17:45 Down Royal
Friday 26 May 2017
All17:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:45
Barclay Communications Maiden Hurdle
- 5YO plus  |  2m  |  Good (Good to Firm in places)  |  14 Runners  |  Turf  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 17:46Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 3m 42.6s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Low grade on the Flat and just the one win in 35 starts under Rules. Recent efforts don't suggest he'll be taking a hand in the finish here.
Showed little on recent effort at Clonmel and although that run may have been needed after a break, needs a lot more improvement to challenge for top honours here.
Would hold a decent chance if able to reproduce his winning Thurles bumper form here, and will know more this time after a moderate first effort over hurdles at Kilbeggan recently. In good hands and improvement likely at some stage.
Useful enough on the Flat for Clive Brittain a couple of seasons ago but looks regressive now, and didn't pull up any trees on only start over hurdles. Makes little appeal.
A winner in heavy ground at Sligo last August and not totally disgraced on hurdles debut at Down Royal the month after, although was beaten when falling. Not seen since then and likely to need the run after such an absence.
Nothing stands out in the breeding to suggest he'll be up to making an impression on his debut today, and others make more appeal.
Has run to a solid level on three of his last four starts, and stuck to the task well enough to finish third in a big field maiden hurdle at Tipperary recently (although well beaten in the end). Likely to run his race again but may find others improving past him.
Nicely bred and showed enough on debut in a race that's thrown up winners at Leopardstown last December. If fit and ready to go after a break, improvement looks very likely and should be one of the major players here.
Mustameet gelding that's bred to be decent in time, although likely to want more of a stamina test than he gets today. Market should give a clue, but others preferred at this stage.
Stayed on nicely late in the day to claim fourth in a race won by his stablemate Ornua at Down Royal recently and will have learnt plenty from that. Should build on it and if so, is worthy of consideration here.
Ran well on the Flat at Dundalk earlier in the month and better still back over hurdles at Punchestown a week later, although was well beaten despite finishing second. Should be a race to be won with him but needs improvement to get involved here.
Would be very interesting on the best of his 2015 form and although a long absence until recent run at Tipperary indicates he's had issues, there was more than enough to be gleaned from that run that the ability is still there. Looks a player if building on that.
Another that's bred to want more of a stamina test and although yard have had a recent winner, this one is likely to want a bit of time. Only of interest if strong in the market.
Hasn't shown enough on either start to date to suggest she's up to taking a hand in the finish here, although she has shown a modicum of promise both times.
Non-Runners
4
Mountain Rock10
Weight: 11-12|Â Â Age: 5
T: A Keatley  J:Â
NR
Forecasts
Probing (13/8), Mountain Rock (5/2), Silken Thomas (10/3), All's Quiet (11/2), L'andana (7/1), Floramar (12/1), Sea Bank (14/1), Pat's Oscar (20/1), Red Aggressor (25/1), Mustmeetforapint (33/1), Benefit Of Love (33/1), Fourina (33/1), Banker Burke (40/1), Flannery (50/1), Absolute Grit (50/1)
If MOUNTAIN ROCK can translate his excellent bumper form to hurdles then he could take a bit of beating here. A little disappointing on the Flat last time out, that race wasn't really run to suit, and he can bounce back here. Probing looks a likely improver from a solid debut here and can grab a place, along with Silken Thomas, as long as he doesn't "bounce" from his first run back after an absence earlier this month. Floramar and Sea Bank are others to consider in what could be an informative little race.
- Mountain Rock
- Probing
- Silken Thomas
Prize Money
1st: €6,775.002nd: €2,101.003rd: €1,002.004th: €450.005th: €176.00
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