13:45 Punchestown

Saturday 18 November 2017

All12:0512:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:2515:55

Kildare Now Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:48 | Winning time: 5m 12.3s

A Long Day^t1¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Ricky Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: M Brassil

66/1

Sent off at a big price and well beaten on debut at Wexford (2m, soft) three weeks ago. Likely to struggle once more.

Form: 0

Alfred Eile⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: C A Landers⁽⁷⁾| T: J Nash

80/1

Unplaced in all eight starts so far including when making his debut over hurdles at Naas (soft-to-heavy) last time out.

Form: 9074P0

Ballinabearna¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: P F Mangan| T: R Tyner

66/1

Glimpses of ability despite being beaten 54L when debuting in a 2m maiden hurdle at Cork (soft) earlier this month. Probably best watched at present.

Form: 0

Burrows Saint³⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins

4/5

Useful horse in France placing over hurdles and over fences. Beaten 5L over fences at Auteuil when last in action in December last year and one for the shortlist having joined a leading yard.

Form: 62/2742-

Cracking Up¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: L P Dempsey| T: F J Flood

80/1

Well held on racecourse debut at Down Royal (2m, soft) earlier this month and others make more appeal in this contest.

Form: 0

Crown Of Thorns

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: J M Moore| T: N Meade

33/1

Unraced gelded son of Shirocco purchased for €87,000 as a three-year-old. Half-brother to useful hurdler Gayebury amongst others and worth a check in the market on his debut over hurdles.

Form:

Daring Decree¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Brian Hayes| T: N Lee

66/1

Tailed off in a maiden hurdle at Cork when making his debut on soft ground two weeks ago and likely to struggle once more.

Form: 0

Desir Du Large

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Jack Kennedy| T: M F Morris

33/1

Unraced gelding by Zambezi Sun cost connections £68,000 at the sales last year. Half-brother to winning Flat performer Bubble Sea and a couple of horses placed over hurdles and an interesting runner today.

Form:

Dundeedy Lad²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Phillip Enright| T: R Tyner

66/1

Best effort so far came when beaten 39L at Wexford (2m4f, heavy) last time out. More needed if he's to figure today.

Form: 90-7

Eamon High²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: A E Lynch| T: H De Bromhead

12/1

Plenty to like about his third in a maiden hurdle at Wexford (2m4f, heavy) when debuting three weeks ago. Represents a leading stable and is one to note in this contest.

Form: 3

First Class Return¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: A Ring⁽³⁾| T: M F Morris

50/1

Decent effort when finishing fifth in a 2m maiden hurdle at Wexford (soft) at the end of last month. Likely more needed if he's to break his maiden today.

Form: 5

Flawless Escape⁵⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: R Loughran| T: G Elliott

7/2

Placed in a point-to-point on debut and off the mark at the first time of asking under rules when winning a heavy ground bumper at Roscommon (heavy) in September. One for the shortlist for a stable with a 28% strike-rate (21/74) of late.

Form: 2-1

Jetez¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington

9/1

Promising hurdling debut when finishing 20L fourth at Cork (2m, soft) earlier this month. From the family of top class performers Jezki and Jered and is one to note today.

Form: 0-44

Kamil²³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade

33/1

Sent off favourite for his sole start in point-to-points prior to finishing 8L third at Durrow (soft). Worth a check in the market on his debut under rules.

Form: 3-

Meldrum Way¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: B J Foley⁽⁵⁾| T: G J Power

100/1

Finished 24L behind the winner when finishing ninth of 14 on hurdling debut at Wexford (soft) three weeks ago. Probably best watched today.

Form: P-9

Royal Presenting²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: P D Kennedy⁽³⁾| T: S K Ryder

100/1

Held in both starts to date including over hurdles on his debut for this yard at Galway last month. Likely to be of more interest once tackling handicap company.

Form: 50

Sir Carno¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott

10/1

Signs of ability in three starts so far including when 21L fifth at Cork (2m, soft) on his first start over hurdles since joining this yard in the spring. Worth a check in the market today.

Form: 34-5

Triplicate^t1⁴⁵⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien

12/1

Victorious twice from three starts on the Flat when with Aidan O'Brien. Justified odds-on favouritism at Killarney (1m3f, good-to-firm) on his latest outing 15 months ago and wears a tongue tie for hurdling and stable debut.

Form:

Siempre Amigos²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: G N Fox| T: G P Cromwell

50/1

Placed twice from nine starts on the Flat including on heavy ground at Roscommon in September. Interesting to see how she fares on hurdling debut.

Form:

Non-Runners

Fortune Street²⁰⁷

Weight: 11-7| Age: 4

T: P Nolan J: K C Sexton

Forecasts

Burrows Saint (4/5), Flawless Escape (7/2), Jetez (9/1), Sir Carno (10/1), Triplicate (12/1), Eamon High (12/1), Fortune Street (25/1), Kamil (33/1), Desir Du Large (33/1), Crown Of Thorns (33/1), Siempre Amigos (50/1), First Class Return (50/1), Ballinabearna (66/1), Dundeedy Lad (66/1), Daring Decree (66/1), A Long Day (66/1), Alfred Eile (80/1), Cracking Up (80/1), Meldrum Way (100/1), Royal Presenting (100/1)

FLAWLESS ESCAPE made an impressive start to his rules career when successful in a Roscommon bumper a couple of months ago and with trainer Gordon Elliott in flying form at present he can make a winning debut over hurdles. The selection had previously finished runner-up in a point-to-point and can get the better of the experienced Burrows Saint who is making his Irish debut today while Eamon High can follow up his promising debut by claiming third.