M.S.D Animal Health Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 17:06 | Winning time: 4m 27.00s

An'ball³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Slevin⁽³⁾| T: R Hackett

7/1

Second in 20-runner 2m4f maiden hurdle at Tipperary in July, flopped since in a Cork bumper but could rebound in this. Considered.

Form: 20

Barna Venture²⁰³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr P J O'Neill⁽⁷⁾| T: V T O'Brien

33/1

Sent off 100/1 in Punchestown novice hurdle in February over 2m½f on heavy ground, never posing any sort of threat. Off since, likely to face tough task again.

Form: 7-

Iusetaluvheronce^p¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: M A Enright| T: P Neville| OR: 98

10/3

Doesn't lack for experience after 10 starts over timber, frustrating that he remains a maiden, second on good ground at Killarney last month over 2m1f and should get involved in the finish.

Form: 306352

Rock Lobster^b1,t²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 102

14/1

Now a 14-race maiden over timber having been tailed off at Sligo last month over 2m5f on yielding ground. Best form gives him a chance, no guarantee it will be produced. Blinkers on first time now.

Form: 340-6F5

Wonder Laish⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D N Russell| T: C Byrnes

1/2

Interesting contender, achieved a rating of 94 on the Flat when trained in Britain (from four runs) and makes hurdling debut having had two average Flat runs for this yard off a 604-day layoff. If the old ability remains, this isn't a strong event.

Form:

Hip Hop Dancer¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: A Ring⁽³⁾| T: P Byrne

40/1

Made no more than average debut last month at Ballinrobe in 2m maiden hurdle, beaten 38L. Could improve but best watched unless the money is down.

Form: 6

Non-Runners

Mount Hanover²⁷⁶

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: H De Bromhead J: A E Lynch

Ventura Boulevard¹³

Weight: 11-12| Age: 5

T: S J Mahon J: D F O'Regan

Forecasts

Wonder Laish (1/2), Mount Hanover (2/1), Iusetaluvheronce (10/3), An'ball (7/1), Rock Lobster (14/1), Barna Venture (33/1), Ventura Boulevard (33/1), Hip Hop Dancer (40/1)

Mount Hanover was a costly purchase and went well on his sole point-to-point outing, any confidence behind him ahead of this rules bow could prove noteworthy. Iusetaluvheronce finished second at Killarney last time and has his chance while An'ball too has fair claims if able to repeat the effort shown on debut at Tipperary in July (since flopped in a bumper). It might be worth chancing the once 94-rated Flat performer WONDER LAISH however, who has run ok in two starts back from a long layoff and could have a future at this game.