12:15 Navan

Sunday 17 December 2017

All12:1512:5013:2013:5514:3015:0015:30

Irish Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 12:19 | Winning time: 4m 28.00s

Aughnamaulmeen²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Ricky Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: M McCabe

66/1

Beaten 92L on debut followed by a 128L defeat last time out in a Gowran Park maiden sent off both times at 100/1. Another torrid time looks on the cards.

Form: 07

Love And Wishes¹³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: M J Bolger| T: Mrs J Harrington

12/1

Well beaten and not a lot to shout about in two career bumpers beaten 28L on his last start at Cork in August. Vast improvement needed.

Form: 0-6

McCrackens Gate¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D E Browne⁽⁷⁾| T: T Gibney

50/1

In poor form in the point-to-point field and not much better with a 50L defeat on debut under rules at Punchestown in a 2m bumper. May find this tough.

Form: 6FP-5

Aforementioned^t1

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: D N Russell| T: J P O'Brien

14/1

Zanzibari gelding out of a Ajdayt mare related to a number of low-grade French winners and others hold stronger profiles on debut here.

Form:

Call A Cab

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: J S McGarvey| T: P A Fahy

20/1

Beneficial gelding out of an Old Vic mare related to highly rated national hunt winners Cooldine, Realt Dubh and Kicking King. Market likely to reveal expectations.

Form:

Cask Mate^t²⁸

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

11/8

Solid and conisitent in four career bumper starts and caught the eye when finishing second of 23 on hurdling debut in a Cork maiden over 2m. Progressive and worth a market check.

Form: 80-122

Choungaya

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: D J Mullins| T: J P O'Brien

5/1

Walk In The Park gelding out of a Roakarad mare related to the likes of Douvan, Min and Antony. Possible best watched on debut for powerful connections.

Form:

Cracking Up²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Mark Walsh| T: F J Flood

50/1

Will have disappointed dynamic connections in two career maiden hurdle starts beaten a total of 197L. Hard to fancy until he shows signs of ability.

Form: 00

Crown Of Thorns²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: J M Moore| T: N Meade

25/1

Sent off an unfancied 33/1 on debut for influential connections finishing 15th of 19 in a Punchestown maiden hurdle over 2m4f. May appreciate drop in trip.

Form: 0

Curious Times⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: A E Lynch| T: S R B Crawford

33/1

Has generally disappointed but was outrunning his odds on maiden hurdle debut last month when a closing fourth before falling two out. Worth a market check.

Form: 0-F

Gran Geste⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: B J Geraghty| T: Miss E Doyle| D

3/1

Not unfancied when landing a Thurles bumper on yielding ground in October beating 14 rivals ¾L. More progress possible and jockey choice another positive.

Form: 1

Jimmy Rabbitte

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: P E Corbett⁽³⁾| T: D Broad

33/1

Dubai Destination gelding out of a Rakaposhi King mare related to game hurdlers Ittirad and the Evan Williams-trained Lancetto. Hard to fancy on debut.

Form:

Moonshine Bay¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington

14/1

Point-to-point winner who cost £120,000 in June and will no doubt have disappointed connections on debut beaten 42L in Fairyhouse bumper earlier this month. Expected to go better on second start for yard.

Form: 4-18

Rakhine State¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott

14/1

Purchased by current connections for £32,000 after a very promising debut third at Ballinrobe in August. Has been beaten in three starts since including a second-rate performance on hurdling debut at Clonmel earlier this month. Plenty to find here.

Form: 3246

Annie Mae's Vision^b⁷

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

50/1

Well in rear when falling four out last time out in Cork maiden hurdle earlier this month. Not sent off lower than 50/1 in four starts and another torrid time looks on the cards here.

Form: 000F

Bracka Lily¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: R Loughran| T: N C Kelly

50/1

Has produced four laboured performances beaten a total of 71L in two maiden hurdle starts. Requires a chunk of improvement to play a role here.

Form: 6780

Brindabella¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Kevin Sexton| T: W J Austin

66/1

Daughter of Getaway from a decent family but toiled on debut in a laboured performance when 19th of 22 beaten 84L in a Punchestown maiden. Tough ask and others preferred.

Form: 0

Flemen Majic²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Donagh Meyler| T: G P Cromwell

33/1

Disappointed on only bumper start and not much better on maiden hurdle debut beaten 35L here over C&D. Very little to suggest any improvement here.

Form: 58

Forecasts

Cask Mate (11/8), Gran Geste (3/1), Choungaya (5/1), Love And Wishes (12/1), Aforementioned (14/1), Rakhine State (14/1), Moonshine Bay (14/1), Call A Cab (20/1), Crown Of Thorns (25/1), Curious Times (33/1), Jimmy Rabbitte (33/1), Flemen Majic (33/1), McCrackens Gate (50/1), Bracka Lily (50/1), Cracking Up (50/1), Annie Mae's Vision (50/1), Aughnamaulmeen (66/1), Brindabella (66/1)

The experience of Cask Mate and Bracka Lily could see the pair setting the early pace here with Crown Of Thorns chasing behind. Gigginstown House Stud debutantes Choungaya and Aforementioned can hit the frame in this company who along with Moonshine Bay and Cask Mate on the scene can challenge the selection GRAN GESTE who landed a competitive Thurles bumper in October and progress is clearly expected here with Barry Geraghty up.