15:40 Cork

Saturday 6 January 2018

All12:2012:5013:2513:5514:3015:0515:40

McCarthy Insurance Group Flat Race

Off time: 15:41 | Winning time: 4m 31.0s

Buck A Trend⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D L Queally⁽³⁾| T: J Dullea

8/1

Still held a chance when unseating rider late on in a point-to-point at Ballindenisk, but never threatened on his debut under rules in a bumper at Leopardstown. Much more required.

Form: U0

Lostinvillierstown

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr J C Barry⁽⁵⁾| T: M P Fitzgerald

50/1

Marienbard gelding who is a half-brother to a winning point-to-pointer. Likely to need this debut run, but worth a check in the market all the same.

Form:

Sullane Hill²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr J W Hannon⁽⁷⁾| T: P C O'Connor

12/1

Witness Box gelding who beat an odds-on rival on his only point-to-point start at Boulta. The form may amount to little, but at least it showed he has ability for his rules debut.

Form:

Jan Maat²³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Ms L O'Neill⁽³⁾| T: H De Bromhead

5/1

Cost €30,000 as a three-year-old and is closely related to winners on the Flat in Germany and Japan. Second of 11 on his only start in a point-to-point and is one to note on his first start in a bumper for leading connections.

Form:

Squadron Commander

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

4/6

Oscar gelding out of a Presenting mare, he was bought for €56,000 as a three-year-old and is from the family of the useful Royal Vacation. Represents a team always to be feared in these events and likely to be on the premises.

Form:

Tarrytown

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Ms K Walsh| T: T M Walsh

14/1

Rip Van Winkle gelding who fetched €40,000 as a yearling and is a half-brother to three winners in France. Stable not noted for the volume of its bumpers winner, but worth a market check.

Form:

Teddy's Acre²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr J W O'Neill⁽⁷⁾| T: R O'Neill

40/1

Aristotle gelding whose dam is related to a few point-to-point winners. Well beaten on debut in a bumper at Punchestown and likely to be found wanting again.

Form: 9

Love N' Peace¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr F Maguire⁽³⁾| T: F J Flood

7/1

Signs of ability in bumpers and hurdles and by no means disgraced at Limerick last time. Should go well, but may find one or two of these rivals too strong.

Form: 97-003

Caboose²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: C D Walsh⁽⁷⁾| T: J J Hanlon

50/1

Poor efforts in point-to-points preceded a similarly-disappointing display on his debut in a bumper at Fairyhouse on debut for this stable. Can only be watched.

Form: 6-0

Forecasts

Squadron Commander (4/6), Jan Maat (5/1), Love N' Peace (7/1), Buck A Trend (8/1), Sullane Hill (12/1), Tarrytown (14/1), Teddy's Acre (40/1), Caboose (50/1), Lostinvillierstown (50/1)

Sullane Hill may not have achieved much on his point-to-point debut, but at least his victory showed he has ability. He is worth monitoring in the betting market along with newcomer Tarrytown, but this looks a potential match between point-to-point runner-up Jan Maat and newcomer SQUADRON COMMANDER. The selections appeals on pedigree and will have been well prepared for his debut.