14:20 Downpatrick

Sunday 30 March 2025

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:15

Billie And Bertie FitzGerald Memorial Handicap Hurdle (0-100)

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 5m 33.5s

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Selected odds by:

Kalsman^h²⁸⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Caragh Monaghan⁽⁷⁾| T: L Lennon| OR: 96| CD

20/1

Upped in trip and off the mark when landing a 15-runner handicap hurdle over C&D when last seen in June 2024. Not ruled out if ready to roll after a 9-month absence.

Form: 004-941

Seskin Flash^h1²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: K M Donoghue| T: J P Dempsey| OR: 96| BF

5/2

Well-backed on stable debut when fourth of 19 in handicap hurdle (9/5) at Naas (16f, soft) 21 days ago, hindered by a bad mistake 2 out. Interesting in first-time hood stepping back up in trip.

Form: 435844

Caulaincourt²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: R Deegan| T: P Flood| OR: 95

66/1

Fair winner at 12f on the Flat but made little impression on handicap hurdle debut when sixteenth of 17 in handicap hurdle (33/1) at Leopardstown (16f, good to soft) 28 days ago. Improvement needed over longer trip.

Form: 006-0

Peckham Springs^p,t²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: P M O'Brien⁽⁷⁾| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 95| C

22/1

Course winner has lost his form, latest effort when tenth of 17 in handicap hurdle at Leopardstown (16f, good to soft, 40/1) 28 days ago. Best to look elsewhere.

Form: 26-00U0

Jimli's Cave¹⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: D Meyler| T: R K Watson| OR: 93| CD

16/1

Career best when winning 12-runner handicap hurdle over C&D last October, responding well to positive tactics. Found life harder from a 7 lb higher mark next time and returns from a break racing off the same mark again.

Form: 25271P

Cher Tara¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: D J Gilligan| T: G Elliott| OR: 92

4/1

Ex-Dan Skelton, confirmed promise of stable debut back up in trip when winning 19-runner handicap hurdle at Down Royal (20f, good) 13 days ago. Should be suited by this longer trip and further improvement anticipated from this lightly-raced mare.

Form: 572761

Voice Of Reason²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: P Cleary⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 92

16/1

Seems to be going through the motions at present, again ran poorly when twelfth of 19 in handicap hurdle at Naas (16f, soft) 21 days ago. Upped in trip but has something to prove at present.

Form: 967670

Ilbdare^p1³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: P T Enright| T: M M McNiff| OR: 91

15/2

Placed effort at Sligo (19.9f) remains a standout effort over hurdles, well below that form when seventh of 14 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (20.1f, heavy, 18/1) 34 days ago. Cheekpieces added and needs to improve.

Form: 003587

Kilkee Royal^t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: P J O'Hanlon| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 90

16/1

Hinted at ability in maiden hurdles/handicaps for Jamie Albert Sloan but fell on debut for this yard earlier this month. May find a couple too good in here.

Form: 0995-8F

Fire Force^t⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: B W Harvey| T: William Harvey| OR: 87

66/1

Some promise in maiden hurdles but disappointed on handicap debut. Didn't take to chasing, last of 11 in novice chase (250/1) at Fairyhouse (21.2f, good to soft) 53 days ago on final run Ciaran Murphy. Questions to answer now reverted to hurdles on stable debut.

Form: 53PP50

Our Zebo^b1²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: A Harvey⁽⁵⁾| T: N C Kelly| OR: 87

14/1

Maiden hurdler/chaser who was below form when sixth of 10 in handicap hurdle at Musselburgh (23.8f, good to soft) before disappointing at Ayr following a further 12-weeks off. First-time blinkers need to spark a revival.

Form: 23576P

Coco Lightning^t⁵⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: J C Gainford| T: C Collins| OR: 85| BF

5/1

Took a step back in the right direction when third of 15 in 2½m Fairyhouse handicap hurdle on stable debut but failed to justify market support when sixth of 9 in handicap hurdle at Catterick (19.3f, good to soft) 58 days ago. Looks worth another chance.

Form: 876736

Doyen Flyer¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: K Callaghan⁽⁵⁾| T: J Barcoe| OR: 84

10/1

Has become inconsistent and remains a maiden after 20 NH runs. Fifth of 11 in handicap chase at Wexford (19.4f, good to soft, 5/1) on debut over fences 10 days ago. Switches back to hurdles and not dismissed if on a going day.

Form: 560585

Are We Dancing^p1¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: S O'Callaghan⁽⁵⁾| T: L Lennon| OR: 75

80/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Eleventh of 15 in novice hurdle (200/1) at Down Royal (16.9f, good) 13 days ago. Up in trip and cheekpieces on for first time on handicap hurdle debut. Needs more.

Form: 9000

Forecasts

Seskin Flash (5/2), Cher Tara (4/1), Coco Lightning (5/1), Ilbdare (15/2), Doyen Flyer (10/1), Our Zebo (14/1), Voice Of Reason (16/1), Kilkee Royal (16/1), Jimli's Cave (16/1), Kalsman (20/1), Peckham Springs (22/1), Fire Force (66/1), Caulaincourt (66/1), Are We Dancing (80/1)

Gordon Elliott's lightly-raced CHER TARA may well have more to offer over this longer trip and she can follow up her recent Down Royal success. Coco Lightning shaped encouragingly on debut for this yard and is worth another chance after disappointing last time, while Seskin Flash looks interesting stepping back up in distance having been well supported on stable debut.