15:35 Thurles

Thursday 22 February 2018

All13:5514:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

Killinan Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 6m 23.70s

Massey's Wood³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D F O'Regan| T: A Fleming| OR: 123

10/3

Won his bumper in good style in September but has generally struggled to get near the winner in three maiden hurdles so far. Could make the running and hang on for a place.

Form: 1255

Caliption^t²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Kennedy| T: M F Morris| OR: 112

25/1

Has generally disappointed connections with a number of grim hurdling efforts since November including beaten 181L in his last two starts. Will need a chunk of improvement to play a role here.

Form: 4-24U80

Kingsteel⁵²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: A W Short⁽⁵⁾| T: L Whitmore

33/1

Fell on sole point-to-point before disappointing on debut when well beaten and one paced in a 22L defeat at Tramore last month. Will need to improve to figure.

Form: F3

Robin The Hare⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: J J Hanlon| BF| D

20/1

Won a point-to-point last February before disappointing on rules debut beaten 25L finishing fourth of seven at Limerick in December. Plenty to find in this company.

Form: 1-F4

The Conditional²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: A E Lynch| T: M Hassett| D

20/1

Modest form in four point-to-point starts winning in November. Well beaten and no impression on rules debut finishing 21L behind the winner in a Punchestown maiden hurdle last month. Tough ask and other preferred.

Form: 34-P15

Ask And Answer²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Phillip Enright| T: S Aherne

100/1

Sixth of eight on rules debut behind The Conditional last month on maiden hurdle debut at Punchestown on heavy ground. Very little to be positive about.

Form: P26

Castlebrook¹⁰⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: R M Power| T: J J Mangan| D

4/9

Solid and consistent form finishing second in a Gowran Park bumper before another runner-up spot on maiden hurdle debut at Cork in November. Off the track since but capable of running a big race.

Form: 12-2

Heroesandvillains²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| D

8/1

Sent off a big price on his two maiden hurdle starts and plenty of work to do here based on what he has shown so far.

Form: 3U1-4U5

Kalamkan^p¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: P D Kennedy⁽³⁾| T: T G McCourt

16/1

Modest 48-rated handicapper on the Flat and well beaten when sent off at 50/1 on two maiden hurdle starts this year. Plenty to prove in this contest.

Form: 64

Annie Mae's Vision^p1¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁷⁾| T: T J Corcoran

100/1

Fell and well beaten 44L in her first two hurdle starts at Cork and last time out here earlier this month when finishing last but one in a 17-runner maiden hurdle. Others preferred.

Form: 000F0

Forecasts

Castlebrook (4/9), Massey's Wood (10/3), Heroesandvillains (8/1), Kalamkan (16/1), The Conditional (20/1), Robin The Hare (20/1), Caliption (25/1), Kingsteel (33/1), Ask And Answer (100/1), Annie Mae's Vision (100/1)

Massey's Wood is possibly the most likely to make the early running here with Kingsteel and Calipton racing in behind. CASTLEBROOK has solid and consistent form in a Gowran Park bumper and a Cork maiden hurdle to be able to relish the step up in trip here.