13:45 Leopardstown

Thursday 26 December 2019

All12:1012:4013:1013:4514:2014:5515:30

Holden Plant Rentals Novice Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 4m 13.8s

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Selected odds by:

Dollys Destination⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: C J Orr⁽⁵⁾| T: Gary McGill| OR: 121| D

13/2

Running really well of late, and added to tally when winning a handicap at Navan last time easily by 2½ lengths from Encore Lui. Clearly thriving, although a 12lb rise demands more.

Form: 6-12221

Exceeded Brief²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: D N Russell| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 118

11/2

Caught in the dying strides of 2m maiden hurdles at Thurles 12 months apart, and a creditable fifth on this card in between. Showing improvement still, and goes handicapping off a favourable mark.

Form: 4725-2

Ena Baie^h¹⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: M P Walsh| T: H Fry| OR: 117| D

8/1

Won on handicap bow at Southwell in June, and improved further when fourth of 20 to Bercasa in handicap at Galway in July. Not seen since, but unlikely to have crossed the Irish Sea for the fresh air, and shortlisted.

Form: 14/4-214

De Mazzaro^h,t³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: T G McCourt| OR: 116| D

12/1

Finally off the mark when landing a Galway handicap off an 8lb lower mark in October. Looked held when falling at the last in a Grade 3 contest at Cheltenham last month, but this looks a bit easier, and he can't be ruled out.

Form: 33321F

Father Ailbe²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 119| D

16/1

Took a while to strike for current yard, but showed improved form when winning a handicap hurdle at Limerick last time by 6½L from Killacolla. Could do better still, but will need to having gone up 10lb in the handicap.

Form: 804341

Email Rose¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 115

16/1

Has shown ability in qualifying, and not seen to best effect on handicap debut at Punchestown, keeping on from the rear. Needs to improve, but still unexposed, so that would be no surprise.

Form: F59-257

Prosecution²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Liam McKenna⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 115| D

12/1

Sixth to Klassical Dream in maiden hurdle here a year ago, and showed improved form when winning a rated novice at Limerick on his return. That was a weak contest, and he's 8lb higher here, but he may have more to offer.

Form: 6094-1

Nibiru^t¹⁰⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: E O'Connell⁽⁷⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 117

25/1

Won a maiden hurdle at Ballinrobe in July, but that was a weak contest, and he's probably better judged on latest ninth of 14 to Razoul in a handicap at Listowel . Visor he wore there is left off, and others are more compelling.

Form: 63-3319

Jon Ess⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Ricky Doyle⁽³⁾| T: C O'Dwyer| OR: 113

25/1

Placed in novices at Sligo and Navan in the autumn, and has the benefit of a recent AW run, but his efforts in handicaps show that others are better weighted at present.

Form: 442826

Mrs Milner⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: P Nolan| OR: 116| D

14/1

Lightly raced, and improved markedly on second start over hurdles when winning a 2m maiden at Thurles in ready fashion last month. Handicapper looks to have underestimated that form, and while inexperience is a worry, she should go close.

Form: 5-51

Fauguernon³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 111

9/1

Has gone with a fair degree of promise in qualifying, but failed to improve making handicap debut at Cork last month, and needs to leave that modest form behind.

Form: 55-47

Fenta Des Obeaux^h²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 114

25/1

In frame a few times in maiden hurdles, but not helped by a tendency to race freely, and beaten when fell last on handicap debut in a race won by Father Ailbe at Limerick last month.

Form: 1F434-F

Rightplacerightime^t¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: B J Foley⁽⁵⁾| T: K F O'Donnell| OR: 113| D

16/1

Has taken time to make his mark, but steady improvement before landing a maiden hurdle at Naas recently despite rival almost putting him over the rail in latter stages. Should have more to offer now handicapping.

Form: 080551

Andalusa¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: R Deegan⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 112

20/1

Not one of her stable's stars by any means, but likely to have needed the run after a lengthy break when eighth of 15 to Treacysenniscorthy on handicap debut at Punchestown earlier this month. Should do better, but does need to.

