15:25 Thurles

Thursday 30 November 2017

All12:2512:5513:2513:5514:2514:5515:25

Thurles Handicap Hurdle (80-95)

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 6m 12.9s

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Selected odds by:

Be My Vinnie¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: E O'Connell⁽⁷⁾| T: E O'Connell| OR: 95

4/1

Stays well and ought to appreciate the step up in trip after a sound effort last time. Rider's claim helps at the weight, so top weight not an insurmountable burden this time.

Form: 441-372

Dazzling Sarah⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: D N Russell| T: P A Fahy| OR: 93

20/1

Won a mares only bumper at Wexford in March but only raced twice since. Not unduly burdened for her handicap debut but others possibly more progressive given her poor effort last time.

Form: 8001-80

Rare Legend^p⁵^{(ex 4)}

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 87

10/3

Slipped the noose in a stronger looking race at Huntingdon at the weekend and has to merit at plenty of respect under just a 4lb penalty. Gets on well with today's rider, so the case looks strong for a bold bid for a quick follow up.

Form: 3602-31

Cher Why Not³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: M P Burke⁽⁵⁾| T: T Doyle| OR: 90

6/1

Good effort here last time but not the most consistent individual, so not certain to dish out the same level of effort. Any rain may help his cause though.

Form: P0-56P2

Come Home Quick^h¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: R A Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: M Fahey| OR: 90

10/1

Hit with a 9lb hike after winning her penultimate start at Wexford. Dropped 1lb after being held at Fairyhouse earlier in the month but possible the handicapper already has her measure.

Form: 76-0F14

Uptake^p,t³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: C D Maxwell| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 89| D

25/1

Well held in each of his three starts since winning at Down Royal in September and now has plenty to prove - others much more convincing.

Form: 801700

Glenabo Bridge^t1¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: O McKiernan| OR: 88| BF

13/2

Good effort when well backed last time out (finished just ahead of Come Home Quick) and has hot form at the right time for a race like this. One to bear in mind despite still being a maiden under racing rules.

Form: U007-43

The Church Gate^p,t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: A E Lynch| T: M J Smith| OR: 88| BF

7/1

Mainly consistent and arguable as to whether he's better over hurdles than fences at present. Rated much higher over fences but couldn't make it count last time, so has a bit to prove on balance.

Form: 220-P35

Hexapod³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: P T Enright| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 87

14/1

Should appreciate this step up in trip but has a bit to find with Come Home Quick and likely she'll have to settle for a minor role if this goes to form.

Form: 1-0606

The Grey Guy²⁵⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: P F Mangan| T: B O'Keeffe| OR: 87

16/1

Won and been placed off higher marks in the past, so very feasible he's on a winning mark for his return to the action. Been off since March, so probably safest to gauge the betting before diving in with the ten-year-old.

Form: 9/77003-

Darcellyeann¹¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: K C Sexton| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 85

25/1

Form has been pretty uninspiring so far and a big amount of improvement is required now she steps into handicap company. Others much more appealing on these terms.

Form: 0-U088

Erkindale Lady^p¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: J J Slevin⁽³⁾| T: Miss M M Gannon| OR: 85| D

7/1

Won on the line over fences at Fairyhouse earlier in the month and may be more to come in that sphere. However, her form over hurdles hasn't been too clever so far and she still looks a risky option despite being rated 7lb lower over timber.

Form: 774991

Candle Island³⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-1| J: A Ring⁽³⁾| T: M McCullagh| OR: 84| CD

66/1

Last hurdles win was two years ago and given that he's so lightly raced in recent times, the case to leave him out of the betting plans is quite compelling this time.

Form: 2P0/00-0

Diggin Deep¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: P D Kennedy⁽³⁾| T: M McCullagh| OR: 81

50/1

Held by Erkindale Lady over fences last time and makes limited appeal in his bid to reverse the form over hurdles. Never been even placed in 11 previous starts over timber, so pretty safe to look elsewhere.

Form: 8-00654

Glasson Lad^b¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: M F Mooney| T: Mrs A Mooney| OR: 81

33/1

On a handy mark but has a bit to find with a couple of the others and needs an awful lot to go his way. Also a bit to prove over this trip.

Form: 436005

Mystic Embarr^p²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: D J McInerney⁽⁵⁾| T: D Broad| OR: 81

10/1

One of his better efforts last time and would have place claims if building on that effort. Previous form looks shaky, however, and he looks a risky option over a trip which will bring a new test of his stamina.

Form: 669983

Christening Spoon^t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: R P Treacy⁽⁵⁾| T: L Young| OR: 80

66/1

Seems to be versatile regarding her best trip but was well held in a moderate maiden last time out and plenty more required even in a low-grade event such as this.

Form: 6-70504

Flemish Maid³²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 80

33/1

Never landed a blow when the subject of support last time and looks one to be wary of just now. Form with cut in the ground has been modest at best, so may be one that needs a firmer surface to be seen in a better light.

Form: 90B-78P

Danse Away³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Reserve 1| T: T J Nagle-Jr| OR: 94

First reserve: Won a point-to-point but not yet really caught the imagination since switching to bumpers and hurdles. Others much more appealing.

Form: 24-4789

Honest Robber³⁰³

Age: 12| Weight: 11-3| J: Reserve 2| T: M Torrens| OR: 86

Second reserve: Winner over fences when last seen out but on a handy rating hurdles in comparison. Long absence an obvious concern though.

Form: 044691-

Glen's Dd^h⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Reserve 3| T: G J Power| OR: 82

Third reserve: Handicap mark reaching an attractive level but still a maiden after 13 previous attempts and hard to see that statistic being altered even if she does get a run this time.

Form: P-7P606

Forecasts

Rare Legend (10/3), Be My Vinnie (4/1), Cher Why Not (6/1), Glenabo Bridge (13/2), The Church Gate (7/1), Erkindale Lady (7/1), Mystic Embarr (10/1), Come Home Quick (10/1), Hexapod (14/1), The Grey Guy (16/1), Dazzling Sarah (20/1), Darcellyeann (25/1), Uptake (25/1), Glasson Lad (33/1), Flemish Maid (33/1), Diggin Deep (50/1), Christening Spoon (66/1), Candle Island (66/1)

RARE LEGEND scooted home at Huntingdon at the weekend and, given that he only carries 4lb extra for that smooth performance, the gelding has to merit an interest in a weak event such as this. Glenabo Bridge, who sports a tongue tie for the first time, comes into this is good heart and could be the biggest threat if this comes around too quickly for the selection. Come Home Quick and The Grey Guy are others worth bearing in mind to make the frame.