15:50 Thurles

Thursday 8 February 2018

All13:4014:1014:4515:1515:5016:2517:00

Holycross Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 6m 9.2s

Itsonlyrocknroll^t⁸¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins

11/1

Has looked one-paced on more than one occasion recently including a heavy defeat last time out. Market should be informative.

Form: 32142

Caro Des Flos²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: N M Kelly⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins

12/1

Failed to build on an impressive second to Al Boum Photo in a Thurles maiden hurdle with two horrid displays in December and January. Others preferred.

Form: P42/2-58

Cherokee Bill⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: J M Moore| T: N Meade

12/1

Failed to build on a promising third of 16 on maiden hurdle debut when finishing seventh of 10 beaten 57L last time out in a Leopardstown maiden over 2m4f. Will need to improve to figure.

Form: 3/5-37

Nick Lost⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: D Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: H De Bromhead

6/1

Ran well in a point-to-point in March last year and put a disappointing bumper debut behind him when finishing third over 2m6f at Punchestown on hurdling debut before disappointing in December.

Form: 4/7-35

Playtimesover³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: L P Dempsey| T: D E Fitzgerald

100/1

Lightly raced gelding well beaten and no impression in two of the three maiden hurdles he has finished in. Others hold stronger profiles.

Form: 0P0

Therellalwaysbeone³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: R Loughran| T: T Foley

12/1

Unplaced and beaten a long way in three bumpers before an improved display in his second hurdle start when second of seven beaten 3L at Cork last month. Place claims at best.

Form: 568-52

Border Control³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien

3/1

Promising bumper performances were followed by a 15½L defeat on hurdling debut in a Leopardstown maiden before a promising second of 15 beaten over 5L in a Naas maiden hurdle over 2m on soft to heavy ground. Another bold show looks likely.

Form: 3482

Kalamkan¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Donagh Meyler| T: T G McCourt

50/1

Failed to shine in eight starts on the Flat and well beaten in two starts for this yard in that sphere this winter. Finished sixth of 24 on maiden hurdle debut in a mistake-filled run. Looks a tall order on that start.

Form: 6

Kamil⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| BF

16/1

Not a lot to shout about in two maiden hurdle starts at Punchestown and when beaten favourite last time out at Tramore in December. Place claims if settling better.

Form: 3-55

Last Man Standing¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: D N Russell| T: M F Morris

2/1

Appears to improving with every start including a eye-catching 5L second of 16 here last month. Claims if handling the trip.

Form: 442

Saffron And Grey¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott

25/1

E175,000 purchase back in 2016, dam a half-sister to useful chaser Violon Davis. Jumping was all over the place when beaten 99L on racecourse debut last month. Will need to improve to figure.

Form: 0

Sizing Joshua¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: R M Power| T: M F Morris

25/1

By Flemensfirth out of a Alderbrook mare related to the likes of Tidal Bay and Imperial Commander. Mistakes on debut when finishing 11th of 20 beaten 46L and others hold stronger profiles.

Form: 0

Lady Mangan¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: A E Lynch| T: G Murphy| D

20/1

Could well improve on racecourse debut when fourth of 15 in a Naas maiden hurdle given his point-to-point profile.

Form: F/2-F514

Taggle Og⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: P E Corbett⁽³⁾| T: D H Kelly| D

66/1

Has shown relatively little in two maiden hurdle starts at Galway and Navan. Requires a chunk of improvement to play a role here.

Form: 1-90

Forecasts

Last Man Standing (2/1), Border Control (3/1), Nick Lost (6/1), Itsonlyrocknroll (11/1), Caro Des Flos (12/1), Therellalwaysbeone (12/1), Cherokee Bill (12/1), Kamil (16/1), Lady Mangan (20/1), Saffron And Grey (25/1), Sizing Joshua (25/1), Kalamkan (50/1), Taggle Og (66/1), Playtimesover (100/1)

The willie Mullins-trained Itsonlyrocknroll could possibly be the one to take the field along here as he has done in three of his four previous starts. The early speed in the ground could play to the advantages of prominent racers Sizing Joshua and the Mouse Morris promising five-year-old LAST MAN STANDING who has been improving with every start. Joseph O'Briens Border Control and Down Royal fifth Nick Lost can battle for the minors.