14:25 Thurles

Friday 10 January 2020

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3016:00

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Boreen Belle Mares Novice Hurdle (Listed)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 4m 11.3s

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Selected odds by:

Ard Abhainn³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| D

7/4

Useful mare who landed Punchestowen bumper last term and ran well in Listed company, then made winning hurdles bow at Clonmel 2m3f in October. Close third in Listed mares event last time and big chance if coping with drop back in trip.

Form: 1-1413

Botani¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: R M Power| T: Colm Murphy| D

16/1

Easily landed Kilbeggan bumper for Willie Mullins last term. Joined current yard in August but hasn't shone in two starts so far and looks out of her depth in this company.

Form: 41-476

Dollys Destination¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: C J Orr| T: Gary McGill| OR: 121| D

6/1

Won Hexham 2m mares novice hurdle in May and scored again when landing Navan 2m handicap penultimate start. Struggled last time off revised mark and more needed here to bustle up the principals.

Form: 122210

Flicker Flame⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: S W Flanagan| T: J P O'Brien| BF

12/1

1m5f Ballinrobe Flat winner in June and second last two starts in maiden hurdles over this C&D. Top yard always respected but this is much tougher and may struggle.

Form: 522

Heaven Help Us¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: D E Mullins| T: P Hennessy| OR: 129| D

11/4

Fair bumper performer and won Cheltenham maiden event on hurdles bow in October. Better form three starts since especially second in Grade 1 to smart Abracadabras at Leopardstown last time. Sets the standard.

Form: 8-01342

Mystery Stowaway¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: L Quinlan| T: J P Ryan| D

66/1

Listowel bumper winner in September but only fair maiden form in four starts so far over timber. Has a lot to prove at this level.

Form: 027430

Rebel Og^h⁷⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 125| CD

5/1

Top yard has huge strength in depth in this division. Off the mark over hurdles last time at fourth time of asking when easily beating Flicker Flame over C&D in mares' maiden hurdle. This is much hotter but has to be respected given connections.

Form: 37-34F1

Sailingtobyzantium³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead

16/1

Placed in a couple of point prior to falling at 3rd here on hurdles bow over 2m7f in November. 25/1 and showed good attitude when stayed on well to land Clonmel 2m3f maiden hurdle latest. Drops back in trip but is not out of it.

Form: P-32F1

Tara Dylan⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: D Meyler| T: T Mullins| OR: 112

50/1

Fully exposed mare who has won four times but has been struggling of late in run-of-the-mill handicaps so appears to face a very stiff task in this company.

Form: P46007

Forecasts

Ard Abhainn (7/4), Heaven Help Us (11/4), Rebel Og (5/1), Dollys Destination (6/1), Flicker Flame (12/1), Botani (16/1), Sailingtobyzantium (16/1), Tara Dylan (50/1), Mystery Stowaway (66/1)

Although she was probably flattered when second in a Grade 1 last time, HEAVEN HELP US did enough there to suggest she is up to winning at this level and has plenty going for her. Rebel Og is very interesting given her connections although she has a bit to find, while Ard Abhainn has talent but will need to be on top of her game dropping back to this minimum trip. Sailingtobyzantium sprang a surprise win last time but there was no fluke about it and a bold show here would not be out of place.