15:00 Leopardstown

Monday 4 March 2019

All13:3014:0014:3015:0015:3516:0516:40

TRI Equestrian Handicap Hurdle (80-109)

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 6m 15.5s

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Selected odds by:

Diggin Deep¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: S Hanlon| OR: 109| D

8/1

Been on the upgrade and finished off his race strongly to win again at Doncaster in January off a 7lb lower mark. Ran well in defeat at Thurles over this trip last month and should be among the leading players.

Form: 571213

Monition¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: J W Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 109

12/1

Well held and never nearer in a couple of handicap hurdle starts and below par form may well continue here. Yard have struggled for winners at this venue around this time of year since 2016.

Form: 5-73408

Lady Writer^p²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan| OR: 108| D

6/1

First-time cheekpieces appeared to work the oracle for the mare when bagging a 17-runner handicap hurdle at Punchestown off an 8lb lower mark. Open to significant improvement and one to have on side.

Form: 503341

Leave Your Mark²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: M P Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 107

7/1

Showed ability without making the frame in two bumpers and produced plenty of promise when third of seven beaten ½L in a Thurles maiden hurdle on good ground in November. Ran well on comeback an 89 day break at Naas last month and leading contender.

Form: 85-630

Alohamora¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: P Townend| T: J Nash| OR: 105

20/1

Not disgraced in three handicap hurdle starts since the turn of the year including finishing fifth of 13 beaten 8½L at Navan last month. Not totally dismissed but more needed.

Form: 3-48065

Citizen Al¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: M J M O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: E M O'Sullivan| OR: 102

10/1

Appears to be improving with every run following outings at Punchestown and when finishing second of 13 beaten 1¼L in a Thurles handicap hurdle on good ground last month. One to consider on recent displays.

Form: 180632

Cappuccino Man^p1,t⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: O McKiernan| OR: 101| D

6/1

Solid and consistent sort running well in defeat since January including finishing runner-up to Beepers Ruby at Fairyhouse last month. Likes cut in the ground and a leading player in this contest in first-time cheepices.

Form: 3-P8342

Emily Square⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: S G McDermott| T: T Mullins| OR: 101

16/1

Conditions to suit and will look to reproduce the form of his Fairyhouse win last month. Yard have a solid record at this track in the last three seasons around this time of year with Spider Web and Grand Partner landing a double last year.

Form: F90U15

Cher Why Not²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: R P Treacy⁽³⁾| T: T Doyle| OR: 92

7/2

Backed up a couple of solid runner-up finishes at Punchestown and Fairyhouse when landing a Thurles handicap hurdle on good ground over 2m6½f last month off a 5lb lower mark. Likes cut in the ground is approached with plenty of respect.

Form: PP3221

Howaya Aoife^t²²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: R C Colgan| T: G Keane| OR: 91| D

18/1

Disappointed in three maiden hurdle starts since December before an improved performance on handicap debut at Punchestown last month. Behind Lady Writer on that run and needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 5/0-9907

Avec Espoir⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: P T Enright| T: V T O'Brien| OR: 87

9/1

Modest form to date and has been well beaten in his first couple of handicap hurdle starts at Naas and Navan. Still looking no nearer to breakthrough success and others preferred.

Form: 970006

Wolfofallstreets^t⁶⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 89

25/1

Still lightly-raced, midfield finish in novice hurdle at Limerick over 2m3f on soft ground on St Stephens Day when last spotted. Handicap bow here with improvement to find.

Form: 67-908

Brazen Bay⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: J M Moore| T: J O Clifford| OR: 83

66/1

Gallant sort who has been well beaten in four hurdle starts despite finishing in midfield in a number of big fields including on handicap debut at Tramore in January. Others make more appeal.

Form: 7-89889

Non-Runners

Qui Bono¹⁰⁶

Weight: 11-12| Age: 8

T: B W Duke J: L T McAteer

Ask Heather⁴

Weight: 11-1| Age: 7

T: D Queally J: D Meyler

Officers Mess¹⁹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: C O'Dwyer J: R A Doyle

Wrap Star⁴⁹

Weight: 10-3| Age: 8

T: A McCann J: S O'Callaghan

The Broom Squire⁹⁵

Weight: 9-11| Age: 6

T: P J Rothwell J: C A Landers

Forecasts

Cher Why Not (7/2), Ask Heather (4/1), Lady Writer (6/1), Cappuccino Man (6/1), Leave Your Mark (7/1), Diggin Deep (8/1), Avec Espoir (9/1), Citizen Al (10/1), Monition (12/1), Officers Mess (14/1), Emily Square (16/1), Qui Bono (16/1), Howaya Aoife (18/1), Alohamora (20/1), Wolfofallstreets (25/1), The Broom Squire (33/1), Wrap Star (50/1), Brazen Bay (66/1)

In a wide-open handicap the Flemensfirth gelding CHER WHY NOT can land the spoils following a number of solid and consistent runs since the turn of the year including when second the Willie Mullins-trained Eight And Bob on yielding to soft ground at Fairyhouse in January. The seven-year-old will have to see of strong competition from Cappuccino Man in first-time cheekpieces, Emily Square from the Thomas Mullins yard and the dependable Diggin Deep.