Racecards
13:20 Limerick (IRE)
Irish Independent Hurdle
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f
- Going: Soft to Heavy, Heavy in places
- Surface: Turf
- €14,500 added
- Winner: €10,005
- 2nd: €2,320
- 3rd: €1,015
- 4th: €580
- Form F86420
- Age 7
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer S O O'Brien
- Jockey J M Allen
held up until closed to track leaders approaching 6 out, 2nd 3 out, struggling to match winner from before last, kept on same pace run-in
- Form U5777P-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer Stephen Kelly
- Jockey Sean Flanagan
soon tracked leaders, 3rd when slow jump 6 out, soon lost place and weakened, tailed off
- Form 1-91
- Age 4
- Weight 11-8
- Trainer C O'Dwyer
- Jockey N J O'Shea
close up and disputed lead, dropped to 3rd and ridden 3 out, 4th and no impression straight
- Form 1F1F-2
- Age 4
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 131
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey E Mullins
soon led and disputed, jumped well, led 6 out, asserted from before the last, stayed on well
- Form S2311-0
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer J P O'Keeffe
- Jockey P F Mangan
held up, closer in 4th 4 out, ridden approaching straight, soon no impression in 3rd, kept on same pace
- Age 4
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer D Hassett
- Jockey J L Cullen
tracked leaders, dropped towards rear when bad mistake 6 out, weakened, completely tailed off
- Form FP-7
- Age 4
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer R J Tierney
- Jockey E F Power
towards rear, slightly slow jump 3rd, closed into 4th 5 out, 5th next, no extra from 3 out, tailed off
In depth
Verdict
SWEET MY LORD can hardly be described as a safe conveyance having falling in two of his four starts over timber but his overall form, particularly when runner-up to Askanna at Punchestown last month, looks good enough for this. Wilde Wit Pleasure has been a disappointment over hurdles and fences since his maiden success last November though he's generally taken on decent company while Ferris Bueller will need to step up a gear from his narrow success at Punchestown to trouble the selection. Special Token was well supported to make a winning return in a Cork handicap in October but ran a shocker and finished tailed off. He's better than that and will enjoy the testing conditions.
Formwatch
Wilde Wit Pleasure (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Chased leader in 2nd, 3rd approaching 3 out, soon no extra, weakened, 12th of 16, 13l behind Asigh Pearl (10-4) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp hdl sft.
Wright Flyer (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, 6th halfway, weakened from 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Colls Corner (11-4) at Clonmel 2m 4f nov hcp chs (0-116) sft in Feb, 13 ran.
Ferris Bueller 33-1 (11-4) Tracked leader in 2nd, ridden in 3rd after 2 out, progress to dispute lead inside final furlong, led near line, won at Punchestown 2m 4f mdn hdl gd in Oct beating Lean Times (11-12) by hd, 13 ran.
Sweet My Lord (FR) 10-3 (10-10) Held up towards rear, smooth headway after 3 out, 3rd after 2 out, close 2nd travelling best entering straight, ridden to challenge when not fluent last, kept on without threatening winner run-in, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Askanna (10-4) at Punchestown 2m 6f hdl in Nov.
Special Token (IRE) 4-1fav (11-3) Tracked leaders, weakened from 4 out, 11th of 16, well behind The Buck (9-12) at Cork 2m 4f hcp hdl 80-109 hvy in Oct.
Miss Hilliers (IRE) 50-1 (11-2) Rear of mid-division, weakened 4 out, completely tailed off, 24th of 30, well behind Araucaria (11-7) at Navan 2m 4f mdn hdl sft in Sep.
Tingamajig (IRE) 50-1 (10-4) Towards rear, dropped behind when mistake 4 out, 7th of 8, well behind Knockfierna (11-5) at Cork 2m mrs nov hdl sft.