Tote Backing Your Team Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 3m 55.3s

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Selected odds by:

Fiveallin⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 110

16/1

Never a factor following a return from a short summer break at Navan late last month; might just have needed that outing and if he can repeat some of his form from last March he is respected from powerful stable.

Form: 44-0P0

Itsalonglongroad^h,t¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: D J McInerney| T: J C McConnell| OR: 105| D

14/1

Has been running with some success on the Flat but disappointed on his last appearance over hurdles in August; chance if settling better but still looks a little too high in the handicap at present.

Form: 6F1/0P0

Rebel Early²¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: W J Burke| OR: 102| D

14/1

Unexpectedly (on all known form) won last time out at Clonmel and showed a willing spirit in the closing stages to do so; this test is more difficult but not insurmountable and the mare has a fair chance on handicap debut.

Form: 00F1-

Lucky Phil^h,t¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: B J Cooper| T: T Cooper| OR: 100

2/1

Fair effort on chasing debut last time out; had previously been running very consistently over hurdles; looks one of the more likely candidates and certainly deserves a long overdue win.

Form: 320254

Important Message⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: J B Kane⁽⁵⁾| T: D P Dunne| OR: 91

3/1

Generally runs his race over hurdles without threatening to win; probably needs to drop a few more pounds to get competitive but this is not a strong race so hard to dismiss altogether.

Form: 00-0744

Sunnyhill Lad⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: C F Hart⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 95

6/1

Will be fit from recent spin on the Flat at Cork but has generally been disappointing on all his hurdles starts and difficult to get excited about even at this level.

Form: 700-84

Alice Johnston^p³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: J S McGarvey| T: P Roche| OR: 89

5/1

Best effort came last time out at Clonmel on the back of some very poor performances over hurdles and fences; if she can build on that Clonmel effort then she has as much chance as any in this field.

Form: 50-79P2

Ricky Langford⁹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽³⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 82

12/1

Six-race maiden over hurdles, well held when finishing down the field on each occasion. Still looking no nearer to breakthrough success.

Form: 00068-0

Forecasts

Lucky Phil (2/1), Important Message (3/1), Alice Johnston (5/1), Sunnyhill Lad (6/1), Ricky Langford (12/1), Itsalonglongroad (14/1), Rebel Early (14/1), Fiveallin (16/1)

LUCKY PHIL has been running well in defeat over hurdles (and last time out over fences) since mid-summer and although still a maiden looks to have an excellent chance of landing this contest, not blessed with in-form or well-handicapped rivals. Rebel Early put some underwhelming jump form behind her when winning in a battling way at Clonmel last time out. A repeat of that effort on her handicap debut should see her go close. Another mare, Alice Johnston showed signs last time out that she is going in the right direction and has a fair chance if running up to her best.