Racecards
14:45 Thurles (IRE)
Horse & Jockey Rated Novice Hurdle
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 98y
- Going: Yielding (Good to Yielding in places)
- Surface: Turf
- €18,000 added
- Winner: €10,801
- 2nd: €3,600
- 3rd: €1,800
- 4th: €900
- Form 131113
- Age 5
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer J P O'Brien
- Jockey J J Slevin
chased leaders, closed from 7th, pushed along in 3rd and not match front pair approaching straight, soon no extra
- Form 3-2121
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey D N Russell
chased leaders, slight mistake 7th, soon closed, pushed along in 2nd approaching straight and soon challenged, bad mistake last, kept on same pace run-in
- Form 2-312F5
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer Peter Fahey
- Jockey K C Sexton
led, slight mistake 4th, slight mistake 7th and soon headed, no extra in 4th after
- Form 115
- Age 5
- Weight 11-1
- Trainer M F Morris
- Jockey R M Power
raced in 2nd, led from 7th, pressed and pushed along before straight, stayed on well run-in
- Form 33U046
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer P J Gilligan
- Jockey J G Gilligan
waited with in rear, headway before 6th where not fluent, slight mistake 7th, soon reminder and no impression, no extra approaching straight
Verdict
Anything Will Do won four of his first five starts over hurdles before finding Grade 2 company too hot at Punchestown. He's stepping up in trip here but looks the type to be suited. THE BOSSES OSCAR won a bumper here in October before narrowly beaten by the smart Blue Sari at Punchestown. A comfortable victory over today's trip at Leopardstown followed and he looks the one to beat. Belfast Banter had looked a certain future winner when runner-up to Captain Guinness at Navan and falling when 2 out when clear at Cork but ran disappointingly at Down Royal last time. French Dynamite won a point in May and a maiden hurdle here in November but was never travelling in a Grade 1 won by Envoi Allen at Naas a month ago. Shanwalla has gone off the boil since a placed effort at Cheltenham in November.
Formwatch
Anything Will Do (IRE) 11-2 (11-3) Led, headed approaching 4th, soon dropped to 3rd, pushed along from 3 out, one pace next, 3rd of 6, 15 3/4l behind Andy Dufresne (11-2) at Punchestown 2m (1) sft in Jan.
The Bosses Oscar (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Mid-division early, 9th from 3rd, headway from before 2 out, chased leaders straight, led run-in, stayed on well to quickly assert, won at Leopardstown 2m 4f mdn sft in Dec beating Fun Light (11-7) by 4l, 17 ran.
Belfast Banter (IRE) 7-4fav (11-10) Mid-division early, closer in 7th halfway, ridden in 4th after 3 out, no impression before next, kept on one pace, 5th of 19, 15l behind Department Of War (11-10) at Down Royal 2m 1f mdn sft in Jan.
French Dynamite (FR) 25-1 (11-7) Held up in touch in last, niggled along early, ridden in moderate last before 3 out, went remote 5th after 2 out, never a factor, 5th of 6, 33 1/2l behind Envoi Allen (11-10) at Naas 2m 4f (1) Good - Yielding in Jan.
Shanwalla (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, headway 2 out, never near leaders, 6th of 14, 9 1/4l behind Phoenix Way (11-4) at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Jan.