14:30 Leopardstown

Sunday 2 February 2020

All12:5513:2513:5514:3015:0015:3016:0016:35

William Fry Handicap Hurdle (0-150) (Grade B)

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 6m 21.2s

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Selected odds by:

Jury Duty^t¹⁰⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 146

33/1

Failed to complete either the Irish or British Grand National last term and is generally bereft of any form in a couple of dour efforts at Gowran Park and when last seen at Fairyhouse in October.

Form: 11UP-64

Sayo³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: M P Fogarty| T: W P Mullins| OR: 145

66/1

Off the mark on just his second start over the larger obstacles in a Galway 2m2f beginners contest in October. Well held and never a factor since and faces a tough ask in this company.

Form: P418P3

The Jam Man³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: R McNally| OR: 139| D

16/1

Landed a hat-trick when winning at Newton Abbot in July and returned with a belated four-timer success at Navan in December. Beaten from his revised mark at Cheltenham at the turn of the year and may need a few to under perform here.

Form: 711114

De Name Escapes Me^t⁷⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: E Walsh⁽⁷⁾| T: N Meade| OR: 138

66/1

Three from 11 over hurdles. Struggling over both fences and timber in the last 12 months. Not seen since tailing off in a Navan handicap chase at Navan in November and looks up against it here.

Form: 05-U00P

Gardens of Babylon^b,t³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: B J Geraghty| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 139

9/1

Top class juvenile hurdler last season, when Triumph Hurdle third and Grade 2 second at Fairyhouse. Second of eight in a Grade 3 hurdle at Limerick over Christmas and could well still have more to give in this contest.

Form: 2-10822

Morosini²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: S D Torrens⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 138

12/1

Won for the second time over hurdles when landing a Cork 2m4f handicap on soft ground off a 9lb lower mark last month. Appears to have every chance of going close in this company.

Form: 123521

Take Revenge^p1,t⁸⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: D J McInerney| T: M Brassil| OR: 135| D

33/1

Appears not to have stepped forward in a couple of below par efforts since winning a Punchestown 2m4f maiden 12 months ago. First time cheekpieces unlikely to bring about the required amount of progression needed to land a blow here.

Form: 5321-9P

Cuneo^p³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: H Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 134| CD

33/1

Winner of two of his nine starts over hurdles but the gelding has been badly out of form in a number of starts over both fences and timber since returning to action in November. C&D winner could be a lively outsider if finding form again.

Form: 54-0070

Gran Geste⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: M P Walsh| T: Miss E Doyle| OR: 134

12/1

Landed a shock on return to action when landing a Galway handicap hurdle over 2m6f on soft ground in October at odds of 10/1. Third of 16 beaten 5½L in a pleasing effort from revised mark at Navan in December. Will look to progress again.

Form: 0/P40-13

Great White Shark³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 133| D

28/1

Landed a double with victories over hurdles at Wexford in May before a win on the Flat in a 20 runner 2m1f handicap at the Galway festival in July. Well held over timber in a disappointing effort over C&D in December and others look stronger.

Form: 21-1330

Quartz Du Rheu³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 136

14/1

Holding his form well in a number of starts over timber since August. Not beaten far in a couple of starts in December and not one to be ruling out just yet for owner who runs seven in this contest.

Form: 212324

Column Of Fire¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: J W Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 132

5/1

Off the mark for connections at the sixth time of asking over hurdles when landing a Punchestown 2m4f maiden on soft/heavy ground last month. More likely than some to run his race here.

Form: B2-32F1

Thermistocles^p³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 131| D

50/1

Encouraging and promising win in a Clonmel 3m handicap hurdle in November 2018 looks a distant memory with the Oscar gelding producing a couple of dismal efforts since return to action in November. Needs to take a big step forward to get competitive

Form: 1378-F0

High Sparrow^b³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: M P Burke⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 130| D

25/1

Won for the second time in his career when landing a soft ground handicap hurdle over a similar trip at Clonmel off an 8lb lower mark in October. Beaten since but ran with credit over C&D in December on latest start. Worth a check in the market.

Form: 36P1S5

Swordsman⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: M A Enright| T: G Elliott| OR: 130

66/1

Burgeoning chasing career appears to be on hold following a couple of setbacks since October. Winner of a Fairyhouse maiden over hurdles 12 months ago but looks to have a mountain to climb on handicap debut.

Form: 14P-1FP

Tout Est Permis^p³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: S W Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 129| BF| D

7/1

Was a disappointing favourite when held by The Jam Man at Navan before another defeat as market leader in a December contest over C&D on soft ground. Can give a good account here.

Form: 18-3424

Treacysenniscorthy³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: K J Brouder⁽³⁾| T: Robert Widger| OR: 128| CD

8/1

Fairytale continued when landing the spoils over C&D at the Christmas meeting on soft ground off a 9lb lower mark to win his third hurdle contest in a row. Life more difficult from career high mark but another bold bid is on the cards.

