17:25 Wexford

Saturday 17 March 2018

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

Wexford (Pro/Am) Flat Race

Off time: 17:25 | Winning time: 5m 23.7s

Captain Leo²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr T Power Roche⁽⁷⁾| T: R P Rath

20/1

His point-to-point record looked moderate until causing an upset at Tinahely last time. Recorded a slow time in doing so and probably up agains it.

Form: PP-UP1

Small Farm⁴⁰⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins

1/1

Brother to Paul Nicholls' useful hurdler/chaser Stiletto. Beat a future bumper winner when landing his point-to-point and has joined a yard who are 15-29 in Irish bumpers since December.

Form: 1-

Elusive Exclusive¹³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: E O'Connell⁽⁷⁾| T: P J F Murphy

16/1

Ran to a similar level in three ordinary bumpers last year and was pulled up last week on his hurdling debut. Hard to see him playing more than a supporting role.

Form: 4-32P

Itscatrionaschoice³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: Mr D L Queally⁽³⁾| T: J Dullea

7/1

Well beaten in a Punchestown bumper and on hurdling debut at Cork in November, before a promising second of 14 last month in a maiden hurdle. Each-way claims on that evidence.

Form: 502

Moratorium⁹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: Ms L O'Neill⁽³⁾| T: G Elliott

9/1

Presenting gelding who cost €78,000 as a three-year-old and is a half-brother to Sugar Baron and The Way We Were. Only beat two home on his bumper debut but has been given time since and improvement is likely.

Form: 8

Perito Moreno^t1⁸¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: Mr F Maguire⁽³⁾| T: Miss E Doyle

16/1

Some promise on debut at Navan in November but backwards step taken at Leopardstown over Christmas and gets a watching brief on the back of that run.

Form: 30

The Shunter⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: Mr S F O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: J O Clifford

13/2

Out of his depth last time but his previous run, when chasing home Champion Bumper third Tornado Flyer, gives him an each-way shout.

Form: 3S37

Thosedaysaregone⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: R Deegan⁽⁵⁾| T: C Byrnes

9/2

Getaway gelding is a half-brother to bumper winner/2m2f hurdle winner Lord Adare. Made a promising debut before bumping into useful types from the Mullins/Elliott powerhouses last time. Yard 3-7 in bumpers this year.

Form: 33

Why Stop Now²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr C W McCormack⁽⁷⁾| T: Thomas Coyle

66/1

Last of ten on last month's bumper debut and finds himself in what may be a better than average bumper.

Form: 9

Forecasts

Small Farm (1/1), Thosedaysaregone (9/2), The Shunter (13/2), Itscatrionaschoice (7/1), Moratorium (9/1), Elusive Exclusive (16/1), Perito Moreno (16/1), Captain Leo (20/1), Why Stop Now (66/1)

Thosedaysaregone, Itscatrionaschoice and The Shunter have all shown reasonable form which puts them in the picture for making the frame at least. However, they face a potentially stiff task as Willie Mullins unleashes another promising recruit from the point-to-point field in SMALL FARM. The stable have a 50% strike rate in similar races over the past three months. The form of his Ballinaboola victory has substance and it is hard to look beyond him.