Racecards
14:25 Leopardstown (IRE)
Irish Daily Star Christmas Handicap Hurdle (80-116)
- 23 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 35y
- Going: Good to Yielding
- Surface: Turf
- €15,000 added
- Winner: €9,240
- 2nd: €2,865
- 3rd: €1,365
- 4th: €615
- Form 471-807
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer S R B Crawford
- Jockey Mr B G Crawford
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, disputed briefly approaching 5 out, ridden and no extra next, weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
- Form 4-28811
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer J J Hanlon
- Jockey Rachael Blackmore
chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and no extra approaching 2 out
- Form 6-2D230
- Age 5
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey D P Holden
settled behind leaders, 7th halfway, slightly hampered 4 out, ridden in 5th entering straight, no impression in 4th last, kept on one pace
- Form 835-734
- Age 5
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey J W Kennedy
settled behind leaders, 8th halfway, closer in 5th after 3 out, ridden and no extra 2 out
- Form 89P144
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer D K Weld
- Jockey D J Mullins
mid-division, progress in 6th 2 out, travelled well into 3rd before last, ridden in 2nd last, no extra run-in, kept on same pace
- Form 05F422
- Age 9
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 109
disputed early, soon chased leader, 2nd halfway, ridden and weakened before 3 out, tailed off
- Form 410260
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 108
mid-division best, slight mistake 4th, ridden and no extra before 2 out, weakened and tailed off
- Form 4643F-0
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer D McDonogh
- Jockey L P Dempsey
mid-division, ridden and no impression before 2 out, kept on one pace from before last
- Form 6512U3
- Age 7
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer M Kennedy
- Jockey P D Kennedy
held up, rear of mid-division, progress after 3 out, ridden in 8th 2 out, no impression in 7th before last, kept on one pace
- Form 409/00-7
- Age 8
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer L P Cusack
- Jockey S A Shortall
chased leaders early, 9th halfway, ridden and weakened 4 out, pulled up before last
- Form 9D1516
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer T G McCourt
- Jockey C D Maxwell
mid-division, ridden before 2 out, no impression in 8th before last, kept on one pace
- Form 31434-3
- Age 9
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer D A McLoughlin
- Jockey P J O'Hanlon
chased leaders, 4th halfway, jumped right 4 out, ridden and no extra 2 out, weakened before last
- Form 634-531
- Age 7
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 103
settled behind leaders, 6th halfway, progress into 2nd 2 out, soon disputed, led early straight, ridden before last, kept on strongly run-in
- Form 00/7-149
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer Miss A Mooney
- Jockey D J McInerney
towards rear, ridden and no extra before 2 out, weakened and tailed off
- Form 387563
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey D N Russell
mid-division best, ridden and no extra before 2 out, weakened and tailed off
- Form U80F35
- Age 9
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 100
held up in mid-division, slight mistake 5 out, progress into 7th after 3 out, disputed after 2 out, ridden in 2nd before last, no extra in 3rd last, kept on one pace
Khudha (IRE)
20- Form 540-P58
- Age 4
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 104
always towards rear, ridden and no extra before 2 out, weakened and tailed off
- Form 820539
- Age 10
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 98
held up towards rear, progress after 3 out, 7th 2 out, ridden in 6th entering straight, no impression in 5th last, kept on one pace
- Form 916345
- Age 7
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer R K Watson
- Jockey M A Enright
led, slight mistake 5th, ridden and joined after 2 out, headed early straight, soon no extra
- Form 0-4000
- Age 5
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer N Meade
- Jockey S W Flanagan
towards rear for most, ridden and no impression before 2 out
Duke's Girl
15- Form 77F24P
- Age 4
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer J Nash
- Jockey D E Mullins
held up towards rear, ridden in rear of mid-division before 2 out, no impression in 10th 2 out, kept on one pace
Bothar Dubh
26- Form 09-0
- Age 5
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer D Queally
- Jockey S J Crimin
towards rear for most, ridden and no impression before 2 out, kept on one pace straight
- Form 8UPP-40
- Age 9
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer T Gibney
- Jockey John J Fitzpatrick
rear of mid-division for most, ridden towards rear before 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
Verdict
LAKE TAKAPUNA won over 2m1f at the fixture a year ago and has been in such good form over fences that he's now 18lb higher than his hurdling mark. He's moved to Dermot Weld and is visored for the first time so gets the nod in a tough handicap. The Church Gate had dropped to a lowly mark when scoring comfortably at Fairyhouse but an 8lb rise makes this more difficult. Wee Small Hours is very consistent at this sort of level and any more rain would greatly increase his chances while Odit could have the form of recent runs boosted by Thermistocles and The Gatechecker earlier in the day. Monition hasn't won and makes his handicap debut but stable companion Serious Ego has made gradual progress and will have found the minimum too short at Thurles last time.
Formwatch
Apache Jack (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Chased leaders on outside from 1st, not fluent 4th, not fluent 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 7th of 9, dist behind Takingrisks (10-10) at Ayr 3m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Mighty Stowaway (IRE) 13-2 (11-0) Led, disputed at times, not fluent 3 out, stayed on well to assert from before last, won at Punchestown 2m 7f hcp gd in Nov beating Neddyvaughan (10-13) by 6l, 13 ran.
