12:35 Leopardstown

Friday 29 December 2023

All12:0012:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:25

Pigsback.com Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 12:35 | Winning time: 5m 5.80s

1^st

Ballyburn

511-12

2/9f

T: W P MullinsJ: Paul Townend

Tracked leaders in 3rd, took keen hold, good headway to lead travelling well at last (usual 2 out), went clear entering straight, pushed along bypassing usual final flight, stayed on strongly, very easily, impressive op 2/7 tchd 30/100

2^nd

Cleatus Poolaw

511-12

6/1

T: G ElliottJ: Jack Kennedy

Tracked leader in 2nd on outer, jumped right at 1st, 7th and 8th, ridden in 2nd at last (usual 2 out), no impression on winner entering straight, moderate 2nd bypassing usual final flight, kept on one pace in 2nd tchd 11/2

3^rd

5 ½

Apple's Of Bresil

511-12

4/1

T: B ConnellJ: M J M O'Sullivan

Rear of mid-division, progress 2 out (usual 3 out), close 4th at last (usual 2 out), soon ridden, moderate 3rd entering straight, no impression on easy winner and kept on one pace in moderate 3rd final furlong

4^th

Saddle Her Up

511-5

33/1

T: Barry J FitzgeraldJ: Sean Cleary-Farrell (7)

Led, jumped right at 7th, ridden and headed at last (usual 2 out), dropped to moderate 4th entering straight, soon no impression on leaders op 28/1

5^th

Cloughroe

511-12

125/1

T: P J GilliganJ: Danny Gilligan (5)

Tracked leaders, under pressure 5th, mistake 8th, weakened, tailed off op 100/1 tchd 150/1

6^th

Laurie Blue

511-5

150/1

T: E D DelanyJ: Darragh O'Keeffe

Always behind, never a factor, completely tailed off tchd 125/1

Also Ran

Coming Up Easy

511-12

16/1

T: H De BromheadJ: Rachael Blackmore

Tracked leaders in 5th, fell 7th op 18/1 tchd 14/1

Tell Me This

511-5

100/1

T: Nina WalshJ: P J Carberry

In rear, brought down at 7th op 80/1 tchd 50/1

Unlimited Replays

of all UK and Irish races with our Race Replays

Discover Sporting Life Plus Benefits Sporting Life Plus - Join For Free

Non-Runners

Ebony Jade²⁰

Weight: 11-12| Age: 5

T: J P Dempsey J: Keith Donoghue

Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:€1.23Pl:€1.10, €1.10, €1.10EX:€2.80Trifecta:€5.50SF:€3.37

Forecasts

Ballyburn (2/9), Apple's Of Bresil (4/1), Cleatus Poolaw (6/1), Coming Up Easy (16/1), Saddle Her Up (33/1), Ebony Jade (100/1), Tell Me This (100/1), Cloughroe (125/1), Laurie Blue (150/1)

It's hard to look beyond BALLYBURN, who achieved a smart level of form in bumpers last season and pulled clear of the rest when chasing home a highly promising novice in Firefox on his hurdles debut at Fairyhouse. With Cleatus Poolaw due to run at Limerick on Thursday, Coming Up Easy, who represents a yard that has made a habit of winning this race in recent years, and Saddle Her Up are taken to fill the places.

BALLYBURN (IRE)
COMING UP EASY (IRE)
SADDLE HER UP (IRE)

Previous Winners

2022

Good Land

Weight: 11-12 |Age: 6

J: M J M O'Sullivan | T: B Connell

9/2

Prize Money

1st: €9,000.002nd: €3,000.003rd: €1,500.004th: €750.005th: €450.006th: €299.00