13:15 Leopardstown

Monday 2 March 2020

All13:1513:4514:2014:5515:2516:0016:30

Kids Go Racing Handicap Hurdle (80-109)

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 4m 7.3s

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Selected odds by:

Lean And Keen^p,t³⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: S Byrne| OR: 109| C| D

25/1

Dual hurdle winner in 2014 and hasn't won in either code since 2015. Struggling in four outings since October on the Flat, over the larger obstacles and timber at Naas last month.

Form: 4-9F030

Magic Sea¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: E Walsh⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs S Dawson| OR: 109| BF

14/1

Off the mark at the 13th time of asking when landing a Down Royal handicap hurdle over 2m1f in December; found things tougher off his revised mark and struggled recently on the Flat at Dundalk.

Form: 894610

Scully's Dream¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: M J Bolger| T: James Andrew Fahey| OR: 109| D

12/1

Brought down when still in touch at the third last in a Naas 2m maiden hurdle last month before below par last time at Punchestown; much more improvement needed to play leading role in this contest

Form: 71/00B7

Handsworth¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P Dempsey| OR: 108

20/1

Has had plenty of chances in maiden hurdles but has failed to deliver on any occasion; was well backed last time suggesting connection believe they have something to work on but this looks tough on handicap debut.

Form: P0089

Roachdale House¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: D F O'Regan| T: P W Flynn| OR: 108| D

25/1

Last seen over hurdles when struggling at Galway in September; is fit from the Flat and now back on a fair handicap mark; fair chance if returning to his best.

Form: U3U320

Bold Emperor⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: T Gibney| OR: 107| D

10/1

Managed to win a modest maiden when with his former yard back in 2017 but it's been lean picking since. Well held and no impression at Punchestown in January and easy to oppose again.

Form: 2-5FP00

Wajaaha²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: C A Landers⁽⁵⁾| T: C Byrnes| OR: 106

11/4

Yet to hit the frame in five starts over hurdles including when last seen at Naas last month; last effort was slight improvement for new connections and if going on again, he could surprise.

Form: 79805

Twist⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: R P Treacy⁽³⁾| T: E McNamara| OR: 104

33/1

Knocking on the door in a couple of pleasing efforts over hurdles for Nicky Henderson last summer; no great shakes on Irish debut in December but can improve and one who deserves closer examination.

Form: 5-7320

Love And Wishes^p1,t1¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Phillip Enright| T: R K Watson| OR: 102

33/1

Returns to hurdles after a disappointing effort over fences; has shown signs of ability over hurdles but not for a long while and others preferred here.

Form: 0/5P0-8P

Atalanta's Gold^t¹¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: M Maguire| OR: 101| D

33/1

Handicap hurdle winner on good-to-firm ground at Towcester last May and ran well to finish runner-up over an extended 2m4f at Market Rasen (good) next time; two poor runs since after long break does not inspire much confidence.

Form: 4128-80

Breesy Mountain^h1,t¹¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Donagh Meyler| T: K Thornton| OR: 99| D

33/1

Won at Punchestown over 2m in December 2018 but has generally struggled since then and has failed to finish in three of his last four starts; difficult to see him winning off current mark.

Form: 15F-5PP

Muhaafiz⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Ricky Doyle⁽³⁾| T: V T O'Brien| OR: 99| D

7/2

Ran as well as could be expected at Naas on return to action in January before winning comfortably at same track last month; struggled off revised mark last time and possibly similar story here.

Form: 46/6-617

Alfred Wegener⁶⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: C P McNamara⁽⁵⁾| T: E McNamara| OR: 98| D

33/1

Made all to win a Ballinrobe handicap hurdle off a 3lb lower mark in August; beaten and well held since and hard to be confident at present.

Form: B01400

Fruits Of Glory^h,t¹⁰⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-1| J: C D Timmons⁽³⁾| T: E Cawley| OR: 98| D

11/1

Ended a four year and eight month wait for his second win latest when winning with plenty in hand over fences at Punchestown in October; brought down next time out and difficult what to make of this return to hurdling.

Form: 9-3821B

Benefit North^h,t⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: B J Cooper| T: C A McBratney| OR: 97

12/1

10-race maiden only once placed under Rules and never over hurdles. Bits and pieces of form to suggest him competitive here but hardly a compelling profile.

Form: FU6407

Knockraha Boss¹¹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-13| J: K J Brouder| T: R A Foley| OR: 96| D

7/1

Off the mark at the 25th time of asking for connections at Tramore over 2m on New Years Day; beaten twice since but put in good effort last time out at Thurles and a repeat of that performance would see him go close.

Form: 334102

Mary Of De Sorrows¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: J B Kane⁽⁵⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 95

50/1

Full-sister to fairly useful jumper Niven, and related to other jumps winners, so not without interest but was majorly disappointing on all three racecourse appearances to date and hard to recommend on handicap debut.

Form: 008

My Peggy²⁰⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: J S McGarvey| T: N C Kelly| OR: 95

33/1

Off the mark at the sixth time of asking for connections when landing a Wexford handicap hurdle off a 5lb lower mark in June; needs to bounce back from poor run last time when completely tailed off at Downpatrick.

Form: 050-129

Severus Alexander^t¹⁰⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 102

8/1

Not much to shout about in four dismal starts over hurdles since his debut in October; looks to have reasonable handicap mark and hard to easily write off.

Form: 7B70

Darkened¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: M A Enright| T: D Hogan| OR: 97

20/1

Not great shakes any any of his hurdles performances and need to bounced back from failing to complete last time out; handicap debut.

Form: 08P

Non-Runners

Chalky White³²

Weight: 10-10| Age: 6

T: J Dullea J: Reserve 1

Robbies Magic³²⁶

Weight: 10-5| Age: 7

T: R Hackett J: Reserve 2

Thefaithfulindian⁹⁴

Weight: 10-3| Age: 5

T: A A Howard J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Wajaaha (11/4), Muhaafiz (7/2), Knockraha Boss (7/1), Severus Alexander (8/1), Bold Emperor (10/1), Fruits Of Glory (11/1), Thefaithfulindian (11/1), Scully's Dream (12/1), Benefit North (12/1), Magic Sea (14/1), Darkened (20/1), Handsworth (20/1), Roachdale House (25/1), Lean And Keen (25/1), Alfred Wegener (33/1), Love And Wishes (33/1), Twist (33/1), My Peggy (33/1), Atalanta's Gold (33/1), Robbies Magic (33/1), Chalky White (33/1), Breesy Mountain (33/1), Mary Of De Sorrows (50/1)

TWIST is just having his second start for new connections and although his first start was below his best, he rates as the selection based on the form he showed for Nicky Henderson last summer. He should be fitter for that outing at Limerick and might be able to claim his first win in a race not full of likely winners. Roachdale House has been kept fit racing on the Flat but he has plenty of useful hurdles form and if running up to his best, may give the selection most to do. Severus Alexander has not set the hurdling world on fire but gets in here off a possibly lenient mark and sustained market support would be interesting.