13:50 Navan

Sunday 18 February 2018

All13:5014:2014:5515:2516:0016:3017:00

Get Your 2018 Navan Membership Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 4m 19.60s

Cappuccino Man⁴⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: O McKiernan

100/1

Well held in three career maiden hurdles including when last seen in November 2016. Will possibly need the run on return to the track and best watched in this contest.

Form: 52370/0-

Hero's Welcome¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Donagh Meyler| T: A J Martin

33/1

Well bred Oscar gelding out of a Satco mare related to Lord Windermere, Sub Lieutenant and recent Fakenham winner Whiskey In The Jar. Found no extra approaching the last on debut beaten 25L last month. Will need to improve to figure.

Form: 8

McCrackens Gate²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: D E Browne⁽⁷⁾| T: T Gibney

100/1

No extra, no impression and never a factor in three maiden hurdle starts since December and requires a chunk of improvement to play a role in this contest.

Form: FP-5067

One Cool Poet¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: A E Lynch| T: M J Smith

100/1

Modest 72-rated handicapper on the Flat for trainer-Arthur Moore before a two-year sabbatical from the track. Well beaten when falling four out on stable debut in a Punchestown maiden hurdle last month. Very little to be positive about.

Form: 5/F

Pallasator⁹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| D

3/1

Enigmatic 109-rated Group 2 Doncaster Cup and Group 3 Henry II stakes winner on the Flat for Sir Mark Prescott. One pace dismal effort on stable and hurdling debut in a Naas maiden in November but sure to have gained from the experience.

Form: 5

The Grey Knight^t1⁷⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: C D Timmons⁽³⁾| T: E Cawley

50/1

Tailed off on sole maiden hurdle start in April 2015 before winning a point-to-point in January 2016 off the track since and market likely to reveal expectations on stable debut.

Form: 01/

Well Tom¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: A Ring⁽³⁾| T: Aengus King

100/1

Finished runner-up in three point-to-points but failed to complete the last twice before last of nine on rules debut in a Punchestown maiden hurdle before a 37L defeat last time. Unlikely to play a part in the finish.

Form: 22FP90

Antey²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| BF

10/3

Represents powerful connections, and showed plenty of promise when third on debut at Leopardstown but disappointed when sixth of 17 up in trip in a Navan maiden hurdle. Better display expected back in trip.

Form: 36

Derby De Thaix¹⁹¹

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

20/1

Well beaten on sole hurdle start in France before not disgraced in two 1m4f bumpers. Market likely to be the best guide on stable debut.

Form: 19-45

Dis Donc⁷¹

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

4/1

Produced three consistent performances in his last three starts finishing runner-up on both occasions including last time out in a Navan maiden hurdle over this trip on soft ground. Deserves a change of luck.

Form: 11-7222

Golden Sunset⁷⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: D J McInerney⁽⁵⁾| T: N Madden

100/1

Poor form in two point-to-point starts at the end of last year. Related to multiple national hunt winners and looks a long-term prospect.

Form: UP

Hearts Are Trumps⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: L P Dempsey| T: D McDonogh

25/1

Hampered prior to finishing sixth in a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse on debut before a 22L defeat last time out in December. Very little to be positive about.

Form: 66

High Grounds^h¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: J M Moore| T: J McAuley

33/1

Modest 95-rated flat handicapper for Charles Hills. No extra and one pace in the straight on debut in a Thurles maiden hurdle. Looks a tough ask in this contest.

Form: 8

Justice Ears^h²⁷¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Keith Donoghue| T: D P Dunne

100/1

Modest 58-rated handicapper on the Flat last seen finishing last of 17 beaten 47L here in May last year. Others hold stronger profiles.

Form:

Roxboro Road²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Mark Walsh| T: T M Walsh

40/1

Brother to the Grade 1 placed Any Second Now and represents the same top owner. Well beaten 65L on debut in a Naas maiden hurldle over 2m3f. Tough ask but interesting to see how he performs with drop in trip.

Form: 0

The Holy One²¹

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

9/2

Good efforts in two bumpers having won a point-to-point and plenty to like about his third of 15 beaten 26L in a Naas maiden hurldle last month over 2m3f. Capable of a big run dropping in trip.

Form: 1-223

Avellino³⁷⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: M A Enright| T: D A McLoughlin| D

5/1

Not seen for over a year. Won a couple of bumpers and not beaten far in a listed bumper at Sandown in March 2016. May possibly need the run on return.

Form: 2115/5P-

Bert Leaf³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: R M Short⁽⁷⁾| T: S Fahey

100/1

Poor 47-rated Flat handicapper well beaten and no impression in two maiden hurdle starts last month. Well out of her depth here.

Form: 06

Reine Fee²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: T Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: S Crawley

100/1

Modest form in two bumpers in October and December before a 50L defat on maiden hurdle debut at Fairyhouse last month. Others preferred.

Form: 378

Non-Runners

Rideonastar⁸

Weight: 11-12| Age: 7

T: K Thornton J: Robbie Colgan

Forecasts

Pallasator (3/1), Antey (10/3), Dis Donc (4/1), The Holy One (9/2), Avellino (5/1), Derby De Thaix (20/1), Hearts Are Trumps (25/1), Hero's Welcome (33/1), High Grounds (33/1), Rideonastar (33/1), Roxboro Road (40/1), The Grey Knight (50/1), Cappuccino Man (100/1), Reine Fee (100/1), Golden Sunset (100/1), McCrackens Gate (100/1), Bert Leaf (100/1), Well Tom (100/1), One Cool Poet (100/1), Justice Ears (100/1)

The likes of The Holy One, Hearts And Trumps along with Justice Ears can be expected to be up with the pace in the early stages. The general speed on this ground could set the race up for a titanic battle for the honours between Pallasator and the Noel Meade-trained DIS DONC who can put a trio of seconds behind him here. The Willie Mullins-trained Antey can give the selection the most to think about dropping back to his preferred trip.