Form: 43533-8

Lucky Phil^h,t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: G P Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: T Cooper| OR: 109| D

33/1

Winner of a Gowran handicap in October on her last hurdles start, but well held over fences next time, and hard to know what to make of a couple of runs on AW at Dundalk more recently.

Form: 025419

Song Of Namibia³²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott| OR: 109| C

40/1

Won a novice at Downpatrick in June, but he is a poor jumper of hurdles, and has been below form of late. Could get involved if avoiding mistakes, but that's a big if.

Form: 2060P8

Rare Conor^t¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Donagh Meyler| T: T Gibney| OR: 107

25/1

Not disgraced on handicap bow at Navan in 2018, and off a year before running down the field in corresponding event last month. Fared better when fifth at Punchestown since, but needs another significant step forward now.

Form: 4447-05

Volatile Lady^b1¹⁰⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: C Brassil⁽⁵⁾| T: B W Duke| OR: 110

50/1

Good third on handicap debut at Galway in July, and made hard work of a simple task next time. Well below her best at Listowel in September, and cheekpieces now replaced by blinkers.

Form: 22-4310

Stormy Tale^h¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: M J Bolger| T: M Mulvany| OR: 109

66/1

Ran well over 1¼m at Naas in November, but beaten when falling late back over hurdles at Navan recently. Needs to show she's over that, and others look better treated on hurdles form.

Form: 543-70F

Riverdene^p¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: G Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: E Griffin| OR: 104

10/1

Consistent in a trio of handicap hurdles before showing fair form on his chase debut at Tramore. Returns to hurdles looking vulnerable to less exposed rivals.

Form: 95-5435

Accidental Rebel²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: H Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 102

33/1

Matched pick of earlier form when seventh of 14 to Poseidon in a conditionals maiden at Limerick last time, although arguably did too much in front. Unexposed, so not a huge surprise to see him step up again.

Form: 963-57

Gambling Mistress³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: J S McGarvey| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 102

50/1

In the frame in a couple of maiden hurdles, but was beaten when falling on her handicap debut at Gowran last time. Hard to fancy with handicapper leaving her mark unchanged.

Form: 26-324F

The Mouse Doctor^t⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: J J Slevin| T: A J Martin| OR: 102| C

7/1

Limited appeal on hurdles form, but he's come right back to his best on the Flat of late, and comes here on the back of a win over 1½m at Dundalk last week. Can play a part if translating that form back to timber.

Form: P600/08-

Colour Me In¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: T Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: T Mullins| OR: 100

33/1

Has a patchy record overall, and while she was back to form when third of 21 to Rightplacerightime in a maiden at Naas last time, she is not certain to build on that promise here.

Form: P06U93

Storm Flight^t1⁷³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: P A Gallagher⁽⁵⁾| T: C O'Dwyer| OR: 94

66/1

Third in a weak maiden hurdle at Bellewstown in August, but that is something of a standout effort, and the balance of his form leaves him with plenty to find. Tried in a tongue tie now.

Form: 9-58P30

Non-Runners

Dessie's Diamond³¹¹

Weight: 11-1| Age: 5

T: P W Flynn J: Adrian Heskin

Forecasts

Exceeded Brief (11/2), Dollys Destination (13/2), The Mouse Doctor (7/1), Ena Baie (8/1), Fauguernon (9/1), Riverdene (10/1), Prosecution (12/1), De Mazzaro (12/1), Mrs Milner (14/1), Father Ailbe (16/1), Rightplacerightime (16/1), Email Rose (16/1), Dessie's Diamond (16/1), Andalusa (20/1), Rare Conor (25/1), Fenta Des Obeaux (25/1), Jon Ess (25/1), Nibiru (25/1), Accidental Rebel (33/1), Colour Me In (33/1), Lucky Phil (33/1), Song Of Namibia (40/1), Volatile Lady (50/1), Gambling Mistress (50/1), Stormy Tale (66/1), Storm Flight (66/1)

De Mazzaro takes a drop in class having shaped well in the Greatwood at Cheltenham, and is one to consider, as is the lightly raced Exceeded Brief, and recent Dundalk winner The Mouse Doctor, but the handicapper has been generous with the mark given to MRS MILNER for her handicap debut, and she can overcome inexperience to follow up an impressive maiden win at Thurles.