17:45 Downpatrick

Friday 18 May 2018

All17:4518:1518:5019:2019:5520:2520:55

Pat O'Hare Bookmakers Follow Us On Facebook Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 17:48 | Winning time: 4m 35.3s

Be My Dan⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: D M O'Brien

33/1

Won on bumper debut back in 2016. Made belated hurdling debut today after over 600 days off earlier this month finishing 13th of 20 in a Tipperary maiden hurdle when tailed off. Not one to place too much faith in.

Form: 16/0

Benefit North^t¹²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: A E Lynch| T: C A McBratney| BF

12/1

Fair form in bumpers and ran a lot better on his second start over hurdles after he was rather lit-up on his initial start over obstacles back in November. Beaten favourite last time out in January and worth a market check with tongue-tie re-fitted.

Form: F/043F4-

Captain Cobajay⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: B J Cooper| T: P Nolan

40/1

Poor form in three career point-to-point contests and hard to fancy until he shows signs of ability. Market likely to reveal expectations on stable debut.

Form: PP3-

Caro Des Flos²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 116

4/5

Solid and consistent in three starts since the turn of the year before disappointing on handicap debut in a Punchestown hurdle last month. Better than that appearance and worth and look.

Form: 2/58225-

Count Simon¹⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott

15/2

Flat winner in Britain for Andrew Balding but was never on terms on stable debut ay Leopardstown in December. Rough edges ironed no doubt from top stable and worth a market check.

Form: 7-

Frankiefiveangels⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 107

4/1

Beaten over 10L in two maiden hurdle hurdle starts in February before looking a little one-paced over 2m on handicap debut in a Fairyhouse hurdle last month. Will need to improve here.

Form: 244458-

Kilbrew Gold¹⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: D Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: H De Bromhead

12/1

Finished close second on his sole point-to-point start and finished 29L third on rules debut at Thurles in a maiden hurdle over an extended 2m7f before finishing a promising fourth of 10 at Tramore when last seen in December. Interesting on return.

Form: 2/34-

King Of Scotland²¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: M F Mooney| T: Mrs A Mooney| BF

40/1

Stout 65-rated Flat handicapper on the Flat for Hughie Morrison who could be an interesting recruit to the jumping ranks. Looks a long-term prospect on stable debut.

Form:

Lilmaurice

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: J S McGarvey| T: J P O'Brien

28/1

Olden Times gelding out of a Un Desperado mare who has been well beaten in two disappointing point-to-point starts. Market likely to be the best guide on first start for top yard.

Form:

Loveinalamborghini²⁹

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

25/1

Poor point-to-point runner who finished fourth of 11 beaten 15L on maiden hurdle debut at Fairyhouse last month over 2m4f on soft ground. Will need to improve on that run in this company.

Form: 4-

Ravenhill¹⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: M A Enright| T: G Elliott

33/1

Point-to-point winner from seven starts and a fair effort when a 19L fourth of five on bumper debut at Fairyhouse before pulling up after the sixth on hurdling debut in December. Unlikely to play a role in the finish here.

Form: 4421/4P-

Youandiwillfly³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr M C O'Donovan⁽⁷⁾| T: D E Fitzgerald

100/1

Nothing of any note in three career starts in a bumper, a point-to-point or a Cork maiden hurdle in May. May struggle once again.

Form: 8/06-

Lesssaidthebetter³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell

66/1

Well beaten and never nearer in two starts at Cork and Ballinrobe last month. Requires a chunk of improvement to play a part in the finish here.

Form: 49-

Askyourmammy^h1⁵⁹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: N G Hynds

50/1

Poor in a number of point-to-point starts and first-time hood unlikely to bring about the required improvement to trouble the judge in this contest.

Form: P32334/

Lady Margorie^p²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: A Ring⁽³⁾| T: Alan Wells

33/1

Held in three point-to-point starts and was a similar story in three outings in bumpers before two disappointing displays in a couple of maiden hurdles in March and April. Others hold stronger profiles.

Form: P97665-

Non-Runners

Devil's Glen⁴⁶

Weight: 10-13| Age: 4

T: A Fleming J: Reserve 1

Worth The Wait²⁹

Weight: 10-11| Age: 6

T: J C McConnell J: Reserve 2

Forecasts

Caro Des Flos (4/5), Frankiefiveangels (4/1), Count Simon (15/2), Benefit North (12/1), Kilbrew Gold (12/1), Loveinalamborghini (25/1), Lilmaurice (28/1), Ravenhill (33/1), Be My Dan (33/1), Lady Margorie (33/1), Captain Cobajay (40/1), King Of Scotland (40/1), Askyourmammy (50/1), Lesssaidthebetter (66/1), Youandiwillfly (100/1)

Excuses are starting to wear thin for the Willie Mullins-trained CARO DES FLOS but there is no doubt the Highclere Racing Syndicate-owned six-year-old looks a cut above the opposition here. Count Simon and Benefit North both look set to show some kind of improvement while Kilbrew Gold could hit the frame at a double-figure price.