15:45 Leopardstown

Sunday 7 March 2021

All14:1014:4515:1515:4516:2016:5017:20

Anton O'Toole Mares Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:48 | Winning time: 5m 1.2s

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Selected odds by:

Strange Notions^h³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: H Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: C O'Brien| OR: 114

7/1

Creditable fifth of 10 in handicap hurdle at Thurles (15.7f, heavy, 12/1) 39 days ago, pushed along from 3 out and plugging on. This step up in trip is a plus on that evidence.

Form:

Annie Pender^h⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: D F O'Regan| T: J Queally| OR: 114

28/1

Winner in hurdle at Listowel in September. 10/1, creditable third of 6 in novice hurdle at Cork (16f, heavy) 64 days ago. Longer trip worth exploring.

Form:

Demi Plie^p¹⁶⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Miss A B O'Connor⁽⁵⁾| T: P Roche| OR: 113| D

16/1

Below form tenth of 17 in handicap chase (25/1) at Listowel (3m) in September. Has gone well fresh previously so not ruled out on back of a break/reverting to timber.

Form:

Fairyhill Run¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: D E Mullins| T: J P Ryan| OR: 111

16/1

Pulled up in listed hurdle at Navan (21f, heavy, 66/1) 14 days ago won by Atlantic Fairy, beaten from 3 out. This assignment more suitable but she does need to bounce back.

Form:

Klassy Kay⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 107| D

9/4

Promising type. 13/8, career best when winning 11-runner handicap hurdle at Punchestown (20f, heavy) 49 days ago, travelling best. Has good chance on form.

Form:

Smiths Girl^p,t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: E Walsh⁽⁵⁾| T: S Crawley| OR: 107

10/1

8/1, below form sixth of 14 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (24f, heavy) 21 days ago. Cheekpieces back on.

Form:

Trickey Trix^t⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: C A Landers⁽⁵⁾| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 107

16/1

Latest win in hurdle at Thurles in October. 14/1, good third of 14 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (22.8f, heavy) 8 days ago. Holds each-way claims with a repeat.

Form:

Amor Verdadero⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: J C Gainford⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 104| D

7/1

16/1, creditable 6¾ lengths third of 11 to Klassy Kay in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (20f, heavy) 49 days ago. Much better off at weights with that rival now and good showing not ruled out.

Form:

Lee Valley Legacy^p²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: P J O'Hanlon⁽⁷⁾| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 102| C

12/1

Course winner. Below form seventh of 14 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (24f, heavy, 5/1) 21 days ago, faring best of those ridden prominently. Not taken lightly.

Form:

Wild Caprice³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: T James| OR: 101

16/1

Tongue strap on for 1st time, below form eleventh of 20 in handicap hurdle at Navan (20f, heavy, 7/1) 37 days ago.

Form:

Gold Creek¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: P T Enright| T: Aengus King| OR: 99

66/1

18/1, fell in novice chase at Thurles (21.7f, heavy) 10 days ago too far out to suggest outcome. However, record over hurdles previously not the most inspiring. Others preferred.

Form:

She's Commanche^h⁸³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: S W Flanagan| T: A Murray| OR: 95

9/1

1 win from 3 runs this season. Respectable fourth of 19 in handicap hurdle (10/3) at Naas (19f, heavy) 83 days ago. No surprise to see her give another good account upped further in trip.

Form:

Dragon's Pass^b¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: S D Torrens⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 95| D

15/2

Winner in hurdle at Navan in November. 8/1, creditable fourth of 20 in handicap hurdle at Navan (21f, heavy) 14 days ago. Step up further in trip may suit ideally.

Form:

Slainte And Thanks³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: B Hayes| T: G Ahern| OR: 94| D

66/1

Modest hurdles winner (at 20f) who has been well held on each of her last 2 starts over fences, albeit latterly when out of depth in Grade 2 event. Still, others preferred back over timber.

Form:

Howaya Aoife^t³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-1| J: C D Maxwell| T: G Keane| OR: 91

25/1

14/1, respectable seventh of 20 in handicap hurdle at Navan (20f, heavy) 37 days ago, weakening run-in. Possible that run was still needed but she remains 2 lb above last winning mark.

Form:

Paddy Wickla¹¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: J M Moore| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 91

100/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Pulled up in novice hurdle at Limerick (19f, heavy, 25/1) 110 days ago, left behind end of back straight. Makes handicap hurdle debut. Plenty to find on form.

Form:

Magic Of Words⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 87

40/1

Lightly-raced maiden under NH rules. 200/1, well held ninth of 15 in novice hurdle at Naas (15.8f) 53 days ago. Yet to show much but she's in good hands and switch to handicaps rates a plus.

Form:

Forecasts

Klassy Kay (9/4), Strange Notions (7/1), Amor Verdadero (7/1), Dragon's Pass (15/2), She's Commanche (9/1), Smiths Girl (10/1), Lee Valley Legacy (12/1), Trickey Trix (16/1), Demi Plie (16/1), Fairyhill Run (16/1), Wild Caprice (16/1), Howaya Aoife (25/1), Annie Pender (28/1), Magic Of Words (40/1), Gold Creek (66/1), Slainte And Thanks (66/1), Paddy Wickla (100/1)

KLASSY KAY took another step forward when a comfortable winner at Punchestown in January. The handicapper has reacted but that may not prove her limit and Willie Mullins' mare is fancied to make another bold bid. Amor Verdadero, who was behind the selection that day, Demi Plie and Strange Notions head up the dangers in an interesting handicap.