Racecards
18:20 Sligo (IRE)
Hop House 13 Lager Rated Novice Hurdle
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 170y
- Going: Yielding
- Surface: Turf
- €13,000 added
- Winner: €8,007
- 2nd: €2,483
- 3rd: €1,183
- 4th: €534
- Form 6004-1P
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer L P Cusack
- Jockey D J Mullins
soon raced in 4th, closed up approaching 2 out and soon on terms, not match winner and kept on same pace from after last
- Form 22-4544
- Age 5
- Weight 11-8
tracked leader, slight mistake 4th, 3rd before next, closed up approaching 2 out and soon briefly on terms, no impression straight, dropped to 4th at last and no extra
- Form 12-B361
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer B Cawley
- Jockey Mr L P Gilligan
soon tracked leaders in 3rd, took keen hold, 2nd before 5th, 4th approaching 2 out, soon no impression, 3rd again at last and kept on same pace
- Form 2340-6F
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey D N Russell
slight mistake 1st, soon in rear, detached and pushed along briefly 7th, well behind and no danger after
- Form 5594-12
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer N Meade
- Jockey Sean Flanagan
led, pressed from before 2 out where joined and slight mistake, led again and stayed on best from after last
- Form P36-013
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 93
In depth
Verdict
NELLIE PLEDGE put in a career best performance in winning here last time out and she can follow up that victory with success in this novice hurdle. The selection won on yielding-to-soft ground in point-to-points so the softer surface here shouldn't inconvenience her and she can defeat Darkest Flyer who has run well in two races since switching to this yard last month. Snugsborough Hall disappointed at Galway last time but had run well in defeating 23 rivals prior to that and can take third here.
Formwatch
Snugsborough Hall (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Always behind, no impression from 3 out, pulled up before last, at Galway 2m 5f hcp gd in Aug.
Cluan Dara (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Led, joined briefly 3rd, led after next, ridden and joined again 2 out, soon headed, 3rd after last, no extra in 4th close home, 4th of 10, 3 3/4l behind Hardback (11-4) at Sligo 2m mdn gd in Aug.
Nellie Pledge (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, went 4th 3 out, improved to dispute lead 2 out, ridden to lead entering straight, stayed on well run-in, won at Sligo 2m 4f mdn gd in Aug beating Successor (11-6) by 6l, 10 ran.
Rock Lobster 33-1 (11-12) Mid-division, fell 2nd, at Killarney 2m 4f mdn sft in May.
Darkest Flyer (IRE) 4-7fav (11-7) Mid-division, headway into 4th travelling well 2 out, went 2nd at last and ridden, no impression on winner inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 2nd of 16, 2 1/4l behind Beneficial Society (10-11) at Ballinrobe 2m 6f hcp gd in Jul.
Unchago (IRE) 50-1 (11-12) Always towards rear, no impression from 3 out, never a factor, 8th of 10, 20 1/4l behind Minella Beau (11-12) at Galway 2m mdn gd in Aug.
Eiri Na Casca (IRE) 11-2 (11-1) Chased leaders, slight mistake 5th, headway 4 out, ridden and no impression in 3rd after 2 out, kept on one pace run-in, 3rd of 7, 5 1/2l behind Eight Till Late (11-3) at Sligo 2m 1f hcp Yielding - Soft in Aug.
Ashjan 4-1 (10-12) Rear of mid-division on inner, 8th 3 out, soon no impression, never a factor, 11th of 15, dist behind Hello Sweetie (11-7) at Ballinrobe 2m 2f hcp gd in Jul.