17:55 Kilbeggan

Friday 25 August 2017

All16:4517:2017:5518:2519:0019:30

Hurley Family Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 17:56 | Winning time: 4m 0.0s

Easy Boy^t¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: C D Timmons⁽³⁾| T: P Martin

66/1

Looked badly in need of more experience over hurdles on debut over obstacles at Sligo earlier in the month. Fair effort on the Flat prior to that and can go better this time, though he still has a way to to go the match the best of these.

Form: 0

Big Ben^t²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| BF

13/8

Form: 2-2

Storm Rising²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan

20/1

Not particularly effective on the Flat and hasn't taken a huge step forward on his first two starts over hurdles, but did manage to improve slightly between those efforts. Could be involved in the battle for the places.

Form: 75

Striking Gold²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: M J Bolger| T: Mrs J Harrington

25/1

Well-beaten on his sole attempt over hurdles so far but probably performed better there than he has in maidens on the Flat. Better can be expected now but appears to be the stable's second string based on jockey bookings.

Form: 4

Urbanist^h1⁴⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: P E Corbett⁽³⁾| T: S Nolan

66/1

Finished last of all and was beaten 29L on his only attempt at a bumper, which came in May 2016. Now returns to the course after a long absence wearing a first time hood for this debut over hurdles. A very unlikely winner.

Form: 0-

Bard Of Armagh²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Phillip Enright| T: A J Martin

100/1

Has shown very little in three maiden hurdles so far having been sent off no shorter than 40/1 on any of those three occasions. Has shown few signs of impending improvement and another minor role seems likely.

Form: 000

Black Allstar^t¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: G N Fox| T: G P Cromwell

66/1

Finished down the field in his one start in a maiden hurdle to date. Drop back in trip may help but difficult to envisage him hitting the frame on the back of that poor effort.

Form: 0

Easy Pass³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington

7/1

0/13 both on the Flat and over hurdles, but recent efforts have been encouraging for these top connections and he may only need to find a small amount of improvement in order to be competitive here.

Form: F500-4

Motcomb Street^t1²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Brian Hayes| T: J J Hanlon

20/1

Posted two solid efforts in bumpers prior to a lack luster effort in a Flat maiden. Over obstacles for the first time in a tongue strap and should be capable of running a fair race, but is entitled to come on for that.

Form: 4-4

Sayar³²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins

1/1

Not disgraced on the Flat when running to a fair level in two competitive maidens. Acquisition by this yard is an eye-catching one and he is worth a check in the market for this hurdling debut.

Form:

Cloneen Lady^p⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: A E Lynch| T: J Beamish

100/1

Yet to find his feet under rules since switching from point to points. Plenty to find even with some of the weaker contenders here.

Form: PPP-980

Mrs Conn³²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Robbie Colgan| T: T Cleary

66/1

Grandera mare who went 14 races on the Flat without managing to get off the mark, including some poor heats. Needs to be totally revitalized by the switch to hurdles here.

Form:

Rathnaleen Swift

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: John J Fitzpatrick⁽⁷⁾| T: P Byrne

66/1

Daughter of Oscar who cost €2,500 as a 4yo. Not the most eye-catching pedigree or connections for this debut run, and others demand much closer consideration.

Form:

Slainte And Thanks¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Danny Mullins| T: G Ahern

33/1

Yet to land a blow in maiden hurdles and has been well beaten at 33/1 on each of his starts to date. Hinted at promise in point to points but may be a more of a handicap chase prospect going forward. Reserve runner.

Form: 845060

Non-Runners

Niven⁶⁹

Weight: 11-7| Age: 4

T: N Meade J: Sean Flanagan

Forecasts

Sayar (1/1), Big Ben (13/8), Easy Pass (7/1), Niven (14/1), Storm Rising (20/1), Motcomb Street (20/1), Striking Gold (25/1), Slainte And Thanks (33/1), Mrs Conn (66/1), Urbanist (66/1), Black Allstar (66/1), Rathnaleen Swift (66/1), Easy Boy (66/1), Bard Of Armagh (100/1), Cloneen Lady (100/1)

Many of these seem unlikely to be winning a maiden hurdle any time soon, but one who could get off the mark here is BIG BEN. Having won a maiden on the Flat he has posted two solid efforts over hurdles up to now for a very promising young trainer, and seems to improving. If he can prove that he is then he may simply be a cut above these and can get off the mark at the third time of asking. Sayar is an interesting acquisition for the Mullins team and is preferred next, ahead of Easy Boy, who is better than he showed on his hurdles debut.