15:40 Navan

Sunday 19 February 2017

All14:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:4017:10

Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 6m 8.00s

Dounikos¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr L J McGuinness⁽⁴⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 122

10/1

Maiden hurdle winner at Thurles in November and ran well again there next time. Latest effort at the same track was too bad to be true and respected switching to handicaps having had a break since.

Form: 1/P9-21

Man With Van³⁹³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: A W Short⁽⁴⁾| T: P Griffin| OR: 120

50/1

Long time since he's been seen over hurdles, not in great form chasing of late either and others make more appeal in this context.

Form: 5P4U/8P-

Rightdownthemiddle²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: C M Collins⁽⁴⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 117

11/4

Ran a stormer behind A Toi Phil in valuable Leopardstown handicap chase last month, that was first start for this trainer and would hold huge claims if able to repeat the trick over timber.

Form: 2772P2

Captain Von Trappe^p²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: C D Timmons⁽²⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 116

20/1

Another making the switch back to hurdling, been badly out of form in chases however and hard to fancy right now.

Form: 5F578P-

Mad Brian^t²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-3| J: D J Hand⁽⁴⁾| T: Mrs G Callaghan| OR: 116

12/1

Latest run over fences at Punchestown (3m4f) would give him some claims if handling the drop in trip in trip and switch to hurdles.

Form: FP-5P75

Futuramic²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: Ricky Doyle⁽⁴⁾| T: A Lynch| OR: 109

12/1

Must be forgiven recent Gowran Park effort but previous outing over this C&D from 2lb higher mark entitles him to a chance.

Form: 3P-F702

Stolberg^t²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: D J McInerney⁽⁴⁾| T: A J McNamara| OR: 107

33/1

Appears to be in the handicapper's grasp for now if recent efforts are anything to judge by.

Form: 21-9P0P

Topper Thornton⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: D Robinson⁽⁴⁾| T: C A McBratney| OR: 106

25/1

Down Royal run off this mark in August would make him interesting, very inconsistent performer however, switches back to this discipline having been chasing and tough to fancy.

Form: P8P039-

Soir De Chantenay¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: J B Kane⁽⁴⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 120

8/1

Prolific youngster over hurdles in France, not quite hit the right notes since arriving in this country. Recent Gowran Park run was better and interesting if there's money now upped in trip.

Form: 695042

Emma Beag^h1³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: E O'Connell⁽⁴⁾| T: Miss E Doyle| OR: 104

7/1

Two promising efforts at Fairyhouse before Christmas, less so upped to three-miles at the same venue last month. Could do better in this.

Form: 235F75-

Nicole's Milan¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: P E Corbett| T: S Aherne| OR: 102

9/4

Quick-fire Fairyhouse double scorer, showing good attitude to get up over 2m4f last time. Upped in trip again and while carrying 8lb more, shouldn't be dismissed in current mood.

Form: 2-08404

St Maxime¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-1| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁴⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 100

25/1

Brought down in handicap chase at Fairyhouse a fortnight ago on return from long layoff, switches to hurdles and needs career-best over timber to score.

Form: 17-B757

Aimin For Anna^b⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-13| J: A Ring| T: T P O'Connor| OR: 98

40/1

Some promise early on in maiden hurdles but that seems a long while ago now, struggled in Fairyhouse/Cork runs since turn of the year.

Form: 99PD0P-

Non-Runners

Kilkishen¹¹⁵

Weight: 11-13| Age: 7

T: J J Hanlon J: B J Foley

Mister First¹⁴

Weight: 10-7| Age: 11

T: R Hennessy J: E O'Connell

Forecasts

Nicole's Milan (9/4), Rightdownthemiddle (11/4), Emma Beag (7/1), Kilkishen (7/1), Soir De Chantenay (8/1), Dounikos (10/1), Mad Brian (12/1), Futuramic (12/1), Captain Von Trappe (20/1), St Maxime (25/1), Topper Thornton (25/1), Mister First (25/1), Stolberg (33/1), Aimin For Anna (40/1), Man With Van (50/1)

A chance is taken on SOIR DE CHANTENAY, a three-time winner in France that has yet to find his niche in current colours. His most recent run at Gowran Park was a step in the right direction and there could be more to come. Rightdownthemiddle is a much-respected contender based on his previous run over fences at Leopardstown, if repeating that now switched to this discipline he will take some holding. Quite a few of these are reverting to hurdles, making the form tough to assess, but hat-trick seeker Nicole's Milan doesn't fall into that category. Despite the ratings rise, she should go well again. Dounikos ought to be better than his most recent running and can be given a chance on prior form while Emma Beag is likely to do better now dropped in trip again and has some potential. 1. Soir De Chantenay 2. Nicole's Milan 3. Rightdownthemiddle