18:10 Down Royal

Friday 1 September 2017

All16:3517:0517:4018:1018:4019:1019:40

Tayto Group Ltd. Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 18:11 | Winning time: 5m 0.80s

Bosco Di Alco^t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: Miss E Doyle| OR: 113| C

8/1

Pulled up latest in hot Galway handicap (3m, soft), best judged on previous effort at Roscommon when ¾L second of 17 in maiden hurdle over this sort of trip on good to yielding ground. Claims on that form.

Form: 6F3-62P

Mountain Rock^p¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: A Keatley| BF

7/2

Placed in two of three hurdles run so far, including latest when tackling this sort of trip for the first time at Downpatrick last month. Found little in the finish and could be vulnerable once more.

Form: 358-722

Thermistocles⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Ruby Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| D

1/1

Won a bumper at Roscommon in July over this sort of trip, since run well over short trip again. First time over jumps and first time promising young trainer has enlisted the champion jockey's services. Noted.

Form: 13

Scotch Beg^p¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: A E Lynch| T: A Oliver

25/1

Mare has looked a bit one-paced in two runs over hurdles at this sort of trip so far and hasn't always jumped with great efficiency. Others appeal more here.

Form: 6-75134

Balkalin^t1¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: R Loughran| T: Barry J Murphy

25/1

Beaten 41L on hurdles debut at Ballinrobe last month (2m5½f, yielding) in keeping with efforts in bumpers. Tongue strap added this time and needs to find plenty improvement.

Form: 43/35-4

Creadan Grae¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott

7/1

Second runner for the trainer in this line-up, comfortably held in maidens at Killarney and Tramore over this sort of trip and has a bit of work to do if hoping to get off the mark now.

Form: 5-843

King's War³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: M F Mooney| T: P Mooney

11/2

Has shown ability in maiden hurdles already and boasts plenty experience, good efforts last month at Cork and Wexford but two previous attempts at this sort of trip have brought out the worst in him.

Form: 220-324

Mon Storm¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Robbie Colgan| T: V Wilson

66/1

Tailed off in both hurdles outings so far, latest coming 18 days ago over 2m5½f at Ballinrobe on similar ground to what appears likely here. Hard to make any case for.

Form: 860-88

Nomanbehind^t1⁸⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: B T O'Connell| T: Anthony Curran

66/1

Well and truly beaten off in sole hurdles/rules outing at Roscommon in June over this sort of trip. Best watched on return.

Form: P-0

Non-Runners

Blue Empyrean¹⁹

Weight: 11-12| Age: 7

T: G Elliott J: Keith Donoghue

Forecasts

Thermistocles (1/1), Mountain Rock (7/2), King's War (11/2), Creadan Grae (7/1), Bosco Di Alco (8/1), Blue Empyrean (10/1), Scotch Beg (25/1), Balkalin (25/1), Nomanbehind (66/1), Mon Storm (66/1)

King's War has posted some decent efforts in defeat over timber this season but this trip remains enough of a concern to overlook him. Similarly, Mountain Rock has been placed twice in three runs over these flights but has looked a bit short of pace in the finish and may again settle for a minor role. THERMISTOCLES won his bumper over this sort of trip and looks a promising recruit now for his yard. The booking of Ruby Walsh – a first for the yard – draws the attention still further and he is given the nod for a winning start over timber. Bosco Di Alco appeals most of the remainder, based on a solid effort at Roscommon in July.