13:25 Limerick

Wednesday 26 December 2018

All12:2012:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:45

Guinness Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:26 | Winning time: 5m 8.3s

Arch Melody⁷⁹

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

33/1

Returned decent enough point-to-point figures in the spring but has generally struggled in a number of maiden hurdles since August. Very little to be positive about.

Form: 441788

Brave Light⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: C A Landers⁽⁵⁾| T: M J McDonagh

33/1

Well held in three beginners contests, the latest earlier this month, and overall record casts doubt on his ability to get competitive here.

Form: P455-0

Buckie Cullen³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: J M Moore| T: D Hickey

7/1

Dual point-to-point winner, caught the eye in a Gowran Park maiden hurdle last month finishing sixth of 19 on good ground. Capable of a big run.

Form: 141-F46

Deal With It²⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: H Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead

5/1

Disappointed in three bumpers starts since February but more expected on hurdling debut. Yard have had four winners at this meeting in the last three years and overall boast a 48% win and place strike rate.

Form: 444-

Buckbasil²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr T B Lyons⁽⁷⁾| T: E McCarthy

66/1

Well held in a couple of maiden hurdle starts last month and will need to raise overall profile to play a role here.

Form: 000

Design Matters⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Phillip Enright| T: R Tyner

10/1

Five race maiden without a win in three maiden hurdle starts to date. Has been running well in defeat and could be in the shake-up here.

Form: 984-60

Dont Go Mad¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: K J Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: C Byrnes| OR: 105

7/4

Well held in four career maiden hurdle starts since October. Yard have had three winners at this meeting in the last three years and overall boast a 50% win and place strike rate.

Form: 060589

Load Up Time¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott

25/1

Improvement on a couple of disappointing starts recently is not out of the question. Yard have had five winners at this meeting since 2015 and overall boast a 49% win and place strike rate.

Form: 008

Peter's Pence²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: C Brassil⁽⁵⁾| T: A J McNamara

66/1

Sent off at 100/1 in a couple of maiden hurdle starts last month running accordingly on each occasion. Hard to place any faith in.

Form: 000

Polished Steel¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 116

13/8

Has shown a modicum of ability in a number of runs over hurdles but suspicion he will do better when handicapping over further in due course.

Form: 5-744

Wolfofallstreets^t1¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell

33/1

Well held in three dour maiden hurdle starts since April. First time tongue-tie unlikely to bring about the required amount of improvement needed to play a role here.

Form: 67-90

Annie Clouds⁷⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁵⁾| T: P Neville

28/1

Nothing of note in a number of dismal maiden hurdle efforts to date. Well below par form looks set to continue in this contest.

Form: 40P

Coillte Eile^t1⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: A McCurtin⁽³⁾| T: Ms Debbie Hartnett

25/1

Point-to-point winner who has posted respectable efforts in a couple of maiden hurdle starts since September. Improvement a possibility with first-time tongue-tie.

Form: 31756

Duty Girl²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: M J Bolger| T: D Howard

66/1

Well held in three bumper starts to date, finishing last of 14 here last month. Hard to construct much of a case for the mare.

Form: 0-00

Lady Writer³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan| OR: 99

20/1

Has been left toiling in three career maiden hurdles starts since October and hard to see her making any significant impact.

Form: 1RP-050

Miss Shoe City¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: J S McGarvey| T: W P Mullins

25/1

Has been something of a disappointment so far in three career bumper starts. Leading yard have had 13 winners at this meeting in the last three years and overall boast a 49% win and place strike rate.

Form: 454

The Lady Coady^t1⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: R P Treacy⁽³⁾| T: E J Creighton

66/1

Struggling in a number of point-to-point starts recently and hard to see any improvement on first start under rules for over 12-months.

Form: UPFP7P

Forecasts

Polished Steel (13/8), Dont Go Mad (7/4), Deal With It (5/1), Buckie Cullen (7/1), Design Matters (10/1), Lady Writer (20/1), Coillte Eile (25/1), Miss Shoe City (25/1), Load Up Time (25/1), Annie Clouds (28/1), Wolfofallstreets (33/1), Arch Melody (33/1), Brave Light (33/1), Duty Girl (66/1), Buckbasil (66/1), Peter's Pence (66/1), The Lady Coady (66/1)

DEAL WITH IT has disappointed in three bumpers starts since February but more expected here and the Gigginstown House Stud gelding can get off the mark here on hurdling debut in a contest that won't take a lot of winning. The Henry De Bromhead trained five-year-old can add to the impressive record of the yard at this meeting over the last three years and can hold off the attentions of Polished Steel, Design Matters and Buckie Cullen.