12:35 Limerick

Tuesday 26 December 2017

All12:3513:0513:4014:1014:4515:2015:55

McSweeney Sports Surfaces - Equestrian Walkways 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 12:35 | Winning time: 4m 23.70s

Alfred Wegener¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: C D Meehan⁽⁵⁾| T: E McNamara

33/1

Second-rate 53-rated handicapper on the Flat finished 93L adrift of the winner in a Cork maiden on hurdling debut earlier in the month. Others preferred.

Form: 0

Bing Bang Bank²⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: S A Mulcahy⁽⁷⁾| T: G Hayes

40/1

Failed to place on three Flat starts for trainer-David Barron in the UK well beaten on all starts. Looks a tall order here on hurdling and stable debut.

Form:

Classical Rock³²

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: A McCurtin⁽⁵⁾| T: B McMahon

33/1

Modest 58-rated handicapper on the Flat for Trainer Darren Bunyan with a 5¼L defeat at Dundalk on the AW the best of five second-rate performances. Others make more appeal.

Form:

Permanent¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr L P Gilligan⁽⁷⁾| T: B Cawley

66/1

Modest, low-grade performer with Daniel Kubler and Eric Alston on the Flat in the UK. Last of 14 beaten 30L on stable debut on the AW at Dundalk. May find this tough on hurdling bow.

Form:

Randalls Ur Poet²³

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Kevin Sexton| T: S Fahey

15/8

Showed plenty of promise in two of his three hurdle starts before finishing third of five 22L behind Espoir D'Allen in the Grade 3 Juvenile hurdle at Fairyhouse earlier this month.

Form: 30323

Star Maker¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott

7/4

Promising fourth of 22 beaten 10L behind Vision D'Ete on hurdling and stable debut earlier this month following a move from the Sylvester Kirk stable where the gelding was a robust 77-rated handicapper on the Flat.

Form: 4

Still Alive¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: D E Splaine| T: A J McNamara

25/1

Modest in three Flat starts in the Autumn and well beaten on hurdling debut when finishing well behind a number of today's opposition in a Cork maiden hurdle earlier this month. Hard to see him making any significant impact.

Form: 0

Vanderbilt²³

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan

8/1

Possibly had his sights set a little high when well beaten in the Grade 3 Juvenile hurdle at Fairyhouse earlier this month on just his second hurdle start. Others preferred.

Form: 74

Viking Hoard⁷⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr J Mulvihill⁽⁷⁾| T: C Byrnes

12/1

77-rated handicapper for trainer-Harry Dunlop winning at Salisbury 1m2f on good to firm ground in August. Can make his presence felt for yard with a fine record at this meeting.

Form:

Bright Lass¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 10-7| J: F J Hayes⁽⁷⁾| T: J J Walsh

100/1

Well beaten and no impression on hurdling debut when finishing 17th of 22 tailed off 91L adrift of the winner Vision D'Ete. Very little to be positive about.

Form: 0

Lady In Lavender^h1¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 10-7| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: J J Walsh| OR: 92

4/1

Well clear at Cork in a race won by Vision D'Ete when missing the home turn and completely running off the track. Difficult to envisage what the outcome may have been but worth a market check.

Form: 480R

Petite Gina^t¹⁷⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 10-7| J: R P Treacy⁽⁵⁾| T: C O'Keeffe

33/1

Poor second-rate on the Flat well beaten in three career starts including finishing last of eight 27L behind the winner in a Gowran Park maiden in July. Tough ask on hurdling debut.

Form:

Simtana Star⁴⁸⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 10-7| J: P F Mangan| T: Michael G Cleary

66/1

Off the track since August 2016 and well beaten on three starts on the Flat for trainer-Gavin Cromwell sent off at 100/1 on her last two contests. Plenty to find on hurdling and stable debut.

Form:

Non-Runners

Over To Joes

Weight: 10-7| Age: 3

T: E McNamara J: J P O'Sullivan

Forecasts

Star Maker (7/4), Randalls Ur Poet (15/8), Lady In Lavender (4/1), Vanderbilt (8/1), Viking Hoard (12/1), Over To Joes (20/1), Still Alive (25/1), Petite Gina (33/1), Classical Rock (33/1), Alfred Wegener (33/1), Bing Bang Bank (40/1), Permanent (66/1), Simtana Star (66/1), Bright Lass (100/1)

Classical Rock and Vanderbilt could be the two to lead the field in the early stages of the opening contest with Permanent and Randalls Ur Poet possibly in behind the leaders. The Charles Byrnes stable have a solid record at this meeting in the last four years and Viking Howard can give the selection STAR MAKER the most to think about as he aims to build on promising debut for stable.