16:12 Cork

Thursday 20 March 2025

All13:5214:2715:0215:3716:1216:4717:22

Social Packs For The Easter Festival Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:37 | Winning time: 6m 29.1s

Machismo^p¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Finn Brickley⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 120| D

5/1

Winner in hurdle at Tramore in January. Creditable second of 7 in handicap hurdle at Thurles (22.2f, good to soft, 8/1) 14 days ago. Can make presence felt again.

Form: 425142

Getaway Charlie⁵⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr D Doyle⁽⁷⁾| T: T Doyle| OR: 116

14/1

One win from 21 NH runs. 80/1, pulled up in handicap hurdle at Gowran (24.3f, heavy) 56 days ago. Others are preferred.

Form: U4PF9P

Sir Bob^p⁶⁸

Age: 13| Weight: 11-3| J: Mark Walsh| T: R Tyner| OR: 114| CD

4/1

Won this race last year and best effort of the current campaign when creditable fourth of 8 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (24f, good to soft, 18/1) 68 days ago. Cheekpieces back on. Can make a bold bid to defend his crown.

Form: 21-P004

Workinonadream^p³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Aidan Kelly⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 113

9/1

17¾ lengths fifth of 6 to Tareze in listed hurdle at Navan (20f, heavy, 18/1) 39 days ago. Back up in trip. Makes handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 235215

Hitak²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Danny Mullins| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 112| D

9/1

Lightly-raced maiden under NH rules. Has shown promise in qualifying runs over shorter trips and the step up to 3m should suit now handicapping. Potential improver who needs monitoring closely in the betting.

Form: 1P-P265

Lady Bluebird⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Eoghan Finegan⁽⁷⁾| T: H P Finegan| OR: 112

28/1

33/1, 36¾ lengths tenth of 12 to Lucky Viv in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (23.3f, soft) 45 days ago, unable to sustain effort.

Form: 151-000

Lucky Viv²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: John Shinnick⁽⁵⁾| T: Michael Barry| OR: 108

9/1

Latest win in hurdle at Punchestown in February. Good third of 12 in handicap hurdle (17/2) at Punchestown (24.8f, heavy) 24 days ago. Should give another good account.

Form: 007513

Nelson County²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 105

3/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 14/1, excellent third of 23 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (20f, soft) 26 days ago. Up in trip. Stable having good spell. Should have more to offer.

Form: 42-0683

Betty Dutton^t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: H E Sexton⁽⁷⁾| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 103

9/2

One win from 23 NH runs. Fifth of 7 in handicap hurdle (13/2) at Thurles (22.2f, good to soft) 14 days ago, better placed than most. Looks competitive on form.

Form: 655225

Non-Runners

Arion Soldier¹⁴⁴

Weight: 11-12| Age: 7

T: Eamon Courtney J: Rachael Blackmore

Flemensface¹⁹

Weight: 11-4| Age: 8

T: E Griffin J: Ricky Doyle

Toor Khov⁸²

Weight: 11-4| Age: 7

T: Ms M Flynn J: Liam Quinlan

Forecasts

Nelson County (3/1), Sir Bob (4/1), Betty Dutton (9/2), Machismo (5/1), Flemensface (5/1), Hitak (9/1), Lucky Viv (9/1), Workinonadream (9/1), Arion Soldier (12/1), Getaway Charlie (14/1), Toor Khov (14/1), Lady Bluebird (28/1)

Plenty with chances in a competitive race. NELSON COUNTY shaped well when third on his 2½m Fairyhouse handicap debut last month and can come good with today's longer trip expected to be in his favour. Gordon Elliott's Machismo rates an obvious danger after finishing second off this mark last time. Last year's winner Sir Bob is another who could go well, while Flemensface and Hitak rate potential improvers now moving into handicap company for the first time.

Previous Winners

2024

Sir Bob

Weight: 10-10 |Age: 12

J: Mark Walsh | T: R Tyner

8/1

Prize Money

1st: €9,600.002nd: €3,200.003rd: €1,600.004th: €800.005th: €480.006th: €319.00