14:10 Thurles

Saturday 25 March 2017

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0517:40

Martinstown Opportunity Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 4m 8.7s

Arctic Light²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: A W Short⁽⁴⁾| T: T Mullins

16/1

Hopelessly tailed off over this trip at Naas last month, apparently regressing since showing initial promise in bumpers. Tall order to be competitive now.

Form: 256009-

Kilbarry Marien¹⁷⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: A Ring| T: C O'Keeffe

25/1

Bumper winner at Tramore last summer, didn't always jump fluently on sole hurdles outing at the same venue in August. Off since disappointing effort in Gowran Park bumper in September.

Form: 16390P

Nicaragua¹⁸⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁴⁾| T: C O'Keeffe

50/1

Beaten around 71L on sole previous hurdles outing at Fairyhouse in December 2015, badly out of form on Flat when last spotted in September. Plenty to prove.

Form: 8/62-4

Crazywork De Vassy⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: D J McInerney⁽⁴⁾| T: M J McDonagh

14/1

Hasn't shown much in three bumper outings to warrant support on hurdles bow for new trainer.

Form: 35443

Giant Spirit^p1,t²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: C Brassil⁽⁴⁾| T: M S Sandra Hughes

11/10

Has already finished runner-up behind the likes of Let's Dance and Bon Papa over timber, form that entitles him to decent claims in this contest.

Form: 625244

Jolly Windsor

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: F J Hayes⁽⁴⁾| T: W Hayes

33/1

Newcomer for small yard without a winner in the last 12 months, likely will need the run before seen to best effect.

Form: 0-

Larks Lane²⁶⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: A P Byrne⁽⁴⁾| T: Barry J Murphy

100/1

Showed some promise on bumper debut almost two years ago, not built on that in three subsequent runs, beaten a long way over hurdles in July when last spotted.

Form: 6/08-09

Naturally Blond^t¹²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: B J Foley⁽⁴⁾| T: Patrick Cronin| OR: 98

8/1

Has gone close in a couple of these, including at close to this trip at Clonmel in September. Stays further.

Form: 5U575-2

Ned's Island¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: M P Burke⁽⁴⁾| T: D M O'Brien

16/1

Beaten 31L in a similar contest over C&D a fortnight ago, needs more on third start over hurdles but is open to progress.

Form: 66681-3

Rebellion Lies²⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: P D Kennedy| T: S Byrne

66/1

Has disappointed in two spins over hurdles so far, drops in trip this time but must prove fitness having been off since July.

Form: P/000-

Tikken Away¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: T Mullins

13/2

Beaten 15L over C&D recently on first start over flights. That was a fair effort and improvement would entitle him to place claims.

Form: 70

Working Man^t⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: B Browne⁽⁴⁾| T: O McKiernan

50/1

Two outings in bumpers, latest at Wexford eight days ago, have been bereft of promise and hard to see him being involved in the shake-up.

Form:

Castleonthehill^h1

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: P A Gallagher⁽²⁾| T: Miss M Harding

100/1

Westerner mare is set to get a first sight of the racecourse, expectations likely to be limited on debut for small yard with modest strike rate.

Form:

Hugh Divots⁶⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: R L Brennan⁽⁴⁾| T: A Mullins

100/1

Form in three maiden hurdles is devoid of promise, latest at Leopardstown over longer trip saw mare completely tailed off. Impossible to fancy on form.

Form: 00

Kittyhawkkay^t⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: T N Brett⁽⁴⁾| T: J P Ryan

66/1

Raced prominently over this C&D recently on hurdles bow, before weakening out of it. Since beaten more than 100L in Limerick bumper a week ago.

Form: 0-40

La Bella Vida³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: J J Slevin⁽²⁾| T: Miss E Doyle

10/3

Remote third of 14 at this venue last month on heavy ground, has experience on her side but probably place claims at best.

Form: 284315

Talsara^b,t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: P E Corbett| T: T Foley

25/1

Runner-up at Tipperary in a maiden hurdle in first time cheekpieces and tongue tie in July but well held in two subsequent outings, one of which was on the Flat, and unseated rider back jumping at Gowran Park two weeks ago.

Form: 28U

Non-Runners

Golden Poet¹⁷⁶

Weight: 11-12| Age: 5

T: A McNamara J: Donagh Meyler

Settimo Milanese

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: M F Morris J: Reserve 1

Oath Breaker¹³

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: J P O'Brien J: Reserve 2

Queen Khaleesi⁷

Weight: 10-11| Age: 5

T: P Neville J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Giant Spirit (11/10), La Bella Vida (10/3), Golden Poet (10/3), Oath Breaker (11/2), Tikken Away (13/2), Settimo Milanese (15/2), Naturally Blond (8/1), Crazywork De Vassy (14/1), Ned's Island (16/1), Arctic Light (16/1), Talsara (25/1), Kilbarry Marien (25/1), Jolly Windsor (33/1), Nicaragua (50/1), Working Man (50/1), Queen Khaleesi (50/1), Rebellion Lies (66/1), Kittyhawkkay (66/1), Larks Lane (100/1), Hugh Divots (100/1), Castleonthehill (100/1)

This doesn't appear to have a lot of depth, even for a race of its type, and so it may pay to go with the promise shown by GIANT SPIRIT behind some smart types. He has finished second to both Cheltenham Festival-winning mare Let's Dance and the promising Bon Papa. It is a concern that he hasn't obliged in five runs over hurdles, but this looks a decent chance to change that. Golden Poet showed enough over timber in two runs in the autumn to ensure he heads the dangers on his return to the trach while La Bella Vida has place claims having finished a remote third here recently. Tikken Away has just one run over jumps in the book and could take a hand in this if able to improve on that 15L defeat.

Martinstown Opportunity Maiden Hurdle

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Martinstown Opportunity Maiden Hurdle

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