14:23 Limerick

Sunday 22 March 2026

All13:5314:2314:5315:2716:0216:3717:12

Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle

4YO plus | 2m 50y | 14 Runners | Turf

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: T J Kelly| T: E McNamara| OR: 106| BF| CD

C&D winner in November. 9/4, creditable 1¾ lengths second of 12 to Its Bilbo in listed handicap back here (2m, heavy) 83 days ago and he's high on the shortlist.

Form: 3-46312

Crohan Lady^t³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Brian Barry⁽²⁾| T: Miss E Lalor| OR: 103

Excellent third of 17 in handicap hurdle at Thurles (16.5f, heavy) 31 days ago, on what was her final run for the John Gerard Lonergan yard. Will need to raise her game in order to make a winning debut for new stable.

Form: 644093

Free Flow^b¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Thomas O'Connor⁽²⁾| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 103| D

Clear-cut winner of Thurles maiden hurdle last spring but it's been a struggle in handicap company since and overall record is a modest 1-24 (Flat and jumps).

Form: 800709

Something Noble¹⁶⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Eoghan Finegan| T: Ciaran Murphy| OR: 112

Modest maiden on the Flat and sprang a surprise when, sent off at 50/1, landing a 7-runner juvenile hurdle at Killarney (17f, good to soft) on debut in this sphere last summer. However, found things tougher at Listowel next time and was again below par back on the Flat on latest start.

Form: /15-

Marelly^b¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Kevin Healy| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 99| CD

C&D winner who notched third success over hurdles at Gowran in January. Ninth of 11 in handicap hurdle back there (2m, heavy, 11/1) 15 days ago and it could be that he's a shade too high in the weights for now.

Form: 597139

Malikanna²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Peter Smithers| T: P Roche| OR: 95

Another low-key display when coming home ninth of 21 in a maiden hurdle at Naas (15.5f, heavy) 28 days ago. However, it's not hard to envisage this mare taking a step forward now pitched into a handicap off what looks a fair opening mark.

Form: 3070F9

Minority Interest^p¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Paddy Cody⁽²⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 95

Successful at Gowran in October but turned in a lacklustre display when tenth of 13 in handicap hurdle returned to that course 15 days ago. Others make more appeal.

Form: 2-04180

Donnrua Dream^b,t²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Anna McGuinness| T: R Hackett| OR: 93| CD

Successful here in February but went up 9 lb for that and failed to land a meaningful blow when sixth of 9 in a handicap hurdle at Clonmel (2m, heavy) 24 days ago. Opposable.

Form: 767P16

Bohemian Bay²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Conor Smithers| T: Sean Allen| OR: 90

Lightly-raced maiden who has yet to pull up any trees under Rules, faring no better switched to handicap company at Clonmel last month.

Form: 330885

Crafty Gael^p⁸⁰⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Shane Markey⁽²⁾| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 87

Below-par ninth of 18 in handicap hurdle at Naas (19f, soft) when last seen back in January 2024. Would have a serious chance off this mark if he puts his best foot forward but it's a big ask for him to do so on the back of such a lengthy absence.

Form: 2F2239/

Halsafari²⁴

Age: 13| Weight: 10-7| J: Harry Sexton| T: J Barcoe| OR: 87| C| D

Course winner who returned to form when a respectable third of 8 in a claiming hurdle at Clonmel (2m, heavy) 24 days ago. Just 3 lb above last winning mark and he has to enter calculations.

Form: 005773

Carlas Big Jim¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Sarah Kavanagh| T: L J Archdeacon| OR: 86

Twenty-one runs since last win back in 2024. That said, recent sixth of 13 in handicap hurdle at Gowran (2½m, heavy) was respectable and, down another 2 lb and dropping back to the minimum trip, he could have a part to play.

Form: 0705P6

Scarlet Purse^t1⁵⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Dylan Kidd⁽²⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 85

Looks very limited based on the available evidence and hopes pinned on the first-time tongue strap parking improvement here.

Form: 096-000

Dream Shaper^v¹⁰⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: Paddy Cleary⁽²⁾| T: I Madden| OR: 84

Still winless following 25 attempts overall and looks set for another struggle.

Form: 87070F

Forecasts

Lenjoleur De Palma (6/4), Crohan Lady (7/2), Something Noble (8/1), Donnrua Dream (10/1), Halsafari (14/1), Carlas Big Jim (14/1), Malikanna (14/1), Marelly (16/1), Minority Interest (16/1), Crafty Gael (16/1), Free Flow (25/1), Bohemian Bay (25/1), Scarlet Purse (100/1), Dream Shaper (100/1)

The vote goes to LENJOLEUR DE PALMA, who opened his account in good style over C&D in November and made a bold bid to follow up off a 9 lb higher mark back here in a listed handicap over Christmas. Another 3 lb nudge will ask a question of him but he clearly likes it here and the forecast heavy ground is another plus point. Halsafari and Carlas Big Jim rate the main dangers, though Malikanna is also of interest now handicapping.