Johnny Little Legs an interesting contender now stepping up in trip

2.40 Thurles
BetVictor Handicap Hurdle | 2m6½f | 4yo+ | ITV4/TV3

This is a fascinating handicap and, if you’re going on recent form, are you going to trust the proven stayer in Goulane Jessie or the potential improver, Johnny Little Legs?

Goulane Jessie looked in need of every yard of 3m when dead-heating for second at Fairyhouse last time. The Seamus Spillane-trained eight-year-old was in no better than ninth after three out but made relentless headway under pressure into fourth at the last and was never closer than at the finish, joining Moyode Gold for the runner-up spot on the line.

The evidence points to her needing a greatest test of stamina than this 2m6½f will provide.

So what about the speed horse Johnny Little Legs? He was headed close home when beaten a short-head by Chalky White over 2m at this track last time and traded at 1.1 in running on Betfair. He was rallying at the line, but this is a sizeable step up in trip.

That was a vast improvement on anything he had shown on his first four starts and he made his debut only in December, so there could be plenty of progress in the locker.

Ballea Fox (centre): struck at Punchestown last monthCredit: Alain Barr

There is also some encouragement to be taken from his pedigree. His dam is a half-sister to Ballochroy, who produced his best over trips ranging from 2m6f-3m.

Ballea Fox has the best piece of course-and-distance form on offer. The stablemate of likely market leader Goulane Jessie was a good second at the track last month and followed that up with victory at Punchestown 12 days later. He has been below that level twice since though.

Shantelle is likely to be a big price but she might find this easier than when tackling 22 rivals at Leopardstown over Christmas and has run well fresh in the past. She returns from 84 days off and her best recent effort came when second after a 68-day absence at Cork in November.

She is no forlorn hope if back in good heart after the break.

What connections say

Sean O'Brien, trainer of Johnny Little Legs
He's stepping up a good bit in trip. I have no doubt he would stay 2m4f, but this trip at this stage of his life is a bit of an unknown. He's a grand, little horse, though, and we're going there full of hope. It would be great to give his rider his first winner here.

Mark Fahey, trainer of Fourina
She's very in and out. If she returns to the form she showed at Punchestown two starts ago, she'd have a chance. We're putting blinkers on for the first time in the hope they'll waken her up a bit.

William Cronin, trainer of Duhallow Paddy
The slower the better for him, so I hope it does not dry out too much. He seems to be in good form at home.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Sporty Yankee
He's very consistent, although he wasn't himself on the Flat at Wolverhampton last month. If he bounces back to the form he showed at Fairyhouse back in December you'd like to think he can be competitive.

Denise Foster, trainer of Memory Of Youth
She's gutsy, she's in great form and will appreciate the slightly better ground. She ran very well at Clonmel and we haven't done a great deal with her since.

Read The Lowdown from 8.30am daily on racingpost.com and the Racing Post app for all the day's going updates, news and tips