14:45 Limerick

Thursday 28 December 2017

All12:3513:1013:4014:1014:4515:2015:55

Frontline Security Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 14:48 | Winning time: 4m 23.90s

Captain Zebo²⁰³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: A Ring⁽³⁾| T: M F Morris

16/1

Gelding by Brian Boru purchased for €2,000 as a foal in November 2012 and half-brother to winning hurdler Theatre Evening. Easy winner on debut in June for previous yard and worth a market check on debut for powerful connections.

Form: 1

Epicuris⁶⁰⁶

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

4/6

High-point in career possible came in the 2015 Epsom Derby when finishing fifth of 12 behind Golden Horn. Likely to be a warm order on debut for powerful connections.

Form:

Gun Digger¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott| D

6/1

Promising winner of a Thurles bumper last month before disappointing in a Punchestown maiden hurdle when finishing fourth of 19 beaten 19L behind Getabird earlier this month. Place claims.

Form: P2/414

Ministerforsport²⁹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D J McInerney⁽⁵⁾| T: Noel O'Neill

5/2

Has tick all the boxes so far winning three point-to-point contests and a Gowran Park bumper when last seen in March. Market possibly best guide but up against it.

Form: F/U1111-

Boy From Tamladuff^b²⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: D E Splaine| T: S O O'Brien

50/1

Shown very little in three career starts and requires a chunk of improvement to play a role here in this company.

Form: P/0P0-

Celtic Rising²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: A E Lynch| T: H De Bromhead

25/1

Winner of a point-to-point in January but has disappointed in a Tipperary bumper and a maiden hurdle here at the beginning of the month. Looks a tall order.

Form: 1-96

Hughies Bay^t³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: D J Hand⁽⁷⁾| T: D Howard| OR: 94

50/1

Failed to build on promising handicap hurdle second at Thurles when pulled-up at Cork when struggling last month. Others make more appeal.

Form: 6PP-52P

Lord In Red⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: J M Moore| T: N Meade

12/1

Out of a German winning mare, but shaped with only limited promise in a couple of bumpers before a promising maiden hurdle debut. Will need to improve again.

Form: 4-75

Or Jaune De Somoza¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: D P Holden⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead

33/1

Possibly needed the run on seasonal debut when 59L fifth of 18 in a Cork maiden hurdle earlier in the month. Others make more appeal.

Form: 3F/2-45

Non-Runners

Eagle Lion⁶⁰

Weight: 11-4| Age: 7

T: P G Kelly J: S G McDermott

Lough Navar⁴²

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: E M O'Sullivan J: Phillip Enright

Forecasts

Epicuris (4/6), Ministerforsport (5/2), Gun Digger (6/1), Lord In Red (12/1), Captain Zebo (16/1), Eagle Lion (20/1), Celtic Rising (25/1), Or Jaune De Somoza (33/1), Lough Navar (33/1), Hughies Bay (50/1), Boy From Tamladuff (50/1)

The Gordon Elliott-trained Gun Digger could possible lead the field here but may face opposition from French import and likely warm order EPICURIS who makes his debut for powerful owner/trainer combination. Gun Digger, Captain Zebo and Lord In Red can battle it out for the minors.