McGrath Limestone Works Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 18:08 | Winning time: 4m 40.0s

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Selected odds by:

Kings Hill³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: J G Gilligan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Gilligan| OR: 130

7/2

15½ lengths ninth of 11 to Slade Steel in Supreme Novices' Hurdle (150/1) at Cheltenham (16.4f, heavy) 38 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut and this a much more realistic assignment.

Form: 0419

Zoffanien⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: J P Shinnick⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 123| CD

6/1

C&D winner. Twelve runs since last win in 2022. 14/1, respectable fifth of 16 in handicap hurdle at Naas (15.6f, heavy) 54 days ago. Threatening to come good from this mark.

Form: 0F-5035

Barnacullia¹⁷³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: K M Donoghue| T: M Mulvany| OR: 121| BF| D

10/1

Creditable fourth of 15 in handicap hurdle (3/1) at Galway (16f, heavy) 173 days ago, conceding first run. Enters calculations from his lower hurdles mark compared to fences.

Form: 44P-224

Belle The Lioness^t⁷⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 121

11/4

20/1, below form seventh of 19 in handicap hurdle at Leopardstown (18f, soft) 75 days ago, unable to sustain effort. Can give a good account.

Form: 210-327

The Dasher Conway¹⁷⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: J C Gainford| T: Mrs G Callaghan| OR: 118

12/1

Below form sixth of 11 in handicap chase at Cheltenham (15.9f, good to soft, 12/1) 174 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles.

Form: 132F26

Cheerful Chap^p³^{(ex 7)}

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: S D Torrens| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 103

2/1

Career best when winning 13-runner handicap hurdle at Naas (16.5f, soft, 4/1) 3 days ago. Carries penalty but may have more to offer for this yard.

Form: 705421

Young Fitzy^h⁹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: C M Quirke⁽⁵⁾| T: N Lee| OR: 91

40/1

12/1, pulled up in handicap chase at Clonmel (16.5f, heavy) 99 days ago, pulled up early in straight. Switches from chase to hurdles. Hood back on. Very hard to make a case for.

Form: 60363P

Non-Runners

Champagne Platinum²⁹

Weight: 11-8| Age: 10

T: E Bolger J: L Donnelly

Forecasts

Cheerful Chap (2/1), Belle The Lioness (11/4), Kings Hill (7/2), Zoffanien (6/1), Barnacullia (10/1), The Dasher Conway (12/1), Champagne Platinum (16/1), Young Fitzy (40/1)

A competitive race for the field size with ZOFFANIEN fancied to put it together and cash in on this handy mark. Cheerful Chap was better than ever at Naas on Tuesday so is a huge threat if turned out quickly, with Kings Hill also considered down in class.