13:45 Downpatrick

Friday 22 September 2017

All13:4514:1514:5015:2015:5516:2517:00

Molson Coors Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:47 | Winning time: 4m 59.5s

Hardline^h¹⁸⁸

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

11/10

Returns to hurdling following two acceptable bumper runs at Goran Park and Limerick when beaten favourite. Had failed to finish on two previous hurdle starts but is sure to have had plenty of schooling in the meantime.

Form: 31FF22-

Slippery Serpent⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: E J O'Grady| CD

13/8

Has put in three solid performances in bumpers over the summer. Disappointed on single hurdle appearance in a Naas maiden in November. Looks opposable.

Form: 3/30-221

Dontworryaboutit

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell

66/1

Rajj gelding out of an Old Vic mare, related to the Jessie Harrington-trained I'm So Fancy and recent winner on the Flat Insayshable. Looks a tall order on debut.

Form:

Lex Talionis^t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade

12/1

Largely disappointing in two career maiden hurdles at Bellewstown and Kilbeggan over 2m3½f. Yard renowned for progressing their hurdlers and is worth a market check.

Form: 74

Out Of The Loop¹⁷⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: Mark Walsh| T: C Roche

11/2

Ran a sketchy race on debut at Navan but did well to finish fifth of 20 in a run littered with mistakes back in April. Can't be discounted if ready to go on return to action.

Form: 5-

Amarillo Rose²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: A W Short⁽⁷⁾| T: L Lennon| OR: 96

14/1

Had put in some solid and genuine displays over the summer before disappointing last time out in a Down Royal 2m maiden on yielding ground. Can be forgiven that run and may appreciated the step up in trip.

Form: 44U327

Megans Bella²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Brian Hayes| T: A McCann

66/1

Pulled up in two point-to-points before suffering two heavy defeats at Kilbeggan and Down Royal. Hard to fancy until he shows some ability.

Form: PP-90

Scorpion Sea^t1¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: D J McInerney⁽⁷⁾| T: Christian Delcros

66/1

Well beaten in two bumpers over the summer before suffering 51L defeat on hurdling debut at Kilbeggan. Hard to see what improvement first-time tongue-tie brings.

Form: 40-0

Demi Plie⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: R Loughran| T: C Roche

50/1

55-rated on the Flat, the Mastercraftsman gelding was well beaten on hurdling debut back in February and others hold better profiles in this.

Form: 0-

Non-Runners

Vittorio²⁷

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: W P Mullins J: Ruby Walsh

Forecasts

Hardline (11/10), Slippery Serpent (13/8), Out Of The Loop (11/2), Vittorio (11/2), Lex Talionis (12/1), Amarillo Rose (14/1), Demi Plie (50/1), Megans Bella (66/1), Scorpion Sea (66/1), Dontworryaboutit (66/1)

It may well pay to be on the front end of this race which will benefit the likes of Amarillo Rose who may appreciated the step up in trip, Hardline who has failed to finish on two previous hurdle starts but is sure to have had plenty of schooling in the meantime and the selection, VITTORIO, whose future could lie over the larger obstacles but is sure to have been well prepared on hurdling debut.