16:15 Bellewstown

Thursday 31 August 2017

All16:1516:4517:1517:4518:1518:4519:15

TheTote.com Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 4m 3.1s

Artful Artist^t³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: L P Dempsey| T: A J Martin| OR: 110| BF

10/1

Promising second of 20, on seasonal debut at the Galway Festival last month. Raised 4lb for next handicap appearance, but major trainer/jockey combo respected.

Form: 77/327-2

Castle Guest^t³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: M Halford| OR: 108| BF

16/1

Not seen over hurdles for over a year, but has solid form on the going, over the distance and doesn't mind fields of this size. Only going winner in the line up.

Form: 60F/23-

Easy Boy^p,t⁶

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

100/1

Disappointing and well beaten on first two career hurdle starts, when last of 10 and last of 14. Best watched here.

Form: 00

Felix Mendelssohn^t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: S A Shortall⁽³⁾| T: J P O'Brien

25/1

Not seen jumping a hurdle since finishing sixth of seven, on debut, beaten 73L in December at Leopardstown. Best watched on just his second hurdle start.

Form: 6-

Shinghari^p¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan| BF

16/1

Well beaten and no impression on two hurdle starts, including last time out when well backed and send off the 11/10 favourite.

Form: 34

Low Sun³⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins

4/6

Son of Champs Elysees out of a Unfuwain mare. Sire not renowned for his NH progeny. Interesting runner on stable debut for powerful yard though.

Form:

Papal Motel²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: R M Power| T: A McNamara| OR: 111| BF

14/1

Soft ground may have been the reason for last run after the gelding had run well in defeat, finishing runner-up on four occasions over hurdles in the spring.

Form: 442-220

Play The Game⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: J M Moore| T: J C McConnell

20/1

Very promising hurdle debut when second of five in Perth maiden hurdle, beaten 3¼L on good ground. Could be more to come.

Form: 2

Love The Well¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: A Ring⁽³⁾| T: P Meany

66/1

Very poor in point-to-point races and well beaten on hurdling debut at Tramore earlier this month. Best passed over.

Form: 0P-FPP6

Lex Talionis^t1¹¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade

33/1

Pretty average 70 - 75 rated handicapper on the Flat. Nothing in the book to suggest anything for this race. Best watched on stable debut and first-time tongue-tie.

Form:

Silver Star^h,t1²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: D F O'Regan| T: A Fleming

4/1

Improved on second hurdle run in first-time hood, when second of 10, beaten ½ L, behind Hardback. Comes here in good heart and first-time tongue-tie/hood combination.

Form: 42

Grallagh^h1²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: I J McCarthy| T: J P Dempsey

100/1

Disappointed on bumper debut and next time out at the Galway Festival, when well beaten at 100/1. Hard to see any improvement in first-time hood.

Form: 00

Askance^h1⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Keith Donoghue| T: Thomas Coyle

100/1

First Reserve: Well beaten in two starts and virtually tailed off last time out in a Wexford bumper. One to easily pass over. First time hood unlikely to make any difference.

Form: 78

Ventura Boulevard^t²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: R T Dunne| T: S J Mahon

80/1

Second Reserve: Beaten over at least 20L on last three starts in bumpers. Nothing on record to even start to build a case for and one best avoided.

Form: F/565

Non-Runners

Skeaping¹⁴

Weight: 11-7| Age: 4

T: G Elliott J: D N Russell

The Brassmoulder¹¹

Weight: 11-4| Age: 7

T: H De Bromhead J: A E Lynch

Jack Wade¹⁴

Weight: 11-2| Age: 4

T: P J Rothwell J: J P O'Sullivan

Im Waiting²⁰²

Weight: 10-9| Age: 4

T: A McCann J: Brian Hayes

Forecasts

Low Sun (4/6), Silver Star (4/1), Skeaping (7/1), Artful Artist (10/1), The Brassmoulder (12/1), Papal Motel (14/1), Shinghari (16/1), Castle Guest (16/1), Play The Game (20/1), Felix Mendelssohn (25/1), Lex Talionis (33/1), Jack Wade (50/1), Love The Well (66/1), Im Waiting (66/1), Ventura Boulevard (80/1), Grallagh (100/1), Askance (100/1), Easy Boy (100/1)

Could be a battle for the lead in the early stages with Play The Game, Ventura Boulevard and Skeaping vying to set the pace. Papal Motel, has been a runner-up on four occasions since the spring. Silver Star has been in good heart and has first-time tongue-tie/hood combination today, along with Skeaping who should go well but preference is for newcomer, LOW SUN on debut for Rich Ricci and the all-powerful Mullins/Walsh team.