Jim Ryan Racecourse Services Rated Novice Hurdle

1st

1

Itswhatunitesus

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

11/10 (Won)

Win: £2.20

Form: 14-21 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: —

Form & Verdict

Bumper winner at Navan on debut last term and remote fourth, three parts of a length off third-placed Carnfunnock, to the outstanding Facile Vega in Grade 2 at Leopardstown; showed benefit of Galway second when beating talented rival in Cork maiden on second start over hurdles, the pair miles clear; the one to beat on that form.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
0 2	3rd Oct 2023 Soft To Heavy 2m 2f 110y	16:10 Galway Itswhatunitesus 11st 12lb J: Jack Kennedy T: Gordon Elliott	Dual hurdle winner with a peak RPR of 127; dropped out tamely on his chase debut at Kilbeggan (2m3f) but jumped well and he's better than that.	4/1
5	12th May 2023 Yielding 2m 3f 20y	19:20 Kilbeggan Itswhatunitesus 11st 12lb J: Ben Harvey T: Gordon Elliott	Dual hurdle winner was poor at Leopardstown over Christmas and didn't get past the first at Punchestown last time; however, is rated 132 in that sphere and should take high rank here if taking to fences.	4/1
15	29th Apr 2023 Good To Yielding 2m 3f 30y	17:30 Punchestown Itswhatunitesus 10st 10lb J: Danny Gilligan T: Gordon Elliott	Tailed off in Grade 1 at Leopardstown over Christmas and not seen since but had previously looked progressive; not an easy task from this opening mark though.	20/1

Place /
No / Draw

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Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
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Verdict

Starting price

0

2

3rd Oct 2023

Soft To Heavy

2m 2f 110y

11st 12lb

Dual hurdle winner with a peak RPR of 127; dropped out tamely on his chase debut at Kilbeggan (2m3f) but jumped well and he's better than that.

4/1

5

12th May 2023

Yielding

2m 3f 20y

11st 12lb

Dual hurdle winner was poor at Leopardstown over Christmas and didn't get past the first at Punchestown last time; however, is rated 132 in that sphere and should take high rank here if taking to fences.

4/1

15

29th Apr 2023

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 30y

10st 10lb

Tailed off in Grade 1 at Leopardstown over Christmas and not seen since but had previously looked progressive; not an easy task from this opening mark though.

20/1

2nd

4

Carnfunnock

J: Daryl Jacob

T: S R B Crawford

3/1

Form: 138-11 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: —

Form & Verdict

Dual bumper winner including on seasonal return at Down Royal; was just in front of Itswhatunitesus when remote third to Facile Vega in Leopardstown Grade 2 bumper in February and now gets 9lb from that rival; made successful switch to hurdles when long odds-on in modest 6-runner 2m Ayr novices' event last month, jumping soundly and winning with plenty in hand; much better rivals to contend with here but merits respect.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
3rd 7	25th Nov 2023 Good To Soft 2m 2f 191y Class 2	13:15 Haydock Carnfunnock 11st 3lb J: Daryl Jacob T: S R B Crawford	Compiling a useful CV; won twice in bumpers and was scoring for the second time over hurdles when getting up close home at Naas (2m3f, soft) in March; far from disgraced when third of six in Perth Listed event the following month; may not have reached his ceiling just yet; one of two interesting candidates for the Crawford stable.	4/1
3rd 2	26th Apr 2023 Good To Soft 2m 7f 207y Class 1	15:00 Perth Carnfunnock 11st 2lb J: Daryl Jacob T: S R B Crawford	Two-time bumper winner (including on good to soft ground) who was winning for the second time over hurdles when getting up late in a handicap at Naas (2m3f, soft) last month; others have better form but this step up in trip could prompt further improvement and he's a possible.	8/1
1st 10	12th Mar 2023 Soft 2m 3f 0y	15:42 Naas Carnfunnock 10st 2lb J: J J Slevin T: S R B Crawford	In fine form tis term, winning a bumper and novice hurdle before no match for a classy sort; not disgraced on handicap debut over 2m here last time; up in trip today should suit on pedigree and is one to consider.	9/2

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Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

3rd

7

25th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

2m 2f 191y

Class 2

11st 3lb

Compiling a useful CV; won twice in bumpers and was scoring for the second time over hurdles when getting up close home at Naas (2m3f, soft) in March; far from disgraced when third of six in Perth Listed event the following month; may not have reached his ceiling just yet; one of two interesting candidates for the Crawford stable.

4/1

3rd

2

26th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 207y

Class 1

11st 2lb

Two-time bumper winner (including on good to soft ground) who was winning for the second time over hurdles when getting up late in a handicap at Naas (2m3f, soft) last month; others have better form but this step up in trip could prompt further improvement and he's a possible.

