14:25 Down Royal

Monday 19 March 2018

All14:2514:5515:3016:0016:3017:0517:35

Guinness Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 14:41 | Winning time: 4m 24.30s

Fred The Foot^t⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: J M Moore| T: J C McConnell

12/1

Bumper winner at Hexham in June 2017, but well beaten on hurdling debut at Leopardstown last time out. Needs to improve on that effort here.

Form: 427-17

Icario^h,t⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 123

13/8

Has had a few chances to get off the mark by now, including in handicap company, but this doesn't look the strongest maiden hurdle and his second at Gowran last time sets the standard.

Form: 463P22

Communion Day²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: L P Dempsey| T: F J Flood

50/1

Down the field in two maiden hurdles so far, both over this trip. This is almost certainly a weaker affair but he'll still need to show an improved level of form.

Form: P0

Haughton Shore^h1

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: C D Maxwell| T: J Larkin

100/1

Arcadio gelding who cost €2,500 as a three-year-old. Fitted with a hood for this racecourse debut but this yard not renowned for first time out winners.

Form:

Imperial Reprise¹¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr L P Gilligan⁽⁷⁾| T: C A McBratney

66/1

Down in trip having failed to make an impact on hurdling debut at Punchestown back in November. May find this a more appropriate assignment.

Form: 9

Rock On Westie^t³³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: P D Kennedy⁽³⁾| T: Miss S Barkley| OR: 88

20/1

Down the field in a number of maiden/handicap hurdles and over a variety of trips. This is a fairly weak race but still tough to see him getting involved.

Form: 5/6-8055

The White Volcano²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: D J Hand⁽⁷⁾| T: J Woods

25/1

Point-to-point winner but is yet to translate that into form under rules, though his effort at Naas last time was a mild improvement.

Form: UP-1308

Make It Hurrah^h³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington

25/1

Goes for a top yard but yet to make an impression in two starts over hurdles, and needs to show more before entering calculations.

Form: 97

Ask Madge⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: A W Short⁽⁵⁾| T: N C Kelly

100/1

Fell and beaten 107L on her two starts over hurdles so far, and impossible to recommend off the back of those races.

Form: F0

Drumnagreagh^t1⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Robbie Colgan| T: S R B Crawford

50/1

Not bad in bumpers but only moderate efforts over hurdles so far. Tongue strap is added now but will need to inspire some improvement.

Form: P46070

Tina Marie¹⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: I J McCarthy| T: R O'Sullivan

66/1

Regressed on second start in a bumper back in October and has been given a break since. Doesn't have the profile of your typical maiden hurdle winner.

Form: 4-0

Free Ranger⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| BF

11/8

Fair Flat maiden who finished second on debut over hurdles at Fairyhouse last time on first run for this yard. If building on that effort he should go close.

Form: 2

Hague Convention¹⁵⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Ricky Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: W J Bryson

40/1

Six race maiden on the Flat but managed to finish second on one of those starts and has moved yards to make his hurdling debut here; not ruled out.

Form:

Ilikedwayurthinkin

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: J S McGarvey| T: G P Cromwell

7/1

Yeats gelding and a half-brother to a winner of a 2m maiden hurdle. The market may prove informative for this debut run.

Form:

Itsalonglongroad^h,t²³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: M A Enright| T: J C McConnell

16/1

Pitched in at the deep end over hurdles in a Grade 3 last time (finished sixth of seven). This is obviously much easier and he should put in a better performance.

Form: 6

Forecasts

Free Ranger (11/8), Icario (13/8), Ilikedwayurthinkin (7/1), Fred The Foot (12/1), Itsalonglongroad (16/1), Rock On Westie (20/1), Make It Hurrah (25/1), The White Volcano (25/1), Hague Convention (40/1), Drumnagreagh (50/1), Communion Day (50/1), Imperial Reprise (66/1), Tina Marie (66/1), Haughton Shore (100/1), Ask Madge (100/1)

Icario has run well in second in his last two maiden hurdles but may be set to fill that position again as he takes on FREE RANGER. Noel Meade's charge finished second in a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse last time, and though it still remains to be seen how the form will fully work out from that it was a pleasing debut over obstacles and he can progress to get off the mark here. Ilikedwayurthinkin appeals most of the newcomers.