14:20 Leopardstown

Friday 27 December 2019

All12:0512:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:30

Paddy Power Games 'Don't Think You're Special' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 3m 58.1s

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Selected odds by:

Golden Spear^t⁷⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: E O'Connell⁽⁷⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 136| C| D

33/1

Won at Down Royal last November, and ran well when beaten just 6L in the Galway Hurdle, but has been below his best on Flat and over hurdles since, and needs to bounce back.

Form: 40/1-088

Moon Over Germany⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 134| D

4/1

Smart chaser, whose defeat by Notebook last time was franked by that one's Grade 1 win on Thursday. Not quite as good over hurdles, but figures on a handy mark, and ought to be competitive in a race of this nature.

Form: 41-4132

Cliff House^h1⁸⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: C A Landers⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs D A Love| OR: 133| CD

40/1

Consistent sort who can be relied upon to give his running, but he's handicapped to the hilt as a result, and may find himself vulnerable to progressive and/or well-handicapped rivals.

Form: 225243

Ilikedwayurthinkin²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: B J Geraghty| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 132

14/1

Won twice in a week at Galway in the summer, and possibly needed the run when mid-field at Fairyhouse after a break early this month. Has been raised 21lb for his wins, though, and is probably too high in the weights as a result.

Form: 350-119

Yaha Fizz⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: M F Mooney| T: E D Delany| OR: 132| D

40/1

Rattled off a hat-trick at the start of 2017. Placed on several occasions since, and out of his depth in the Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle last month after a absence. Handicapper has given him a chance, and he's not one to dismiss out of hand.

Form: 729/03-5

Ejayteekay⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: S G McDermott| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 131| D

50/1

Just 2lb higher than when an excellent second to Ming Dynasty at Bellewstown in July. Not matched that form simnce, but edging back down the weights, and not without claims.

Form: 120F06

Thatsy^t³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: J W Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 131| D

7/1

Unexposed, and built on previous placed efforts when winning a 19-runner maiden hurdle at Navan last time by a neck from Entoucas. Baxk in trip here, but looks very fairly treated, and looks the one to beat.

Form: 12/1-221

Ben Dundee^t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: K M Donoghue| T: G Elliott| OR: 130| D

12/1

Third over fences behind A Plus Tard at Cheltenham in the spring, and at least as good when second of 12 to Minella Times in handicap at Navan last time. Returns to hurdles off 8lb lower, and worthy of consideration.

Form: PF63-42

Daybreak Boy^p1¹⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: D P Holden⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 129| D

33/1

Useful sort who won at Clonmel in January, and in frame in minor events since, but he has run poorly on both handicap starts, and may prove better in smaller fields based on those poor efforts.

Form: 610-230

Got Trumped²⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: P D Kennedy| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 131

20/1

Useful juvenile last term, although well held in Cheltenham handicap and Grade 2 at Fairyhouse in the spring. Will find this a little easier, but high in the weights on balance.

Form: 134685-

Poseidon²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: O R Brown⁽⁷⁾| T: C Byrnes| OR: 127| D

8/1

Didn't need to improve to win a maiden hurdle at Limerick on latest outing, but remains unexposed now heading into handicaps, and needs a market check for shrewd connections.

Form: 45-2231

Dis Donc⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: E Walsh⁽⁷⁾| T: N Meade| OR: 126| D

25/1

Looked promising as a novice hurdler, but he has proved an abject disappointment since switched to fences, and while he may be revived by the return to timber, he has something to prove.

Form: 29/5F-99

Tiger Voice^t¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: D Meyler| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 128| BF| D

16/1

Very useful on the Flat, but has a mixed record over hurdles, improving to get off the mark at Cork on penultimate outing, but only third of four at Punchestown last time. May do better now handicapping, and market should guide.

Form: 06-213

Barwell¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: J J Slevin| T: K H Clarke| OR: 124

33/1

Won three of his five Flat handicap starts, and again on hurdles debut for Alan Fleming. Well held on stable debut at Navan recently, but may well have needed that run after an absence, and should do better.

