Bulmers Original Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 18:46 | Winning time: 5m 3.7s

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Selected odds by:

Fils D'oudairies¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: F Brickley⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 137| D

10/1

Useful hurdler at best but below his best this season, latest when second of 5 in a conditions hurdle at Ballinrobe (18.3f, good) 11 days ago, no match for winner. Handicapper has given him a chance.

Form: P4405-2

Popova²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: M P O'Connor| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 126| D

9/2

Fairly useful hurdler got back on track with creditable 3¼ lengths second of 10 to My Gaffer in handicap hurdle (8/1) at Killarney (20.2f, good to soft) 25 days ago, unable to reel in the all the way winner. On better terms with that horse today and looks to have solid claims.

Form: 0/1456-2

My Gaffer¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: L A McKenna⁽⁵⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 120| CD

5/2

Well-backed when landing a Killarney handicap (20f) last month and backed that up when finishing third of 5 in a conditions hurdle at Ballinrobe (18.3f, good) 2 weeks on. In good heart but more on his plate back in a handicap.

Form: 7145-13

Colleen Danu^t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: K C Sexton| T: P T Foley| OR: 109| CD

5/2

Landed a gamble on stable debut and bounced back to form with tongue strap on for first time, career best when easily winning 12-runner handicap hurdle over C&D 22 days ago. Going the right way for current connections but this is tougher.

Form: 00/610-1

Oh So Charming^h,t⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: P M O'Brien⁽⁷⁾| T: D Queally| OR: 109

5/1

Fairly useful on Flat. Bounced straight back to form in refitted tongue strap when third of 7 in novice hurdle at Bellewstown (17.2f, good) and ran to similar level when 11/2, creditable fourth of 8 in handicap hurdle at Listowel (16f, good to soft) 4 days ago. Bit to find back up in trip.

Form: 2F4P3-4

Eco Pete^p¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: D Robinson| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 107

22/1

Sixteen runs since last win in 2021 but ran right up to his best (following 7 months off) seeming suited by return to front-running tactics when creditable third of 15 in novice hurdle at Downpatrick (18.8f, good, 16/1) 14 days ago. Respected but will need to step forward in this company.

Form: 2/4607-3

Takarengo^p²²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: C G O'Dwyer⁽⁵⁾| T: T Mullins| OR: 106| C| D

10/1

Twenty three runs since last win in 2021 but stepped forward from seasonal reappearance when creditable second of 10 in claiming hurdle at this course (19.6f, good to firm, 8/1) 22 days ago. Will need to improve again in a stronger contest.

Form: 3057/6-2

Forecasts

My Gaffer (5/2), Colleen Danu (5/2), Popova (9/2), Oh So Charming (5/1), Fils D'oudairies (10/1), Takarengo (10/1), Eco Pete (22/1)

POPOVA got right back on track when runner-up at Killarney following 7 months off and is on better terms with My Gaffer, who beat her that day. She may be able to build on that performance and record a third hurdles success at the expense of Fils d'Oudairies, who was useful at his best and has been given a chance by the handicapper.