12:10 Leopardstown
Wednesday 26 December 2018
All12:1012:4013:1013:4514:2014:5515:30
Tote Pays Dividends Maiden Hurdle
- 4YO only  |  2m  |  Good to Yielding  |  20 Runners  |  Turf  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 12:13Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 3m 52.2s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Showed ability on debut last May but improved markedly on return at Navan when a close and strong finishing second of 29 on good ground. That form may well be the strongest on offer and sure there's more to come so claims rock solid.
Newcomer by Milan cost €68,000 at auction last year as a full brother to the smart bumper, hurdles and chase scorer Martello Tower. Joined top yard so of significant interest on debut and market support would be very encouraging.
French AQPS bumper winner made a most encouraging start to his career for this yard when second on debut at Gowran despite racing a little keenly. Bigger field may therefore help here and plenty more to come so rated a leading contender.
Improved effort latest when a close second of 16 at Thurles despite racing too keen early on. Collared in the last few strides there so clearly capable of winning such a contest and has to be on the shortlist again here.
Two runs thus far seen him beaten 49L into 14th of 20 and 80L when 24th of 29. More to come but can't build a case for him here.
Arakan newcomer is a half-brother to two winners over obstacles from 2m-3m1f. Likelihood is that he will need a little more time but debutants from this yard are never to be completely ruled out.
Three-time flat winner improved markedly in second hurdles race when second of 24 in a Cork maiden hurdle last month. Ran twice on flat since maintaining his form so can't be ruled out although little doubt this race is deeper.
French Flat winner had five hurdle races without success but that only tells half the tale given he was fourth in a Grade One at Auteuil. First run for the champion trainer here whose record with French imports is second to none. Big player.
Scorpion gelding was in rear throughout when ninth of 12 on debut at Kilbeggan late last season. Sure there's more to come but hard to be confident at present.
Newcomer by Soldier Of Fortune cost €80,000 as a three-year-old as the first foal out of a German Listed placed 1m1f-1m2f winner. Likable pedigree so cursory check on market is required.
Never completed in three point-to-points so 100/1 debut odds not surprising. Seventh of 20 however showed he has ability but still looks up against it here.
78-rated Flat performer only won one of 20 races and that came on heavy ground at Listowel. Likely know more about the game than the majority of these at this stage but others appeal more.
Rio De La Plata newcomer is a half-brother to a 2m1f hurdle winner as well three Flat scorers from 5f-1m. Speedy pedigree overall but appeals the least of the three representing this powerful yard.
Unplaced former point-to-pointer was 17th at Navan in the race where Dancing On My Own was second before latest 10th of 21. Of no appeal here.
14-race Flat maiden ran his best race to date over hurdles when last tackling them in June (fourth of eight). That race looked a long way short of this one depth wise so do well to equal that finish here.
Moderate Flat maiden has managed a couple of fair eights of late in similar contests and will likely finish somewhere similar here before heading to handicaps where his future surely lies.
Midfield debut at Navan not without some promise but was 28L behind Dancing On My Own who finished second and that speaks volumes about the magnitude of his task.
Won lone French Flat start (1m5f) and bought subsequently for €350,000 by these connections. Smart French hurdles family and looks a potentially top class recruit for powerful yard so high on the shortlist here.
53-rated Flat maiden unplaced in eight career starts. Switches to hurdles now but very surprising if she makes her presence felt today.
Fair sort on the Flat but three hurdles seen her fail to complete twice and tailed off in between. Can do better but has to be considered a highly risky proposition.
Non-Runners
1
Ben Head
Weight: 11-7|Â Â Age: 4
T: G P Cromwell  J: D J Mullins
NR
Forecasts
Vision D'Honneur (7/4), Klassical Dream (5/2), Dancing On My Own (4/1), Entoucas (6/1), Exceeded Brief (14/1), Dark Decade (25/1), Ben Head (25/1), Jon Ess (33/1), Glen Of Aherlow (33/1), Opportunity Knox (50/1), Prosecution (66/1), Noureev (66/1), Harley B (66/1), Saga Altais (66/1), Rio De Cerisy (66/1), Rocco's Dream (100/1), Upgraded (100/1), Tale Of Woe (100/1), Luis Van Zandt (100/1), Tormund (100/1), Darling Days (100/1)
The standard is set by Dancing On My Own and Entoucas who have both finished second in similar contests of late but they could both be bumping into a high class recruit in Grade One entered newcomer VISION D'HONNEUR for the all-conquering Elliott/Gigginstown team so he gets the vote here. Also interesting on his Irish debut is Klassical Dream for Willie Mullins who was fourth in a French Grade One last year so he too could prove smart and is highly respected.
- Vision D'Honneur
- Klassical Dream
- Dancing On My Own
Previous Winners
Prize Money
1st: €9,240.002nd: €2,865.003rd: €1,365.004th: €615.005th: €240.00
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