14:15 Downpatrick

Friday 13 October 2017

All14:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:1017:40

Can You Believe It's October Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 4m 37.8s

Celebrity Status¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Ricky Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: C O'Dwyer

20/1

Point-to-point winner who has finished fourth in a couple of maiden hurdles. Probably needs to find extra, but it's early days and he has room for improvement.

Form: P/PP1-44

Isodon¹⁶⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott

7/1

Promise in a maiden hurdle and five bumpers. Improvement required on this return to timber, but represents powerful connections and has to be respected.

Form: 923539-

Michael James^t²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: A W Short⁽⁷⁾| T: P Stafford

100/1

Maiden at around 7f to 1m on the Flat. Tries his hand at hurdling, but stamina might be an issue and he is best watched on his jumping debut.

Form:

Statistical¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Slevin⁽³⁾| T: H De Bromhead

13/2

Second start over hurdles saw him finish a promising third of eight at Roscommon. One of two runners for leading owner and not without a chance.

Form: 4/03

Sympa Des Flos^h1⁷⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins

8/13

Only outing in an Auteil hurdle produced a promising run for second. Has been snapped up by leading connections who do so well with their acquisititons from France, so likely to be leading contender on his stable debut in a first-time hood.

Form: 2/

Chesterfield King¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P Dempsey

16/1

No chance against an easy winner when runner-up in the second of his two bumper runs, but is clearly not without some ability. Needs to translate that to hurdles.

Form: 52

Out Of The Loop²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Mark Walsh| T: C Roche

7/1

Never a threat when third over C&D last time, but that was a step up on his debut effort. Seems to be going the right way and enters calculations.

Form: 5-3

The Jam Man¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Danny Mullins| T: R A Curran

100/1

Maiden point-to-pointer who has beaten well beaten in two starts over hurdles. Can only be watched until he shows more.

Form: 5-F70

Afareen¹⁷⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: C M Leonard⁽⁷⁾| T: R K Watson

100/1

Signs of promise despite her form figures in two point-to-points. Makes her hurdling debut after a break and others have far more pressing claims.

Form: FP-

Jamies Sister¹⁸⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell

100/1

Out the back in two maiden hurdles and has been given a break before resuming her career over timber. Readily opposed.

Form: 90-

Montys Angel¹⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: D J Hand⁽⁷⁾| T: J C McConnell

66/1

Moderate maiden on the flat who has also been unplaced in two bumpers. Makes her hurdling debut and the change of discipline needs to have a galvanising effect.

Form: 75/

Victoria Says¹⁷¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: G N Fox| T: S R B Crawford

16/1

Promise in both starts over hurdles and may have found her stamina giving out when narrowly beaten at Hexham over 2m7½f last time. Down in trip and needs to be considered.

Form: 7542-

Wings Like Arion¹⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington

16/1

Clear signs of ability in three bumpers and was not disgraced on her hurdling bow at Limerick. Likley to improve for respected connections.

Form: 3S-66

Non-Runners

Scorpion Sea²¹

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: Christian Delcros J: D J McInerney

Forecasts

Sympa Des Flos (8/13), Statistical (13/2), Out Of The Loop (7/1), Isodon (7/1), Victoria Says (16/1), Chesterfield King (16/1), Wings Like Arion (16/1), Celebrity Status (20/1), Montys Angel (66/1), Scorpion Sea (66/1), Michael James (100/1), The Jam Man (100/1), Afareen (100/1), Jamies Sister (100/1)

Some interesting contenders including leading owner's duo Isodon and Statistical, who can both get involved. The mares Victoria Says and Wings Like Arion are also considered along with Out Of The Loop and Celebrity Status, but the one which catches the eye is SYMPA DES FLOS, who was second on his only start in France and has been snapped up by connections who do so well with French imports.