15:15 Thurles

Thursday 8 March 2018

All14:1514:4515:1515:5016:2016:5517:25

thurles.ie Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 15:18 | Winning time: 4m 19.10s

Derby De Thaix¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: E T Daly⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| D

25/1

Well beaten on sole hurdle start in France and not disgraced in two 1m4f bumpers before well beaten behind Dis Donc at Navan last month on stable debut. Tough ask here.

Form: 19-456

Savannah Storm¹⁷⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott

5/2

Modest 100-rated gelding at Listed level on the Flat for Ger Lyons. Market likely to reveal expectations on hurdling debut.

Form:

Awayinthewest¹²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: D N Russell| T: P A Fahy| OR: 128| D

2/1

Won last of her four bumpers but unsuccessful thus far in seven hurdle contests though did catch the eye last time out when second of nine beaten 1¾L in a Galway maiden hurdle when last seen in October. Worth a market check on return.

Form: 34265-2

Bothar Dubh

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: A E Lynch| T: D Queally

25/1

Malinas gelding out of a Astarabad mare related to ex-top French hurdler Questarabad, Cheltenham bound Whisper and Bassarabad winner over the larger obstacles at Wetherby in January.

Form:

Golan Cloud⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: B J Foley⁽⁵⁾| T: M Winters

8/1

Golan gelding out of a Cloudings mare who cost €7,000 as a three year-old. Fifth of 14 on a mistake-laden debut at Cork in January. Capable of improvement.

Form: 5

Hero's Welcome¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Donagh Meyler| T: A J Martin

50/1

Found no extra approaching the last on debut beaten 25L in January before a heavy 51L defeat behind Dis Donc at Navan last month. Will need to improve to figure.

Form: 80

Nonameyet¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: D P Holden⁽⁷⁾| T: L Young

100/1

Not much to shout about in three career starts so far including being pulled-up last time out at Clonmel last month. Plenty to find here.

Form: 80P

Offshore Oscar²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: D J McInerney⁽⁵⁾| T: E McNamara

50/1

Has shown little in two starts to date although the fact that he was only a 7-2 chance for his debut at Newcastle in December suggests there could be some ability there.

Form: 9-0

On The Mend²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien

25/1

Tailed off when pulled-up before three out on debut in a Navan maiden hurdle before a 28L defeat last time out at Punchestown. Looks opposable.

Form: P7

Rough Night¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: A W Short⁽⁵⁾| T: E U Hales| OR: 106

16/1

Has failed to build on a solid third of 15 at Tramore on News Years day with two dismal performances at Fairyhouse and last month at Clonmel. Looks vulnerable in this company.

Form: 07F353

Simon's Castle⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: A J McNamara

100/1

Cheap purchase by Mahler out of a Busy Flight mare related to Market Rasen St Stephens Day winner Randy Pike. Nothing of any note in two starts so far and easily opposable here.

Form: 8P

The Chapel Field¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: T Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: W J Austin

100/1

Nicely enough bred and a half-brother to the yard's useful hurdler/chaser All The Chimneys. Well beaten and no impression on debut at Punchestown last month when last but one of 16 runners.

Form: 0

Annie Mae's Vision^p¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Danny Mullins| T: T J Corcoran

100/1

Fell and well beaten 44L in her first two hurdle starts at Cork and here before being pulled up when tailed of at this track last month. Out of form and hard to fancy.

Form: 000F0P

Beliou Le Fume³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Phillip Enright| T: V Halley

66/1

By Kalanisi out of an Anshan mare related to top hurdler Katchit and Barizan but failed to show any sparkle on debut at Naas in January and will need to improve to play a role here.

Form: 0

Deise Treasure³⁸⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: J J Slevin| T: Miss E Doyle

10/1

Daughter of Scorpion out of a Taipan mare related to Might Bite, Don't Touch It and recent Ayr winner Instingtive. Won on last point-to-point start and worth a market check on rules debut.

Form: S1-

Lareena²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins

7/4

Behind Chateauneuf Du Pap beaten 1L on her second start for this trainer at Tramore on New Years Day before another bold show when second of 14 at Fairyhouse last month. A race that see's the return of jockey-Ruby Walsh.

Form: 2/022

Mag Brady⁶⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Mr S F O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hickey

33/1

Second of 14 over this trip in December before a disappointing display last time out when last of seven at Tramore over further. Capable of making her presence felt back at this trip.

Form: 35-27

Robin On The Hill²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: M A Enright| T: A Fogarty

50/1

Placed in point-to-points but didn't show anywhere near enough on debut at Naas earlier in the month to make her of interest here.

Form: 93220

Torquay²⁰¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Reserve 1| T: E McNamara

50/1

First Reserve: Modest 63-rated handicapper on the Flat and without a win in 12 starts. Sire - Aqlaam who died in 2013 - has only a couple of representatives over the jumps including winners So Satisfied and Oxford Blu.

Form:

Delightful Guest

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Reserve 2| T: J Motherway

66/1

Second Reserve: Daughter of Beneficial out of a Saddlers' Hall mare related to Cooldine, More Of That and recent Punchestown winner Call A Cab.

Form:

Kool Lady^b⁸⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Reserve 3| T: D Donovan| OR: 83

66/1

Third Reserve: Point-to-point winner on heavy ground in January last year but well held on five rules outings since and hard to see light at the end of the tunnel just yet.

Form: 150/000

Forecasts

Lareena (7/4), Awayinthewest (2/1), Savannah Storm (5/2), Golan Cloud (8/1), Deise Treasure (10/1), Rough Night (16/1), On The Mend (25/1), Derby De Thaix (25/1), Bothar Dubh (25/1), Mag Brady (33/1), Robin On The Hill (50/1), Hero's Welcome (50/1), Offshore Oscar (50/1), Torquay (50/1), Beliou Le Fume (66/1), Delightful Guest (66/1), Kool Lady (66/1), Annie Mae's Vision (100/1), The Chapel Field (100/1), Nonameyet (100/1), Simon's Castle (100/1)

The Willie Mullins-trained LAREENA should herald the return of jockey-Ruby Walsh just in time for next weeks exploits. The five-year-old has put in two solid and consistent displays on her last starts and should prove good enough here. Awayinthewest and Gordon Elliott debutante Savannah Storm can hit the frame.