14:45 Warwick

Thursday 4 October 2018

All14:1014:4515:1515:5016:2016:55

Penguin Pay Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 14:46 | Winning time: 4m 55.50s

Ballyellis¹⁷⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Jamie Bargary| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

7/1

Half-brother to multiple wining hurdler/chaser Jolly Roger, well fancied for debut at Market Rasen but may have found heavy ground all against him and was well beaten. Yard among the winners last week and no surprises if he does a lot better here.

Form: 8-

Casemates Square^p²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams

14/1

Only moderate on the Flat but has been far from disgraced in two hurdles starts so far, both at big prices and already looks like making a better hurdler. Best chance may come in handicaps after today but may run well all the same.

Form: 54

Damier²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: David Bass| T: David Dennis

50/1

Bit better at Worcester last time (3m) but still finished tailed off in the end. Looks one that needs a lot more time and others readily preferred.

Form: F-45

General Allenby⁶⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: H Tett| OR: 118

10/1

Only won once on the Flat but stays well and this sort of trip should suit. Has experience of hurdles and Fontwell run in May (against a few useful sorts) hinted that he could win in this sphere, but handicaps will offer a better opportunity.

Form: 3-53

Pontresina¹²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 117

7/4

Hated the soft ground first two starts but ran a lot better once encountering quicker, a good third to two useful types at Kempton (first three clear) and followed up with another good effort at Fontwell. The type to go on and a player here.

Form: 1/9P3-3

Trixster¹⁷³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 122

5/2

Looked like he was about to break his duck at Chepstow in January but fell at the last when just taking up the running. Well below par on only other start after, and may need this after an absence. Best form has come with plenty of cut, too.

Form: 645F5-

Little Miss Darsi¹³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: James Bowen| T: C J Mann

8/1

Easy winner of an Irish point-to-point in May and purchased at sales for £16,000 not long after. Clearly has some ability but that point form only modest, and she may find herself biting off more than she can chew here.

Form: 31

Roses Poses¹⁵¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon

7/1

Makes some appeal on pedigree, and showed a bit of ability on only start in a point-to-point in Ireland in May, staying on well. Might find this a tough ask on hurdles debut but worth a cursory glance in the market all the same.

Form: 2

Non-Runners

Three County's¹³⁸

Weight: 11-0| Age: 7

T: O Murphy J: David England

Forecasts

Pontresina (7/4), Trixster (5/2), Roses Poses (7/1), Ballyellis (7/1), Three County's (7/1), Little Miss Darsi (8/1), General Allenby (10/1), Casemates Square (14/1), Damier (50/1)

Trixster would hold a great chance on his unlucky Chepstow run where he looked booked to win, only to capitulate at the last, but a subsequent middling effort and this quicker ground are concerns. PONTRESINA impressed in the paddock before his much-improved third at Kempton and he could be one to follow this year. Good ground will be essential to his chance but he has scope to do much better this year. The market is likely to prove informative as to the chances of the likes of Ballyellis, Three County's and Roses Poses.