 6m 33.9s
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Cloth number
Odds
Star rating
Horse A-Z
1
Horse silk
County Finalt33
Age: 5|  Weight: 11-3| J: Sean Flanagan| T: E McNamara| OR:  126
9/4
Promising sort. Won Navan maiden before good second of 9 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (16.9f, soft) 33 days ago, clear of rest despite needing stronger gallop. Significantly up in trip. May well do better.
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Timeform
2
Horse silk
Kazansky19
Age: 5|  Weight: 11-3| J: Danny Gilligan| T: G Elliott
9/2
Point winner at third attempt. Booked for second when brought down last on hurdles debut and was fortunate to be left in front late when winning 19-runner novice hurdle at Cork (16.9f, soft, 3/1) 19 days ago. Significantly back up in trip. Should progress.
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Timeform
Runner-up in a point before winning 13-runner novice hurdle at Wexford (16.7f, soft, 11/2) on NH debut. Excellent effort when second of 7 to Kalypso'chance in Monksfield Novices' Hurdle at Navan (20f, heavy) 40 days ago, Sets the standard.
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Timeform
5
Horse silk
Yeshil43
Age: 5|  Weight: 11-3| J: J J Slevin| T: H De Bromhead| OR:  124
4/1
Runner-up in valuable sales bumper at Punchestown in April last year. Progressed from his hurdling debut when winning 5-runner novice hurdle (4/6) at same course (20.8f, heavy) 43 days ago. Step forward needed again but he's open to progress.
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Timeform
6
Horse silk
Barra Rua19
Age: 5|  Weight: 10-10| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: E Mullins| OR:  119
8/1
Has made all in a bumper and maiden hurdle at Tramore this autumn and would have held on for second without late mistakes when 9 lengths third of 5 to Good Girl Kathleen in Gr 3 hurdle at Cork (24.4f, soft) 19 days ago. Perhaps vulnerable to potential improvers.
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Timeform

Non-Runners

3
Horse silk
Santo Sospir34
Weight: 11-3|  Age: 4
T: G Elliott  J: Alex Harvey
NR

Forecasts

The Big Clubman (2/1), County Final (9/4), Yeshil (4/1), Santo Sospir (4/1), Kazansky (9/2), Barra Rua (8/1)

Verdict

An interesting race, all of these appealing as open to some kind of improvement, but THE BIG CLUBMAN sets the standard on his second in the Monksfield and Paul Nolan's gelding should have the longer trip in his favour. County Final is most feared after a good effort in handicap company last time, with Santo Sospir also shortlisted.

Previous Winners

2024
The Big Westerner
Weight: 10-10  |Age: 5
7/4

Prize Money

1st: €22,500.002nd: €7,500.003rd: €3,750.004th: €1,876.005th: €1,125.006th: €750.00

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