15:55 Thurles

Saturday 24 March 2018

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0517:40

Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 15:56 | Winning time: 4m 11.80s

One First Cut^t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: A W Short⁽⁴⁾| T: Miss E Doyle| CD

7/2

In contention when unseating her rider on hurdles debut at Limerick in December but has failed to build on that run in three below-par displays. Unlikely to play a part in the finish.

Form: 84-U445

Amram

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: E O'Connell⁽⁴⁾| T: P Neville

50/1

Milan gelding out of a Pragmatic mare related to money-spinners Jezki, Duke Of Lucca and Night In Milan. Market likely to reveal expectations on debut.

Form:

Call Of The Loon¹⁸⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: D J McInerney⁽²⁾| T: D J Ryan

33/1

Point-to-point winner but yet to show much in a bumper or in two maiden hurdles. Needs an unlikely amount of improvement here to get off the mark after a long break.

Form: 8517-08

Eusebius⁸²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: P D Kennedy| T: M M Lynch

100/1

Sent off at 100/1 and 80/1 on two career starts and running to price. Well out of his depth in this company.

Form: 0-P

Harry O⁷²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: A McCurtin⁽²⁾| T: R P Rath

33/1

Point-to-point recruit last seen falling in a race won by Carter McKay. Not seen since April 2016 and will be best watched on rules debut.

Form: PF/

Life Isfor Living⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: B Browne⁽⁴⁾| T: O McKiernan

6/1

Beaten 67L on only bumper start before two below-par maiden hurdle displays the latest of which came in a Gowran Park contest in January. Others preferred.

Form: 509

Scheu Time³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: C A Landers⁽⁴⁾| T: J Nash

6/4

Better performances have come on better ground than today's suggested conditions. Worth a market check given form on heavy ground.

Form: 2-42424

Stripe Of Honour¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: D J Hand⁽⁴⁾| T: James King

50/1

Failed to finish in two point-to-point contests the last of which came earlier this month. Hard to fancy on rules debut.

Form: PP

The Chapel Field¹⁶

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

100/1

Nicely enough bred and a half-brother to the yard's useful hurdler/chaser All The Chimneys but has shown very little in two maiden hurdle starts.

Form: 00

Winter Soldier^h1⁷¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: N M Kelly⁽²⁾| T: W P Mullins

11/4

Second of 14 beaten 3L on sole start in France when last seen in in April 2016. Likely to be a warm order on debut for powerful yard. First-time hood a worry.

Form:

Annie Mae's Vision^p¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Ricky Doyle⁽²⁾| T: T J Corcoran

50/1

Yet to finish within 40L of a winner despite having been given plenty of chances, including in similar contests to this. Others hold far more convincing claims.

Form: 00F0P7

Dorus Day

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Mr L P Gilligan⁽⁴⁾| T: D J Ryan

66/1

Fracas mare who is a half-sister to a US winner. Not too much to go in terms of pedigree (sire has had limited runners), but yard is 0/39 in the past five seasons over jumps.

Form:

Hey Groovy³⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: M P Burke⁽⁴⁾| T: J M Burke

33/1

Daughter of Echo Of Light out of a Grand Lodge mare related to multiple winners The Young Master and Neverushacon. Looks vulnerable in this company.

Form: F-

Mary Fields⁵³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: D Robinson⁽²⁾| T: N P Hennessy

50/1

Has shown flashes of promise in the point-to-point ranks, most notably when winning a 3m event on good ground last time out in April. Nothing of note on debut 101+L behind the winner in January.

Form: P371-0

She'sasupermack¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: R P Treacy⁽²⁾| T: J F Gleeson

125/1

Daughter of Arakan out of a Executive Park mare related to multiple winners Formidableopponent, Vosne Romanee and Bridgets Pet. Well beaten 162L on debut and others preferred.

Form: 0

Forecasts

Scheu Time (6/4), Winter Soldier (11/4), One First Cut (7/2), Life Isfor Living (6/1), Hey Groovy (33/1), Call Of The Loon (33/1), Harry O (33/1), Amram (50/1), Stripe Of Honour (50/1), Annie Mae's Vision (50/1), Mary Fields (50/1), Dorus Day (66/1), The Chapel Field (100/1), Eusebius (100/1), She'sasupermack (125/1)

In a race that possibly won't take a great deal of winning it may pay to be on the side of some of the more experienced runners. Winter Soldier, Scheu Time and One First Cut are the likely leaders here in the early stages and could have a few of the newcomers in trouble some way out. Preference is for the Willie Mullins French-import WINTER SOLDIER who showed plenty of promise in a French contest in April 2016 and will be well prepped on debut.