15:15 Ballinrobe

Thursday 21 September 2017

All14:1514:4515:1515:5016:2516:5517:2517:55

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 15:16 | Winning time: 5m 26.4s

Court Artist²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| BF| D

7/4

Proved herself well suited by this trip when winning a Kilbeggan bumper (good) in July by 5½L (runner up a winner since). Beaten on hurdles debut at Down Royal early this month (sixth of 16), but expected to be stronger for the experience.

Form: 2-16

Dazzling Sarah¹⁸⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: D J Mullins| T: P A Fahy

14/1

Off the mark at the sixth attempt in a 2m+ Down Royal mares bumper in March (yielding to soft). Back from a summer break and up in trip as she seeks more now heading over hurdles once more.

Form: 048001-

Now Let Go²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: A E Lynch| T: S R B Crawford

5/2

Proved herself talented by winning a couple of bumpers either side of the Irish Sea in 2015, including at the Punchestown Festival. Back from a lengthy 2+ year absence with a 7L second here (2m) on hurdles debut last month.

Form: 3211/2

Vanellope¹⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr H D Dunne⁽⁵⁾| T: P Croke| D

6/1

Surprise 5L winner of a Wexford bumper in March (2m4f soft to heavy), beating the Gordon Elliott trained Burren Life. Out of her depth in a Grade 3 at Punchestown more latterly and now heads off hurdling after a summer break.

Form: 74510-

Euro So Brave^t¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: M P Burke⁽⁵⁾| T: W J Austin| OR: 83

10/1

15 race maiden (0-7 over hurdles) who has found the frame in a couple of handicaps, including when runner up at Punchestown in May (2m1f good). A few of these runners should have a touch more class than her at the weights.

Form: 0/02083

Harry Smiles^b⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Jack Kennedy| T: N Lee| OR: 80

33/1

Harry hasn't had all that much to smile about over hurdles thus far, and was beaten many lengths when fourth of nine in a maiden hurdle (2m1½f) here in July.

Form: 0-600P4

Kitty B^t¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: A W Short⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 89

12/1

Has plenty of hurdling experience after nine attempts so far, but finished 10L behind hurdling debutant Now Let Go when third to Valgor Du Roncerary here (2m) last month, with no reason to expect those placings to be reversed.

Form: 055434

Millfrey Flyer⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Robbie Colgan| T: D Broad

100/1

Didn't show too much ability in bumpers, and no better than a couple of mid-division finishes in similar contests at Bellewstown and Kilbeggan since switched to hurdling.

Form: 009-86

Misskymdee²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: D F O'Regan| T: S J Mahon

33/1

Has appeared very moderate indeed over hurdles so far, and steps up to this longer trip more out of hope than expectation.

Form: 7-0074

The Rap Queen^t³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: Miss D O'Shea| OR: 90

12/1

Finished third of 11 to Sharps Choice on her third hurdles start at Kilbeggan (2m3½f maiden soft) earlier this month. However, she was beaten almost 11L, and has proved unable to build upon that at Galway since (on Monday).

Form: 69-0U37

Non-Runners

Charlotte Wells⁴²

Weight: 10-13| Age: 5

T: J Neilan J: P E Corbett

Forecasts

Court Artist (7/4), Now Let Go (5/2), Vanellope (6/1), Euro So Brave (10/1), The Rap Queen (12/1), Kitty B (12/1), Dazzling Sarah (14/1), Charlotte Wells (16/1), Harry Smiles (33/1), Misskymdee (33/1), Millfrey Flyer (100/1)

NOW LET GO proved herself a classy horse in bumpers winning twice in four starts during the 2014/2015 campaign (at Carlisle and Punchestown). However, she has clearly had a few issues since then and was returning from an absence of 28 months when finishing a 7L runner up to the Joseph O'Brien trained Valgor Du Roncerary on her hurdles debut here last month (2m). By Flemensfirth, there's no reason to suggest that she'll be unduly troubled by this longer trip, and seemingly only really has Court Artist as a serious threat.