12:00 Limerick

Friday 28 December 2018

All12:0012:3013:0513:4014:1014:4515:2015:50

Connolly's RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 12:01 | Winning time: 6m 5.4s

Castlehume Gold^h1²⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: A Ring| T: R K Watson

50/1

Modest form in a number of disappointing point-to-point starts. Market possibly the best guide on rules debut in first-time hood.

Form: 7P48-

Lord Schnitzel^t1³⁸⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: S G McDermott| T: S K Ryder

20/1

Getaway gelding out of a Norwich mare, seventh of nine, tailed off 102L in a Navan bumper when last seen over 12-months ago. Unlikely to play a part in the finish.

Form: 7-

Gigiplan Two Seven^p1,t⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: C Brassil⁽⁵⁾| T: M Brassil

2/1

Generally, well held in a series of disappointing maiden hurdle starts since June. First-time cheekpieces could bring a turnaround in fortunes.

Form: 2-27446

Melly And Me²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: J M Moore| T: N Meade| OR: 109

5/4

Solid and consistent form at Fairyhouse and Down Royal recently hitting the frame and not beaten far on each occasion. Can be expected to improve.

Form: 8-22423

Life Isfor Living^h1²⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: O McKiernan| OR: 104

4/1

Below-par form in a number of gloomy efforts in the spring. Back from a break, in first time hood and others look better suited to the conditions.

Form: 5090-6

Mason Jar¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: D F O'Regan| T: Miss H McLoughlin

8/1

Not disgraced in a couple of bumpers at Thurles and Punchestown recently. Market likely to reveal expectations on hurdling introduction.

Form: 3044

Rainbow King²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: S J Gray⁽³⁾| T: J M Barrett

40/1

Nothing of note in a 3m point-to-point start in April before a heavy defeat in a Fairyhouse bumper earlier this month. Plenty to prove on hurdling debut.

Form: 59

Mixed Virtue

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

40/1

Carlotamix out of a Jimble mare. Possibly one to avoid on debut from a yard without a winner from 93 hurdle starts this term.

Form:

Wild Rumour³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: L Fowler

25/1

Not much to shout about in a Cork bumper and a Punchestown maiden hurdle defeat last month. Looks vulnerable in this company.

Form: P-039

Forecasts

Melly And Me (5/4), Gigiplan Two Seven (2/1), Life Isfor Living (4/1), Mason Jar (8/1), Lord Schnitzel (20/1), Wild Rumour (25/1), Rainbow King (40/1), Mixed Virtue (40/1), Castlehume Gold (50/1)

The Noel Meade-trained MELLY AND ME can get off the mark for connections at the eighth time of asking over hurdles and for a yard that boasts a 31% win and place strike rate at this meeting in the last three years. The five year-old can build on a number of promising efforts since August and see off the challenge from Gigiplan Two Seven in first-time cheekpieces and interesting hurdling debutante Mason Jar.