Visioman (FR) 16-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, driven and lost place after 2 out, soon weakened, 15th of 20, 27 3/4l behind Red Hot Chilly (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Monition (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Led and disputed early, headed after 3rd, remained prominent, pushed along before straight, no extra from 2 out, one pace, 4th of 5, 9 1/2l behind Irish Lass (11-0) at Thurles 2m 7f gf in Nov.
Lake Takapuna (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Rear of mid-division, some headway early straight, ridden after 2 out and slight mistake in 6th last, kept on well run-in, 4th of 19, 4l behind Aasleagh Dawn (11-0) at Navan 2m 6f hcp gd in Nov.
Odit (GER) 5-2jfav (9-13) Prominent, 3rd after 2nd, pushed along in 2nd after 3 out, challenged from before straight, soon on terms, not much room between horses before 2 out where mistake, soon headed and dropped to 3rd, kept on into 2nd without troubling winner close home, 2nd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Thermistocles (10-11) at Clonmel 3m hcp gd in Nov.
Arctic Light 7-1 (11-4) Soon mid-division, one pace from 3 out, 13th of 15, 24 1/4l behind Court Maid (11-5) at Punchestown 3m hcp gd in Nov.
Little Haarth (IRE) 40-1 (11-3) Always in rear, 17th after 6th, no impression, never a factor, 14th of 18, 30 3/4l behind Artic Pearl (10-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp gd in Dec.
Smithscorner (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, 7th after 6th, no impression on leaders in 6th before last, kept on well run-in to 3rd close home, never nearer, 3rd of 18, 8l behind Artic Pearl (10-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp gd in Dec.
Bog War (IRE) 18-1 (10-4) Prominent in chasing group, no extra and one pace from before straight, 7th of 14, 29 1/2l behind Nobody Home (10-11) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hcp gd in Dec.
Muroor 25-1 (9-13) Close up, 6th after 7th, niggled along on inner after 3 out, 5th after 2 out, 4th at last, ridden and kept on one pace run-in, 6th of 19, 12 1/4l behind Suinda (10-4) at Galway 2m 6f hcp Yielding in Oct.
Wee Small Hours (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Disputed lead, led from 6th, joined 3 out, soon ridden and headed, 3rd next, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 23, 7 3/4l behind Askari (10-13) at Navan 2m 6f hcp Yielding in Dec.
The Church Gate (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, headway to dispute lead 2 out, pushed along to lead before last, clear at last, stayed on well run-in, comfortably, won at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hcp gd in Nov beating Euro So Brave (11-4) by 3 1/2l, 16 ran.
Grand Canyon (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Mid-division, driven and lost place after 2 out, soon weakened, 9th of 20, 11 1/2l behind Red Hot Chilly (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Serious Ego (GER) 12-1 (11-12) Mid-division early, 5th after 3rd, chased leaders and no impression 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 13, 8 1/2l behind Western Sea (10-10) at Thurles 2m hcp gd in Nov.
Fruits Of Glory (IRE) 14-1 (10-8) Rear of mid-division, 12th after 6th, headway 3 out, ridden into 5th before last, kept on same pace run-in, 5th of 18, 9 3/4l behind Artic Pearl (10-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp gd in Dec.
Khudha (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Rear of mid-division, headway entering straight, short of room briefly and switched left after 3 out, ridden in 7th next, mistake at last, no impression, 8th of 23, 16 1/2l behind Askari (10-13) at Navan 2m 6f hcp Yielding in Dec.
Youngnedofthehill (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) Towards rear, some headway 2 out, ridden and no impression approaching last, 9th of 13, 15 3/4l behind Wonder Laish (11-6) at Navan 2m hcp gd in Nov.
Folly Dat (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Led, clear early, ridden and headed 2 out, dropped to 5th before last, no impression, 5th of 25, 8 1/2l behind All About Alfie (11-3) at Naas 2m 3f hcp Yielding in Dec.
Ragin Cajun (IRE) 50-1 (11-12) Waited with, soon towards rear, stumbled slightly after 4th, soon no danger, 16th of 24, dist behind Come To Me (11-12) at Cork 2m mdn Soft - Heavy in Dec.
Duke's Girl 11-1 (10-11) Mid-division and kept wide, pushed along and no impression after 3 out, no extra when mistake next, pulled up before last, at Tramore 2m 5f hcp hvy in Dec.
Bothar Dubh 9-10 (11-11) Ld with sl adv until went 8l clr aftr 5th, 12l adv 5out & mstk 3out, jnd brfly well aftr 3out, went 5l clr bef 2out, sow, won at Ballindenisk 3m mdn sft in Dec beating Laser Beam (11-11) by 12l, 6 ran.
Stoughan Cross (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Always towards rear, slight mistake 5 out, soon ridden and no impression, 14th of 18, dist behind Redwood Boy (10-11) at Clonmel 2m 4f hcp gd in May.