16:50 Naas

Sunday 8 March 2020

All14:1014:4015:1515:4516:2016:5017:20

Celebrating Women In Racing On International Women's Day Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 4m 41.3s

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Selected odds by:

Anibale Fly^t³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: B J Geraghty| T: A J Martin| OR: 142| C

9/1

Placed in the last two Gold Cups at the Cheltenham festival, the gelding appears to have lost his way in three starts this term. Looks ideally placed by trainer dropping in class and reverting to hurdles in this contest.

Form: 225-988

Espanito Bello⁹²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: K J Brouder| T: K H Clarke| OR: 128| CD

16/1

Has failed to progress from promising win on hurdling debut over C&D at this meeting 12 months ago suffering heavy reversals since. Looks opposable.

Form: 1/1P-0

Court Maid^p1¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: D J Mullins| T: T Mullins| OR: 126

5/1

Winner of three of her 12 starts over timber and is still racing 8lb higher than last winning mark. Encouraging third of 12 at Fairyhouse last month over 2m4f and a leading chance in this contest.

Form: 66-0303

Shumaker³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: D J O'Keeffe| T: Paul Traynor| OR: 126

16/1

Started this season with a hat-trick of wins and got his head back in front on heavy ground at Fairyhouse in January off a 6lb lower mark. Well held in a Grade B contest at Leopardstown last month but expected to perform better here.

Form: 113P10

Clondaw Native⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: L P Dempsey| T: G Elliott| OR: 123

20/1

One from nine over hurdles, the sole success coming in a maiden three years ago at Ascot when in the hands of trainer Stuart Edmunds. Best watched on second start for current connections.

Form: 87/638-0

Ificudiwud^b¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: E Walsh⁽⁷⁾| T: N Meade| OR: 123

5/1

Off the mark at the sixth time of asking for connections at Roscommon in August over 2m4f, on soft ground. Backed that success up on return to action at Fairyhouse last month following a break of 200 days. Likely to run well once again.

Form: 232311

Mister Eddman^h⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: O McKiernan| OR: 123| D

11/2

Won for the second time in his career when landing a 2m3½f Punchestown handicap hurdle on good/yielding ground off a 5lb lower mark in December. Well held since at this venue over 2m in January and has a bit to prove at present.

Form: 066010

Drop The Anchor⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: M P Walsh| T: P A Fahy| OR: 122| BF

6/1

Winner of one of his nine starts over hurdles landing a Punchestown soft ground 2m handicap in November off a 6lb lower mark. Well held in a couple of starts from revised mark since but capable of a big run if recapturing early season form.

Form: 032176

Crosshue Boy^t²²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: S F O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: S Doyle| OR: 121| D

33/1

Last seen struggling in a number of starts over the larger obstacles in a futile summer jumping campaign. Winner of three of his 17 starts over timber and can give a good account racing 3lb higher than last winning mark.

Form: 53F6-30

Snugsborough Benny³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: D F O'Regan| T: L P Cusack| OR: 121

10/1

Battle-hardened veteran generally consistent chaser/hurdler who usually be relied upon to get close to the money. Possibly needed the run on return to action at Leopardstown early last month and worthy of consideration in this company.

Form: 14-9369

Enjoy D'allen²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: K C Sexton| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 116

8/1

Continues to disappoint connections in a number of dismal efforts over hurdles since the Network gelding made his debut in November. Not one to place a great deal of faith in.

Form: 21-8685

Mister Fogpatches²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: C D Maxwell| T: P A Fahy| OR: 114

9/1

Has failed to progress in a number of starts over hurdles since winning for the first time at Navan in November off a 4lb lower mark. May need more help from the handicapper before coming in for consideration.

Form: 521857

Oscar Knight¹⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 9-12| J: N P Madden| T: T Mullins| OR: 114| C

33/1

Losing run now dates back to 2017 with the veteran struggling in a number of starts over hurdles since November. Capable of a big shock now racing 2lb lower than last winning mark.

Form: 7F7000

Forecasts

Court Maid (5/1), Ificudiwud (5/1), Mister Eddman (11/2), Drop The Anchor (6/1), Enjoy D'allen (8/1), Anibale Fly (9/1), Mister Fogpatches (9/1), Snugsborough Benny (10/1), Espanito Bello (16/1), Shumaker (16/1), Clondaw Native (20/1), Oscar Knight (33/1), Crosshue Boy (33/1)

IFICUDIWUD impressively shrugged aside a 200 day lay-off when landing the spoils on return to action in a Fairyhouse 2m4f handicap hurdle off a 7lb lower mark. The Noel Meade-trained gelding with adept 7lb claimer in the saddle can win again at the expense of the gallant Tony Martin-trained Anibale Fly who has hit the frame in the last two Gold cups at the Cheltenham festival. Court Maid in first-time cheekpieces and the reliable, Snugsborough Benny look more than capable of hitting the frame in this company.