12:50 Leopardstown

Friday 29 December 2017

All12:2012:5013:2013:5514:3015:0515:35

Pigsback.com Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 12:51 | Winning time: 5m 16.90s

All Good Things²⁸

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

40/1

Solid and game bumper performer finished third of 14 beaten 11L on a promising debut in a Limerick maiden hurdle earlier in the month. Worth a market check.

Form: 34323

Ballyward³⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| CD

6/4

Won on stable debut when leading on the home turn being ridden clear to win impressively by 16L here in a bumper when last seen in December 2016.

Form: 2/1-

Captain Commander^t⁷⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Robbie Colgan| T: Thomas J Farrell

100/1

Well beaten in a series of laboured bumper performances over the autumn. Will need to improve on hurdling debut.

Form: P/P5839

Cherokee Bill¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade

14/1

Finished a promising third of 16 on hurdling debut in a Fairyhouse maiden earlier this month. Will need to iron out jumping errors to play a role here.

Form: 3/5-3

Dicey O'reilly^t1⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: H De Bromhead

18/1

Point-to-point winner finished fourth of 11 but was a well beaten 51L. Yard having a successful Christmas programme and possible the first-time tongue-tie will improve the gelding.

Form: 4F1-4

Gemmattymoll²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: Mrs J Harrington

33/1

Was still in touch on second hurdle start when brought down three out in a Fairyhouse maiden earlier in the month. Market likely to reveal expectations.

Form: 9B

Massey's Wood⁹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D F O'Regan| T: A Fleming| BF

12/1

Promising second of eight on hurdling debut in a Roscommon maiden on heavy ground in September. May need this run on return.

Form: 12

Mortal^t³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D N Russell| T: J P O'Brien

9/2

Headed in a Gowran Park maiden hurdle when falling at the last on heavy ground over 2m last month. Could make another bold show here.

Form: 1-4F

Someday²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| C

9/4

Won a bumper here back in February and has placed in two of his first three hurdle starts though well beaten on both occasions. Worth a market check.

Form: 215-32F

Sonowyouno²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: B J Geraghty| T: E J O'Grady

33/1

Half brother to useful bumper winner Blow By Blow and well beaten on hurdling debut in a Fairyhouse maiden. Looks to be one for the future.

Form: 7

Forecasts

Ballyward (6/4), Someday (9/4), Mortal (9/2), Massey's Wood (12/1), Cherokee Bill (14/1), Dicey O'reilly (18/1), Sonowyouno (33/1), Gemmattymoll (33/1), All Good Things (40/1), Captain Commander (100/1)

Jessica Harrington's Someday will be up with the early leaders here with possibly All Good Things, Mortal and Cherokee Bill also racing prominently. The Willie Mullins-trained BALLYWARD won at this meeting last year and looking impressive winning by 16L. Sure to be ready for return and would not have to improve much to take this. Joseph O'Briens Mortal is worth another chance who along with the prominent Someday can battle for the minors.