Shaboozee (17:51 Wexford — Neville Hotels Handicap Hurdle, 2m 180y)
A five-year-old bay gelding trained by Joseph O’Brien and partnered by J J Slevin, who has a 20% win rate on him across their five rides together. Shaboozee was unlucky not to complete a hat-trick last September at Listowel, finding himself short of room and with too much to do in a 17-runner Listed handicap hurdle off a mark 1lb higher than today’s. Before that he won back-to-back handicap hurdles at Ballinrobe in August, winning by 14 lengths and 2¾ lengths respectively — a horse in the form of his life before that unlucky run derailed things.
He returns today after a lengthy break off a lenient mark, good to yielding ground suits, and O’Brien’s record with returning horses is excellent. In a field of eight, Slevin will be able to get him nicely placed from the outset.
Verdict: Back to win — progressive hurdler returning from a break off a lenient mark, unlucky last time out, and the yard knows exactly when he’s ready. 🏇
