18:15 Down Royal
Friday 23 June 2017
All17:4518:1518:5019:2019:5520:3021:00
French Village Maiden Hurdle
- 5YO plus  |  2m 100y  |  Good (Good to Firm in places)  |  12 Runners  |  Turf  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 18:15Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 3m 49.60s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Made all when a 16/1 bumper scorer at Tramore in April (good) and shaped with promise on hurdles debut behind a Mullins trained winner at Listowel (fourth) earlier this month.
Not done too much wrong since switched to hurdling, and has finished a runner up on three of those five starts. The tongue tie which was added last time is retained, and another similar showing will once more see him on the premises.
Thurles bumper winner in October 2016 (2m good), but looked a shade one paced when 13L third to dead-heaters Silken Thomas and All's Quiet over C&D last month. Nevertheless, this is only his third start over timber and the application of a tongue tie could help.
Won a couple of bumpers in the summer of 2016 (Killarney and Galway), but is yet to be really tested over hurdles. Finished seventh of 17 to Uradel (Fort Montagu fourth) on hurdles debut at Listowel recently, so improvement is a distinct possibility.
A three time Flat winner on turf at upto 1m. Off since October 2016 and makes her hurdles debut with stamina very much to prove.
Quite a useful flat handicapper, winning at the Curragh (10F) in September 2016. However, hasn't shown much in three starts over hurdles, and a slight surprise that she continues in this company despite now being qualified for handicaps.
Stablemate of Knockmaole Boy, and much like that lesser exposed horse has plenty of runner up efforts on his CV. No match for easy winner Atlantic Breaker at Downpatrick last weekend, but a possible to fill the placings once more.
All four of his hurdling starts have come at this track, and it's fair to say that he's been found a shade wanting. No reason to expect better now other than he may be a shade sharper for his comeback in early May, and that the tongue tie is now applied.
Tailed off in both starts over hurdles during May 2016, so little reason to expect improvement off a 13 month absence.
Failed to complete in four starts in Point-to-Points, and finished last of 13 to Tourboy on hurdles debut at Punchestown last week. Drop in trip could suit.
3m Point-to-Point winner in April at Loughanmore (finished alone), but often let down by his fencing in that arena. No better than mid-division on hurdles debut at Downpatrick (2m3f) last month, and this drop in trip is far from certain to suit.
Well beaten on both starts over hurdles, including over C&D on debut, so difficult to see her improving enough to take a hand.
Forecasts
Mountain Rock (15/8), Fort Montagu (11/4), Knockmaole Boy (9/2), Canny Tom (5/1), L'andana (11/1), Comber Mill (20/1), Annie Irish (40/1), Maudlin Magdalen (50/1), Winterberry (50/1), Mystic Embarr (66/1), Benefit Of Love (66/1), Time In Boston (66/1)
Little in the way of any significant strength in this maiden hurdle, so the placed form shown by the likes of stablemates Knockmaole Boy and Canny Tom could prove good enough. Both L'andana and Mountain Rock are fairly moderate, but also hold claims at this lowly level. However, for tonight it could pay to side with Tramore bumper winner FORT MONTAGU who really doesn't need to improve at all from his hurdles debut behind Uradel at Listowel earlier in the month to take all of the beating.
- Fort Montagu
- Knockmaole Boy
- Mountain Rock
Prize Money
1st: €6,775.002nd: €2,101.003rd: €1,002.004th: €450.005th: €176.00
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