Racecards
14:40 Leopardstown (IRE)
Ballsbridge Hurdle
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 2m 2f
- Going: Yielding to Soft, Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- €20,000 added
- Winner: €13,000
- 2nd: €3,799
- 3rd: €1,799
- 4th: €600
- Form 17-1142
- Age 7
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer J G Cosgrave
- Jockey Mr N McParlan
prominent and led after 1st, raced keenly and clear with 2nd from 3rd, hit 4 out and extended advantage next, strongly pressed and headed next, no impression on easy winner from early straight and dropped to 3rd last, no extra
- Form 61-135
- Age 5
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer D Wachman
- Jockey B J Geraghty
rear of mid-division, 9th halfway, pushed along in 8th after 3 out, no impression early straight and moderate 6th last, kept on into 3rd run-in
- Form 513435
- Age 11
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 152
- Trainer O McKiernan
- Jockey S J Crimin
chased leaders in 3rd, ridden in moderate 4th 3 out and no threat from next, dropped to 7th before last
- Form 52-3521
- Age 8
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
chased leaders in 5th, 3rd 3 out and no real impression next, moderate 2nd approaching last and no chance with easy winner, kept on one pace
- Form 421285
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer Mrs J Harrington
- Jockey T P Treacy
chased leaders in mid-division, moderate 8th halfway, dropped to rear before 2 out and trailing next
- Form 0078-50
- Age 11
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer A J Martin
- Jockey M P Walsh
always towards rear, 12th halfway, no threat from 4 out
- Form 2PP-015
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer R Hennessy
- Jockey A E Lynch
rear of mid-division, never a factor, moderate 10th after 3 out and no threat next
- Form B-18270
- Age 9
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer Miss S J Harty
- Jockey D E Mullins
chased leaders in mid-division, 7th halfway, no impression in 9th 2 out, kept on one pace in straight without threatening
- Form 4-2P153
- Age 11
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer T Cooper
- Jockey B J Cooper
chased leaders in 4th, pushed along in 5th 3 out, no impression next and kept on one pace in straight without troubling easy winner
- Form 1F3U37
- Age 11
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 138
led early, tracked leader in 2nd and clear of remainder, headway to lead 2 out and asserted early straight, clear when mistake last and kept on well run-in, easily
- Form 1222P-7
- Age 9
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 144
- Trainer P Nolan
- Jockey D N Russell
chased leaders in 6th, pushed along in 7th after 3 out, no impression on winner in straight and moderate 4th last, kept on one pace
- Form 2P3-97U
- Age 11
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer A J Martin
- Jockey Mr S J Craig
always towards rear, never a factor, trailing from 3 out
- Form PU3215-
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer Mrs J Harrington
- Jockey R M Power
rear of mid-division, moderate 10th halfway, some headway in 7th 2 out but no impression before last where blundered and almost unseated rider, rider lost irons and virtually pulled up run-in
- Form 111402
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer A J Martin
- Jockey S A Shortall
in rear, never a factor, moderate 12th entering straight, kept on run-in without threatening
Verdict
Won In The Dark landed this in 2010 and has finished runner-up for the past two years. He hasn't been in the best of form but shouldn't be discounted though it's a very strong line-up this year headed by BLACKSTAIRMOUNTAIN and Whatuthink. The former, third in last year's Galway Plate and a Grade 1 winner over both hurdles and fences, has reverted to the smaller obstacles in great style and should have the legs of his main rival, who may find this on the short side nowadays. High-class chaser Noble Prince, the 2011 Jewson winner at Cheltenham, is engaged in the Coral Cup at the Festival and hasn't run since October so may just need this to put the edge on him. Mossley was a long way behind Whatuthink last time but is better than that though he's currently a 100/1 chance for the World Hurdle.
Formwatch
Mount Colah (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Led and clear, reduced advantage 3 out, ridden and headed before last, no extra and kept on same pace, 2nd of 5, 11l behind Dressedtothenines (10-13) at Punchestown 2m 4f hdl hvy in Feb.
Pageboy (IRE) 3-1 (11-7) Raced in 3rd, niggled along 4 out, 4th approaching straight, soon no impression under pressure, 5th of 6, 32l behind Love Rory (11-3) at Limerick 2m 4yo hdl hvy in Dec.
Whatuthink (IRE) 10-1 (11-8) Led, niggled along and headed 3rd, ridden and dropped to rear 5th, soon trailing, regained contact with the field after 4 out, no impression in moderate 5th and kept on same pace from before 2 out, 5th of 6, 26l behind On His Own (11-3) at Navan 2m 5f hdl G2 (1) hvy in Feb.
Blackstairmountain (IRE) 4-7fav (11-5) Soon chased leader in poor 2nd, jumped a bit left 5 out, closed from 2 out and challenged last, led run-in and stayed on well, won at Cork 2m hdl in Jan beating Arnaud (11-7) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Gimli's Rock (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, ridden along 6 out, slight mistake next, no impression from 3 out, 5th of 8, 21l behind Sea Of Thunder (11-0) at Clonmel 3m nov chs gf in Sep.
Made In Taipan (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Soon towards rear, some headway from 4 out, no impression and kept on same pace straight, 11th of 16, 24l behind Ainama (10-5) at Roscommon 3m hcp chs gs in Jun.
Mossley (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Chased leader, 3rd 3 out, ridden and no extra before 2 out, weakened, 5th of 6, 44l behind Whatuthink (11-5) at Navan 2m 4f hdl G2 (1) in Nov.
Won In The Dark (IRE) 28-1 (11-10) Settled towards rear, never a factor, kept on one pace, 14th of 24, 16l behind Tennis Cap (11-2) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-140 sft in Feb.
Forpadydeplasterer (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Held up in touch, progress to lead 4 out, ridden and headed entering straight, soon weakened to 3rd, no impression, 3rd of 6, 10l behind Call The Police (11-12) at Clonmel 2m 4f chs hvy in Feb.
Fosters Cross (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden and no extra before last, 7th of 11, 23l behind Lastoftheleaders (11-6) at Punchestown 2m hcp chs hvy in Feb.
Noble Prince (GER) 5-1 (11-4) Held up behind, outpaced 5 out, plugged on from 2 out, never near leaders, 7th of 11, 41l behind For Non Stop (10-11) at Aintree 2m 4f ltd hcp chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Oct.
Saddlers Storm (IRE) 25-1 (10-5) Mid-division, headway into 6th 5 out, ridden 3 out, no extra in 7th entering straight, slightly hampered and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by Raz De Maree (10-4) at Limerick 3m hcp chs sft in Oct, 14 ran.
Takeyourcapoff (IRE) 9-2 (10-7) Chased clear leader in 3rd, closer fom 4 out, 2nd approaching straight, short of room and switched left in 4th after 2 out, no extra run-in, 5th of 6, 9l behind Plan A (10-8) at Fairyhouse 2m hdl gd in Sep '11.
Victrix Gale (IRE) 12-1 (10-2) Held up towards rear, headway in 11th before straight, ridden into 5th 2 out, stayed on into 2nd last, no impression winner, kept on same pace, 2nd of 15, 3 1/2l behind Coole Avenue (10-4) at Listowel 3m hcp hdl hvy in Sep.