18:20 Ballinrobe

Tuesday 24 July 2018

All17:5018:2018:5019:2019:5020:2020:50

Mayo News Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 18:21 | Winning time: 4m 8.40s

Blick Des Obeaux^t1¹⁴⁷⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: P G Kelly

11/1

Won when last seen in public in 2014 when trained in France. Worth a market check with the owner having the likes of Presenting Percy and Tin Soldier.

Form:

Kolumbus¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| BF

5/1

Has failed to finish his last two maiden hurdle starts and you have to go back to February 2017 to find his best form. Top yard have been patient with the seven-year-old and must be respected.

Form: 2226P/P-

Licklighter^t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: A W Short⁽⁵⁾| T: P G Kelly| OR: 112

7/2

Plenty to like about his second of 16 beaten 1¾L in a Roscommon maiden hurdle earlier this month but needs to improve once again here.

Form: 15F/2-02

Pink Ribbon^h1⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Liam McKenna⁽⁷⁾| T: J J Lambe

33/1

Already well held in a couple of poor displays this month and first time hood is inconceivable to produce the required amount of development needed to play a role here.

Form: 57

Zaofu^h¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Donagh Meyler| T: E Doyle

11/4

Three-race maiden hurdler but has the form to make a bold bid following a couple of eye catching performances recently at Gowran Park and Limerick.

Form: 0/22

Benefit Run⁴²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: R Loughran| T: Peter Fahey

50/1

Struggled on debut when finishing 80L adrift of the winner of a maiden hurdle here in May. Watching brief for now.

Form: 9-

Breesy Mountain^t1⁴¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: E O'Connell⁽⁷⁾| T: S Crawley

66/1

Not seen for over 12-months and well down the field in three career maiden hurdle starts last year. First time tongue-tie less likely to bring about the required amount of progression needed.

Form: 0/00-

Cesar Du Gouet¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Flanagan| T: Barry J Murphy| OR: 104

6/1

Signs of improvement earlier this month in a Cork maiden hurdle over 2m on good to firm ground. Will need to raise his game once again to play a part here.

Form: 5/3P7-43

Dance The Rapids¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Ricky Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: A McGuinness

66/1

Poor form in a number of point-to-point contests before a 69L defeat in a Bellewstown maiden hurdle earlier in the month. Hard to fancy on latest evidence.

Form: PPP-P78

Thecraicisninety^p²⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Mark Walsh| T: P Roche| OR: 109

7/2

10-race maiden has mixed hurdling with chasing under rules being unsuccessful on both counts. Best watched on stable debut.

Form: P/P4P58-

Non-Runners

Siamsa Cois Laoi¹⁰

Weight: 10-11| Age: 6

T: D Duggan J: A McCurtin

Forecasts

Zaofu (11/4), Thecraicisninety (7/2), Licklighter (7/2), Kolumbus (5/1), Cesar Du Gouet (6/1), Blick Des Obeaux (11/1), Siamsa Cois Laoi (25/1), Pink Ribbon (33/1), Benefit Run (50/1), Dance The Rapids (66/1), Breesy Mountain (66/1)

Kolumbus from the Willie Mullins-yard is a lightly raced seven-year-old who may need a second run following on from a heavy defeat in a Leopardstown maiden two weeks ago, handing advantage to the in form ZAOFU who has finished in the runner-up position on his last two maiden hurdle starts at Gowran Park and Limerick. The Eoin Doyle-trained gelding is in good form right now and can land the prize here at the third time of asking. Licklighter could be the biggest danger.