15:11 Limerick

Saturday 27 December 2025

All12:1712:5213:2714:0214:3715:1115:41

Roche's Feeds Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:11 | Winning time: 4m 31.0s

Gwan Tadhg⁴⁰⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Cian Quirke| T: A Slattery| OR: 109

25/1

Three-time hurdle winner who was better than ever returned to less testing conditions when third on reappearance at Tramore (solid form) last season. Not in same form on final start for E. J. O'Grady but goes well fresh and looks interesting if the ground dries out on first start for new yard.

Form: 2115/30-

King Kali¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Kevin Sexton| T: S Byrne| OR: 108

6/1

Better than ever when winning at Listowel (18f, soft) last season and shaped as if retaining all of his ability following 15 months off when creditable fourth of 16 in handicap hurdle at Naas (16f, heavy, 12/1) 12 days ago. Player if he can back that up off a fairly quick turnaround.

Form: 62/031-4

Trebizond⁸⁷⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Philip Donovan⁽³⁾| T: M K Flannery| OR: 106| D

50/1

Won a seller/handicap at Perth in 2023 and finished respectable fourth of 14 in handicap hurdle at Galway (16.7f, soft, 40/1) on final for R. Mike Smith in August of that year. Market can guide on reappearance/stable debut.

Form: 6F1144/

Peaceinthevalley³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Mike O'Connor| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 105

5/1

Promising fifth in a fairly useful Naas maiden on debut in February. Looks to have been brought along gradually since and makes plenty of appeal now sent handicapping by top yard.

Form: P/U50-75

Metamorpheus¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Jordan Gainford| T: A McNamara| OR: 104| D

33/1

On long losing run and looked to being having a pipe-opener when eighth of 15 in handicap hurdle at Navan (16f, heavy, 25/1) 13 days ago. Remains to be seen if he can get back on track on second run for new trainer.

Form: 0F4048

Is Charlie Around^t1²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Carl Millar⁽⁵⁾| T: Eamon Courtney| OR: 103

10/3

Progressive in soft/heavy ground maidens last season. Step back in right direction following couple of lesser efforts when seventh of 24 in handicap hurdle at Cork (20f, soft) 20 days ago, left with lot to do. Can be competitive if building on that run in first-time tongue strap.

Form: 5545-U7

Wardens Whisper^p³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Patrick M O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 100

9/2

Made all to win a Cork novice handicap (soft) last season and has returned in good form, jumping better than previously under typical front-running ride when third of 11 in handicap hurdle at Cork (15.9f, soft) 34 days ago. Could be well-positioned here and warrants consideration.

Form: 21P-U33

Big Dee^h³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Gary Noonan⁽³⁾| T: E McCarthy| OR: 98

11/1

Useful bumper winner in 2023. Clearly hasn't been easiest to train, not unduly punished when 80/1, tenth of 15 in novice hurdle at Cork (15.9f, soft) 34 days ago, having hopeless task from position. May have more to offer now handicapping and is one to note for support.

Form: 68/F000

Rackemandstackem³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Shane Fitzgerald| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 98

33/1

Given a considerate introduction and has seemingly been brought along with handicaps in mind (beaten at long odds previous 2 starts). Well worth a market check on handicap debut.

Form: 770

Fighting Falcon²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Phillip Enright| T: J Halley| OR: 95

28/1

Appears to have been campaigned with handicaps in mind. Off for nearly a year prior to latest run, 80/1, ninth of 25 in novice hurdle at Navan (16f, heavy) 21 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut and may have more to offer.

Form: 08-9

Marelly^p¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Tiernan Power Roche⁽³⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 95| CD

15/2

On a long losing run (last win came on sole C&D start in 2022) but that's reflected in his mark. Shaped better than result at Naas last time, unable to sustain effort having made ground out wide. Better expected returning to this C&D.

Form: P05059

The Sugarhill Lady^t³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Calum Hogan⁽⁷⁾| T: E McNamara| OR: 89

15/2

Yet to build on promise shown in maiden hurdles and was unable to justify support when sixth of 8 in handicap hurdle (5/1) at this C&D (heavy) 39 days ago. Interesting to see if the money comes again.

Form: 5PP-8P6

She's On Line^p³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Simon Torrens| T: E McCarthy| OR: 82| BF

12/1

Bounced back to form when good second of 12 in handicap hurdle at Clonmel (16.9f, good) but unable to back that up faced with more testing conditions when seventh of 8 in handicap hurdle (4/1) at this C&D (heavy) 39 days ago. Didn't look the easiest of rides last time and has a bit to find.

Form: 4-70027

Non-Runners

Kilbrin Rocco¹

Weight: 10-7| Age: 6

T: E McCarthy J: Gavin Brouder

Blue Reed³⁶

Weight: 10-6| Age: 6

T: C Collins J: Kevin Healy

Forecasts

Is Charlie Around (10/3), Wardens Whisper (9/2), Peaceinthevalley (5/1), King Kali (6/1), The Sugarhill Lady (15/2), Marelly (15/2), Blue Reed (10/1), Big Dee (11/1), She's On Line (12/1), Kilbrin Rocco (12/1), Gwan Tadhg (25/1), Fighting Falcon (28/1), Rackemandstackem (33/1), Metamorpheus (33/1), Trebizond (50/1)

PEACEINTHEVALLEY is in excellent hands and can improve now handicapping. He's narrowly preferred to interesting stable debutant Gwan Tadhg who goes well fresh and looks a likely danger if the ground dries out, while Marelly has fallen to a tempting mark as he seeks to make it 2-2 over C&D. Of the rest, Wardens Whisper and Blue Reed should be in the mix, while one-time useful bumper performer Big Dee warrants a market check in a competitive handicap.