Form: 513111

Court Maid¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: S F O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: T Mullins| OR: 127| D

25/1

In the form of his life last winter but struggled when asked to take on stiffer company. Not disgraced when third of 12 at Navan over 2m4f last month but the 19L defeat is a concern. Little to be positive about.

Form: 0066-03

Stacks Mountain^p³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 126| D

18/1

Bounced back to form to finish third of 25 beaten 3½L over C&D at the Christmas festival. Not the most reliable of sorts but yard going well so must enter calculations.

Form: 114493

Defy De Mee^t1³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: B Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 125

66/1

Pleasing and promising earlier efforts have appeared to have leveled out in a number of dismal performances since April. Eight-race maiden has not looked a winner in waiting for some time.

Form: 252F6-P

Peaches And Cream¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 126| C

50/1

Experienced winner of three of his 15 starts over hurdles the latest of which came in a 2m4½f contest at this venue on yielding ground over Christmas off an 8lb lower mark. Last of five on latest start at Navan last month and likely to struggle here

Form: 4F8415

Zola³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: C P McNamara⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 123| D

33/1

Easily won on her hurdles debut following up a classy performance in a bumper before winning for the second time over timber at Cork in October. Well held in Grade 2 company at Limerick over Christmas and looks up against it on handicap debut.

Form: 421117

Braeside¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: L P Dempsey| T: G Elliott| OR: 121

22/1

Off the mark for connections at the fourth time of asking over hurdles landing a 2m6½f maiden at Fairyhouse on heavy ground last month beating five rivals 6L. More needed on handicap debut.

Form: 24-3331

Snugsborough Benny¹¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 9-13| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: L P Cusack| OR: 121| D

25/1

Battle-hardened veteran generally consistent chaser/hurdler who usually be relied upon to get close to the money. May find life difficult on his first start since October still racing 8lb higher than last winning mark.

Form: U14-936

You Can Call Me Al^h³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: P T Enright| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 121| BF

14/1

Four-race maiden over hurdles but continues to post solid and consistent efforts in maiden hurdle contests since returning to action in November. Could be a lively outsider on handicap debut.

Form: 43-353

Oscar Knight³³

Age: 11| Weight: 9-12| J: D J O'Keeffe| T: T Mullins| OR: 120

33/1

Veteran. Winner of two of his 18 starts over hurdles, proceeding to hit the frame on a further five occasions. Struggling of late in a couple of hurdling spins in December and unlikely to play a part in the finish in this contest.

Form: 637F70

Guard Of Honour²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-10| J: G P Brouder| T: W P Mullins| OR: 117

33/1

First Reserve: Won for the second time over hurdles when landing a 2m4f handicap off a 3lb lower mark at Southwell in October. Well held and never a factor on stable debut at Cork last month and easy to oppose here.

Form: 3163/1-7

Cabaret Queen³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: C D Maxwell⁽⁷⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 116| D

7/1

Third Reserve: Showed much improved form over the larger obstacles when winning Munster National in October. One from four over hurdles but yet to race in this division for current handler.

Form: 4-F21PF

Non-Runners

Silver Sheen²²

Weight: 10-11| Age: 6

T: Mrs J Harrington J: R M Power

Alohamora²

Weight: 9-10| Age: 6

T: J Nash J: G Brouder

Impatient Partner¹⁰

Weight: 9-10| Age: 7

T: N Meade J: Reserve 2

Forecasts

Column Of Fire (5/1), Tout Est Permis (7/1), Cabaret Queen (7/1), Treacysenniscorthy (8/1), Gardens of Babylon (9/1), Silver Sheen (10/1), Morosini (12/1), Gran Geste (12/1), Quartz Du Rheu (14/1), You Can Call Me Al (14/1), The Jam Man (16/1), Stacks Mountain (18/1), Braeside (22/1), High Sparrow (25/1), Snugsborough Benny (25/1), Court Maid (25/1), Alohamora (25/1), Great White Shark (28/1), Zola (33/1), Cuneo (33/1), Guard Of Honour (33/1), Jury Duty (33/1), Oscar Knight (33/1), Take Revenge (33/1), Impatient Partner (33/1), Thermistocles (50/1), Peaches And Cream (50/1), Sayo (66/1), De Name Escapes Me (66/1), Defy De Mee (66/1), Swordsman (66/1)

Despite being beaten favourite the last twice, the Noel Meade-trained TOUT EST PERMIS can win for the second time over hurdles for connections on his tenth start. The seven-year-old has ran well in defeat in a couple of initial handicap starts since December and can improve here at the expense of the gallant Treacysenniscorthy who had a number of today's rivals behind when landing a hat-trick of wins over C&D at the Christmas festival. Stacks Mountain for trainer Henry De Bromhead, Peaches And Cream and Alohamora have all ran well at this venue in the last 12 months and merit respect despite their big prices.