17:30 Listowel

Wednesday 12 September 2018

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2016:5517:3018:00

M.S.D Animal Health Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 17:30 | Winning time: 3m 57.60s

Bakmaj^t⁹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Donagh Meyler| T: A Fleming| D

6/1

Bumper winner at Leopardstown before finishing midfield in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival last year. Tongue strap on for first time when third of 24 in novice hurdle at Punchestown (2m4½f, good) on hurdles bow in June. More to come.

Form: 210/3

Crimson Chief¹²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: R J Condon⁽⁷⁾| T: J Morrison

66/1

Easy winner on sole point-to-point outing, then fifth of 10 in bumper at Tipperary (2m2f, good to soft) in May on rules bow. Should have future over jumps.

Form: 15

Debuchet⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny Mullins| T: Ms M Mullins| OR: 138| BF| D

13/8

Second 2017 Cheltenham Festival Bumper and followed up with Listed win at Limerick. Finished ninth in Supreme Novices' Hurdle before falling when still in contention in Grade 1 at Punchestown in April. Disappointing at Galway since, has ability.

Form: 1/469F-3

Dunkereen³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: P D Kennedy| T: M Kennedy

66/1

Well held in two bumper starts for trainer-Olly Murphy and has failed to impress in three starts since going hurdling with this yard, has improvement to locate.

Form: 43P-P6

Only Whispers⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D N Russell| T: A J Martin

14/1

Son of Scorpion out of a mare who was placed over jumps, fourth of 15 in bumper at Galway last month rules bow. Makes hurdles debut having switched to Tony Martin's care since.

Form: 4

Owl Creek Bridge¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: C P McNamara⁽⁷⁾| T: E McNamara

66/1

Solid and consistent in the point-to-point field. By Gold Well out of a Classic Cliche mare, only ninth of 12 in novice hurdle at Ballinrobe (2m, good to soft) on debut 15 days ago however.

Form: P13-29

Pass Hymn^h³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: A E Lynch| T: G J Power| OR: 108| D

33/1

One of the more experienced but therefore exposed runners here. Others look to be more progressive types after another fair effort at Galway last month.

Form: 547-577

Quick Grabim²⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| BF| D

11/10

Fair bumper performer who hasn't far away at all on hurdling debut at Fairyhouse in November. Took a heavy fall a month later at Leopardstown having gone off strong favourite and duly put away by the champion trainer. Respected on return.

Form: 2170/2F-

Spyglass Hill¹⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead

12/1

Picked up current connections for £60,000 after finishing runner-up in maiden on point debut in the spring. In excellent hands and has positive jockey booking for this rules debut.

Form: 2-

Strong Current

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P Broderick

50/1

Stowaway gelding. Dam an above average hurdler, winner at 2m-2m4f over hurdles/chase. Worth a second look on debut.

Form:

Toulson^p⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: K J Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: C Byrnes

33/1

Useful Flat winner for Eve Johnson Houghton, rated 90, but has failed to show much in pair of starts over timber so far, including when strong in the market at Cork in January. Clearly too soon to dismiss, jumping needs to improve.

Form: 00-

Whatsyourstatus⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: A W Short⁽⁵⁾| T: G O'Loughlin

66/1

Couple of fairly promising efforts so far in bumpers, switches attention to jumps now and is worth a glance in the betting.

Form: 45

Native Place^h1¹²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Phillip Enright| T: V T O'Brien

100/1

Failed to complete four times in point-to-points and has switched yards ahead of first rules start, can only be watched on form.

Form: PPP-F

Forecasts

Quick Grabim (11/10), Debuchet (13/8), Bakmaj (6/1), Spyglass Hill (12/1), Only Whispers (14/1), Toulson (33/1), Pass Hymn (33/1), Strong Current (50/1), Whatsyourstatus (66/1), Crimson Chief (66/1), Owl Creek Bridge (66/1), Dunkereen (66/1), Native Place (100/1)

Debuchet was disappointing last month at Galway but he sets the standard just the same and a drop in trip might be the answer for him. That said, stablemate QUICK GRABIM has plenty potential of his own and has been given plenty time to get over last season's mishap at Leopardstown. His jumping will be more assured now, likely, and he could make a successful return. Spyglass Hill is a notable newcomer for Henry De Bromhead while useful bumper performer Bakmaj also has plenty scope for improvement.