Racecards
12:55 Thurles (IRE)
John Meagher Memorial Chase (Listed) (Class 1)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 6f
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- €25,000 added
- Winner: €16,250
- 2nd: €4,750
- 3rd: €2,250
- 4th: €750
- Form 12435-0
- Age 7
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer C O'Dwyer
- Jockey B J Cooper
chased leaders early, soon held up in 4th, 5th and no impression 4 out, left 4th last (poor visibility)
- Form 51U51-P
- Age 7
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer M S Sandra Hughes
- Jockey B J Geraghty
settled behind leaders, 5th halfway, ridden in 6th 4 out, no impression and weakened (poor visibility)
- Form 13222F-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 160
- Trainer J J Hanlon
- Jockey Andrew J McNamara
led, mistake 3rd, challenged 4 out and headed before next, ridden in 2nd 2 out, stayed on again to press leader last where fell (poor visibility)
- Form 231220-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer J J Mangan
- Jockey P F Mangan
behind, fell 5th (poor visibility)
- Form 27215-4
- Age 9
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 138
settled behind leaders, 6th halfway, moderate 4th and mistake 4 out, no impression next, left 3rd last (poor visibility)
- Form F633-54
- Age 10
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 151
- Trainer J P Ryan
- Jockey Paul Carberry
chased leader in 2nd, 3rd 4 out, ridden and no impression on leaders entering straight, left 2nd last, no chance with winner (poor visibility)
- Form 13/357P-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey D J Casey
chased leaders in 3rd, improved to challenge 4 out, led before 3 out, ridden before last where pressed, left clear last, eased home run-in (poor visibility)
- Form 132F3/8-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Mrs J Harrington
- Jockey D N Russell
held up towards rear, 7th halfway, ridden and no impression before 4 out, pulled up before 3 out (poor visibility)
Verdict
HIDDEN CYCLONE, runner-up to Dynaste in the Ryanair at Cheltenham, will be all the rage on his reappearance and it will be a surprise if he's beaten. He was also an excellent third in the Paddy Power at this time a year ago, conceding almost a stone to the pair in front of him, and looks set for another cracking season. The race conditions are very much in his favour as he's receiving weight from the tough stayer Folsom Blue, and Some Tikket, who won a Grade B novice handicap at Fairyhouse in April. Letter Of Credit is generally thereabouts and was placed twice at Grade level in March while Home Farm showed himself to be a strong stayer when third in last year's Irish National.
Formwatch
Folsom Blue (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway on outer 5 out, 7th 4 out, soon ridden, weakened from next, 13th of 19, well behind Unoccupied (9-12) at Punchestown 3m 6f hcp chs 0-145 in May.
Some Tikket (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Mid-division, 7th halfway, mistake 6 out, rear when slight mistake 4 out, no extra, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Operating (10-7) at Punchestown 2m 5f nov hcp chs in May, 14 ran.
Hidden Cyclone (IRE) 10-3fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, 3rd when fell 5th, in a race won by Sizing Europe (11-12) at Punchestown 2m chs G1 (1) gd in Apr, 8 ran.
Letter Of Credit (IRE) 33-1 (10-8) Towards rear, some progress 3 out, 8th entering straight, no extra from 2 out, weakened, 15th of 26, well behind Shutthefrontdoor (10-13) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp chs (1) in Apr.
Maggio (FR) 16-1 (11-7) Chased leaders on outside, not fluent 8th, ridden and one pace from 3 out, 4th of 7, 12l behind Kaysersberg (11-9) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gd in Oct.
Foildubh (IRE) 7-2 (11-9) Raced mainly in 4th until closer order 8th, improved into 2nd after 4 out, no impression when jumped a little right 2 out, dropped to 4th closing stages, 4th of 5, 12l behind Baily Green (11-2) at Killarney 2m 4f chs in May.
Home Farm (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, 8th halfway, dropped towards rear 6 out, behind when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Shutthefrontdoor (10-13) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp chs (1) in Apr, 26 ran.
Sadler'sflaure (FR) 16-1 (10-3) 8th of 13, 2 1/4l behind Saint Palois (10-3) at Auteuil(FR) 2m 6f nov chs Grd 3 gd in Oct '13.