Form: 1-0

Jukebox Jive²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 124| BF

9/1

Made a winning debut for current yard on the Flat at Naas, and ran with credit when sixth of 13 to Brawler in handicap at Fairyhouse last time. Drop in trip not an obvious catalyst for improvement, but not taken lightly.

Form: 14/6

La Sorelita^h,t²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: B Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 127

16/1

Yet to open account in since arriving from France, but is running at least respectably at present, and finished a creditable fifth at Fairyhouse last time behind Janidil. May yet do better with yard in fine form.

Form: 03-4465

Future Proof²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: S W Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 125| C

20/1

Ended a run of consistent efforts when pulled up in a maiden at Limerick last time, but had excuses (lost his action) and could offer value if bouncing back as expected.

Form: 222-43P

The Moyglass Flyer^t1⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: M P Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 121| D

4/1

Won a maiden hurdle at Thurles last November, and off for a year before finishing third of 19 to Dollys Destination on handicap bow at Navan last month. Travelled well there, and tongue tie ought to help his finishing effort now, so shortlisted.

Form: 1-3

Shumaker⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: D J O'Keeffe| T: Paul Traynor| OR: 120| D

14/1

Gaimed latest of three wins this season at Wexford in October, and improved another chunk when third of 14 to Janidil in a handicap at Down Royal last time. One to bear in mind.

Form: 2-71113

Golden Jewel¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: P E Corbett| T: E Cawley| OR: 119| D

33/1

On a lengthy losing run, and just a respectable fifth of 15 in a 2½ handicap hurdle at Navan on his latest start. Others have much stronger claims.

Form: 8648-05

Share The Honour^t⁶⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: P T Enright| T: A J Martin| OR: 116| D

16/1

Won a handicap hurdle at Tipperary in October, but beaten a fair way when fifth on the Flat last time, and while that run can be upgraded, he needs to raise his game to defy his current mark.

Form: 7/324-P1

Supreme Vinnie^t⁶⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-4| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss D O'Shea| OR: 116| D

66/1

On a long losing run, and struggling to find his best form this season. Looks a rank outsider in this field.

Form: 98UPR4

Tara Dylan²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: G P Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: T Mullins| OR: 116| C

50/1

Seems badly out of sorts at present, and hard to see her getting involved on recent evidence, finishing tailed off in last at Fairyhouse early this month.

Form: 14P460

Mandarin Monarch^p¹⁶⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: D P Maxwell⁽⁷⁾| T: A McNamara| OR: 115| D

33/1

Won twice over hurdles last October, and better than ever when landing a handicap at Sligo in July. This is much tougher, however, and no easy task on return from absence.

Form: 1360-71

Tandem⁵⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: D F O'Regan| T: D K Weld| OR: 114| C| D

25/1

Over 5 years since his sole win over hurdles, but retains a decent level of ability on the Flat, and only beaten 5L in a competitive handicap at Naas last month. No forlorn hope switching codes.

Form: 53440/5-

Non-Runners

Ena Baie¹

Weight: 10-5| Age: 5

T: H Fry J: S D Torrens

Forecasts

The Moyglass Flyer (4/1), Moon Over Germany (4/1), Thatsy (7/1), Poseidon (8/1), Jukebox Jive (9/1), Ben Dundee (12/1), Ilikedwayurthinkin (14/1), Shumaker (14/1), La Sorelita (16/1), Tiger Voice (16/1), Share The Honour (16/1), Ena Baie (16/1), Future Proof (20/1), Got Trumped (20/1), Tandem (25/1), Dis Donc (25/1), Daybreak Boy (33/1), Golden Jewel (33/1), Mandarin Monarch (33/1), Golden Spear (33/1), Barwell (33/1), Yaha Fizz (40/1), Cliff House (40/1), Tara Dylan (50/1), Ejayteekay (50/1), Supreme Vinnie (66/1)

Most of these are pretty exposed, but that is not the case with the twice-raced THE MOYGLASS FLYER, who shaped best on his handicap debut after a break last time, and should benefit from both the run and the fitting of a tongue tie. Thatsy is equally unexposed and appeals as the main danger despite dropping in trip. Yaha Fizz likely to go off at much bigger odds, but has been given a chance by the handicapper after an absence, and could surprise.