13:15 Cork

Sunday 10 December 2017

All12:4513:1513:5014:2014:5015:2015:50

Charleville Cheese Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:17 | Winning time: 4m 40.1s

Back Bar²⁴

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

14/1

Poor point-to-point efforts were followed by promising bumper performances before a 41L defeat on hurdling debut at Clonmel last month. Improvement expected.

Form: P/U23-9

Ballikanan¹⁰⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D E Splaine| T: T O'Brien

66/1

Failed to finish in two point-to-point outings but managed to produce a promising second of nine beaten ¾L behind Mountain Ranger in a Kilbeggan bumper. Worth a market check.

Form: FF-2

Hot Beat^h¹²³

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

7/2

96-rated handicapper on the Flat winning two of his 15 starts for trainer-David Simcock. Market likely to reveal market expectations on debut for powerful yard.

Form:

La Guerra⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: E O'Connell⁽⁷⁾| T: V Clifford

100/1

Not a great deal to shout about in three career bumper starts, the latest beaten over 50L at Wexford in October. Looks out of his depth here.

Form: 63-7

Lighthouse Warrier^t¹⁹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: A E Lynch| T: Jonathan Sweeney| D

3/1

Distance winner last time out in a Punchestown bumper over 2m½L winning very easily by 9L in May. Shouldn't be underestimated.

Form: 1-21

Or Jaune De Somoza²¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: B J Geraghty| T: H De Bromhead

10/1

Half-brother to prolific jumps winner Or Noir de Somoza. Finished clear of a subsequent winner when chasing home Fort Montagu in a bumper at Tramore before disappointing in an 11L defeat in a Kilbeggan bumper when last seen in May.

Form: 3F/2-4

Percy Veer⁷⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: R P Treacy⁽⁵⁾| T: E McNamara

50/1

81-rated handicapper at best on the Flat for Sylvester Kirk. Will have to show something very special to play a role here on hurdling debut.

Form:

Smithscorner^t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: I J McCarthy| T: R Tyner

66/1

Beaten 93L on his only hurdle start two runs ago. Nothing to show in two bumper performances since. Looks out of his depth here.

Form: P2-00S4

Athenean¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| D

6/4

Promising third of 22 beaten ½L behind Spades Are Trumps on hurdling debut following a fine win in a Punchestown bumper over 2m last month.

Form: 0-13

Dukes Avenue

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: P F Mangan| T: R Tyner

66/1

Duke Of Marmalade gelding out of a Saddlers Wells mare. Although not known for his national hunt progeny the sire has Elgin and Superb Story on his CV.

Form:

Emperor Waltz^t³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: P D Kennedy⁽³⁾| T: J J Murphy

33/1

Yard decide to move the gelding to the national hunt game following one win in six on the Flat where the four-year-old had a rating of 79. Best watched on hurdling debut.

Form:

Faraway Hills³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Brian Hayes| T: J J Murphy

66/1

Modest 73-rated maiden on the Flat and will possibly need the run on hurdling debut here for somewhat out of form yard.

Form:

Landsman^t³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Donagh Meyler| T: A J Martin

25/1

90-rated handicapper on the Flat at the high-point of a summer campaign following two hurdle starts last December including a third of 16 behind Meri Devie. Market likely to be the best guide to chance.

Form: 83-5

Annie Mae's Vision^b1⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁷⁾| T: T J Corcoran

100/1

Has failed to beat any of her 48 rivals in three career bumpers. Is without doubt out of her depth here.

Form: 000

Elm Grove²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: M A Enright| T: W McCreery| C

50/1

Laboured and modest handicapper on the Flat finished 23L behind Mind's Eye on maiden hurdle debut at Fairyhouse last month. Others make more appeal.

Form: 9

Knockraha Pride⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: C D Maxwell| T: A Maguire

50/1

Started off in maiden hurdles in April when well beaten and never a factor in both starts. Failed to finish in a point-to-point and produced inadequate performances in two bumpers latest.

Form: 00-U46

Askcalie¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: D J McInerney⁽⁵⁾| T: M Keane

100/1

Filly was well beaten 71L in a Thurles maiden hurdle on debut over 2m7f when finishing 10th of 15 sent off at 100/1.

Form: P2-30

Ellie Mac¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: D P Holden⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| BF

20/1

Beaten favourite last time out when something clearly something amiss being pulled-up before two out in a Navan maiden hurdle on debut. Better expected here.

Form: 3-P

Non-Runners

Gemmattymoll⁸

Weight: 11-12| Age: 5

T: Mrs J Harrington J: M J Bolger

The Mouse Doctor¹

Weight: 11-9| Age: 4

T: A J Martin J: John J Fitzpatrick

Forecasts

Athenean (6/4), Lighthouse Warrier (3/1), Hot Beat (7/2), Or Jaune De Somoza (10/1), Back Bar (14/1), Ellie Mac (20/1), Landsman (25/1), Gemmattymoll (25/1), The Mouse Doctor (25/1), Emperor Waltz (33/1), Elm Grove (50/1), Knockraha Pride (50/1), Percy Veer (50/1), Smithscorner (66/1), Ballikanan (66/1), Dukes Avenue (66/1), Faraway Hills (66/1), Askcalie (100/1), Annie Mae's Vision (100/1), La Guerra (100/1)

Percy Veer was usually prominent in his Flat career during his 81-rated stint with Sylvester Kirk and could be on the front here in the early stages of this maiden contest. Athenean, promising third on hurdling debut last month and Willie Mullins debutante Hot Beat are sure to go well but a chance is taken with BACK BAR who will appreciate the drop in trip and can go well at a big price.