13:50 Clonmel

Thursday 2 February 2017

All13:2013:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:40

Surehaul Race Day Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 5m 38.3s

Auction Reminder²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: A McCurtin⁽⁵⁾| T: D Duggan

100/1

Some promise on jumping debut at Limerick over two-miles but step up in trip last time didn't appear to suit and goes up another furlong for this.

Form: 0P-P566

Berry Des Aulmes^p1³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott

9/2

Clear second at Tramore on New Year's Day when no match for a very easy winner, in this company and dropped back in trip he must hold leading claims.

Form: 22P3P-6

For Carmel^t1²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: B J Foley⁽⁷⁾| T: M Winters

25/1

Tried everything from two-miles to three-miles in trio of runs over flights so far, without ever threatening to land a blow. Drops in trip now but hard to make a case for him.

Form: 995623-

Instinctly^p¹⁰⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell

100/1

Efforts in four maiden hurdles, including at around this trip last time out at Roscommon in October, make him impossible to recommend.

Form: 87-00P

Legal Lord^h1⁸²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: M P Fogarty| T: S Neville

66/1

Given a more positive ride last time at Naas in November for second start over flights but effort faded fast and was eventually beaten a long way.

Form: P10-P0P

Meelin Nineonesix^p⁸²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Turlough O'connor⁽⁷⁾| T: T O'Connor

100/1

No impression in Naas maiden hurdle in November over two-miles, that was in keeping with prior point-to-point/bumper form. Goes up in trip now.

Form: P6-F4

Moroval²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: H De Bromhead

3/1

Third of 13 at Limerick in December over this trip on hurdles debut, that was a fair effort on heavy ground and one to consider with trainer going well.

Form: 5/33273-

The Pipers Cottage²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: John J Fitzpatrick⁽⁷⁾| T: P Coffey

100/1

Lacked promised both starts over timber so far, doesn't appeal on what he's shown.

Form: 421

Ask Nile²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Brian Hayes| T: S Neville

9/4

Consistent in three maiden hurdles to date without getting off the mark but remains on the shortlist and should oblige sooner rather than later.

Form: 244145-

Ballyvaldon Boy²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: A Ring⁽³⁾| T: P Coffey

100/1

Hasn't beaten any of 39 rivals home in two starts at this game, coming either side of a 510-day layoff. Steps up trip after disappointing Naas effort last month.

Form: 0-

Mr Champers²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: J J Burke| T: A Keatley

8/1

Promise in three bumper runs, if lacking a little most recently at Fairyhouse when finishing one-paced. Could easily take a hand in this on hurdles debut.

Form: 625550-

Ocean Explorer^t²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: E O'Connell⁽⁷⁾| T: A Leahy

20/1

Steps up in trip for this but is very hard to build a case for on the evidence of four previous hurdles runs.

Form: 448F67-

The Way It Is

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: J S McGarvey| T: E McNamara

50/1

Newcomer in familiar colours is bred to go well and merits respect for a trainer with impressive 18-per-cent strike rate over timber during the previous 12 months.

Form:

Time Factor³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Mark Walsh| T: C Roche

7/1

Remote fourth of 15 in hurdles how at Fairyhouse last month over 2m4f. Could have something more to offer but will likely need it.

Form: 4P-

Veneziano Springs²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: D E Splaine| T: T O'Brien

33/1

Ran with some promise in decent Cork maiden hurdle in November though he's since disappointed in a bumper at Punchestown and will need to have sharpened his jumping for this step up in trip.

Form: 50

So Sorry Sarah⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: J J Slevin⁽⁵⁾| T: J P O'Brien

7/1

Mare has been a bit disappointing over hurdles, finished behind Moroval at Limerick in December and since been underwhelming Fairyhouse.

Form: 875454

Valiant Vixen¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: D E Mullins| T: Miss M M Gannon

100/1

Beaten a long way on Fairyhouse bumper debut last month over two-miles, up in trip now and will need some significant improvement.

Form:

Non-Runners

Young Bidder²⁸

Weight: 11-11| Age: 5

T: Mrs J Harrington J: Paul Townend

Slaney Craiglegacy¹⁰

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: Miss E Doyle J: Reserve 1

Mister Orcadian¹⁴

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: L Young J: Reserve 2

Fr Captain Murphy¹³

Weight: 11-11| Age: 5

T: Michael John Murphy J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Ask Nile (9/4), Moroval (3/1), Berry Des Aulmes (9/2), So Sorry Sarah (7/1), Time Factor (7/1), Mr Champers (8/1), Young Bidder (16/1), Ocean Explorer (20/1), For Carmel (25/1), Veneziano Springs (33/1), Fr Captain Murphy (33/1), Slaney Craiglegacy (50/1), The Way It Is (50/1), Legal Lord (66/1), Auction Reminder (100/1), Valiant Vixen (100/1), Instinctly (100/1), Meelin Nineonesix (100/1), Mister Orcadian (100/1), The Pipers Cottage (100/1), Ballyvaldon Boy (100/1)

Ask Nile has run well all three starts over hurdles thus far and will likely do well again here but may settle for minor honours. Moroval made a good start to this game in December at Limerick and will likely appreciate the slightly better ground forecast for a trainer in flying form but BERRY DES AULMES also ran a solid race at Tramore last time and gets the nod to score here having been dropped in trip. Mr Champers is worth a look as he switches from bumpers to hurdles having run with promise thus far while newcomer The Way It Is should be monitored in the market for a trainer that has done well in this sphere of late. 1. Berry Des Aulmes 2. Ask Nile 3. The Way It Is