8/1

1st

10

12th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 3f 0y

10st 2lb

In fine form tis term, winning a bumper and novice hurdle before no match for a classy sort; not disgraced on handicap debut over 2m here last time; up in trip today should suit on pedigree and is one to consider.

9/2

3rd

5

Maggie Walsh

J: Cian Quirke

T: Michael J Bowe

200/1

Form: 7U3609

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 84

Form & Verdict

12-race maiden over hurdles rated a lowly 84 and little chance against the likely principals at these weights.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
6th 3	20th Aug 2023 Yielding 2m 0f 0y	16:20 Tramore Maggie Walsh 11st 12lb J: Cian Quirke T: Michael J Bowe	midfield	4/1
2nd 6	21st Jul 2023 Good To Yielding 2m 2f 0y	17:05 Kilbeggan Maggie Walsh 11st 12lb J: Cian Quirke T: Michael J Bowe	Bit in and out but scored at Tramore last month; folded tamely after a mistake at Punchestown 8 days later but can't be ruled out here given an error-free round.	9/1
22	14th Jul 2023 Good 2m 0f 190y	17:50 Cork Maggie Walsh 11st 10lb J: Ben Harvey T: Michael J Bowe	Third reserve; unreliable hold-up mare but won twice recent months; could go either way.

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

6th

3

20th Aug 2023

Yielding

2m 0f 0y

11st 12lb

midfield

4/1

2nd

6

21st Jul 2023

Good To Yielding

2m 2f 0y

11st 12lb

Bit in and out but scored at Tramore last month; folded tamely after a mistake at Punchestown 8 days later but can't be ruled out here given an error-free round.

9/1

22

14th Jul 2023

Good

2m 0f 190y

11st 10lb

Third reserve; unreliable hold-up mare but won twice recent months; could go either way.

OUR TIP

4th

3

Invictus Machin

J: Mark Walsh

T: Gavin Cromwell

4/1

Form: 1 D

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: —

Form & Verdict

12s, ready winner of 20-runner maiden hurdle at Down Royal on last month's debut; odds-on favourite, who had useful French form, was back in third but probably not the strongest of contests otherwise; has been given an effective mark of 125 on the back of that and this race will tell us whether or not that flatters him.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
7th 5	24th Nov 2023 Soft To Heavy 2m 0f 110y	12:55 Fairyhouse Invictus Machin 11st 12lb J: Sean Flanagan T: Gavin Cromwell	Nothing of note in his form since a debut maiden hurdle win just over a year ago; has struggled in two chase outings over C&D.	50/1
10th 5	7th Nov 2023 Heavy 2m 0f 110y	11:53 Fairyhouse Invictus Machin 11st 12lb J: Sean Flanagan T: Gavin Cromwell	Didn't hang about over hurdles despite winning a maiden; 40-1 and was tailed off on recent chase debut here.	50/1

Place /
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Date / Going /
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Time + Course Horse + Weight
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Verdict

Starting price

7th

5

24th Nov 2023

Soft To Heavy

2m 0f 110y

11st 12lb

Nothing of note in his form since a debut maiden hurdle win just over a year ago; has struggled in two chase outings over C&D.

50/1

10th

5

7th Nov 2023

Heavy

2m 0f 110y

11st 12lb

Didn't hang about over hurdles despite winning a maiden; 40-1 and was tailed off on recent chase debut here.

50/1

2

Polo Lounge

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

5/1

Form: -4211P D

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: —

Form & Verdict

Landed a bumper at Listowel and a maiden hurdle at Limerick in early autumn; 40s, ran freely before weakening quickly and being pulled up in Fairyhouse Grade 1 earlier this month; this a more realistic target.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
2	19th Dec 2022 Frozen 2m 0f 100y	12:40 Punchestown Polo Lounge 11st 7lb J: Paul Townend T: W P Mullins	Landed a bumper at Listowel and a maiden hurdle at Limerick in early autumn; 40s, ran freely before weakening quickly and being pulled up in Fairyhouse Grade 1 earlier this month; this a more realistic target.	5/1
6	4th Dec 2022 Yielding 2m 0f 0y	13:25 Fairyhouse Polo Lounge 11st 12lb J: Danny Mullins T: W P Mullins	raced freely, prominent, pressed leaders 3rd	28/1
1st 9	23rd Oct 2022 Yielding To Soft 2m 0f 0y	13:50 Limerick Polo Lounge 11st 12lb J: Danny Mullins T: W P Mullins	made all, ridden and went clear approaching last, kept on strongly, unchallenged	10/11

Place /
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Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

2

19th Dec 2022

Frozen

2m 0f 100y

11st 7lb

Landed a bumper at Listowel and a maiden hurdle at Limerick in early autumn; 40s, ran freely before weakening quickly and being pulled up in Fairyhouse Grade 1 earlier this month; this a more realistic target.

5/1

6

4th Dec 2022

Yielding

2m 0f 0y

11st 12lb

raced freely, prominent, pressed leaders 3rd

28/1