12:25 Limerick

Saturday 29 December 2018

All12:2513:0013:3514:1014:4515:2015:50

BRC McMahon Reinforcements Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 12:26 | Winning time: 5m 6.30s

Last Minute Man²²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott

10/1

Appeared to be improving in the spring before a desolate effort when 10th of 15 beaten 57L at Clonmel in May. Worth a check in the market for leading connections.

Form: 1/22-0

Voix Des Tiep²⁴⁷

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

2/1

Won a Thurles bumper over 2m in March before disappointing connections with a couple of defeats burst the Voix Du Nord geldings bubble. Likely to be well schooled for hurdling debut.

Form: 2/33152-

Where Eagles Dare²⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| C

4/1

Winner of a bumper here in April before finding the step up to Grade 1 level too much at the Punchestown festival later that month. Liable to be ready for hurdling debut.

Form: 319-

Atlantic Shore³¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Brian Hayes| T: P Fenton

33/1

Solid form in a couple of point-to-point starts around the turn of the year. Market likely to reveal expectations on rules debut.

Form: 21-

Buttevant Boy^h1

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: D J McInerney⁽³⁾| T: M Winters

66/1

Gelding by Wareed out of a Be My Native who already appears in a hood for hurdling debut in this contest. Looks a long term prospect.

Form:

Minella Indo²⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: H De Bromhead

5/4

Third of 13 on rules debut in a Punchestown bumper over 2m in April. Stable in flying form at the moment and one to consider.

Form: 13-

Scorpion Boy²⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Danny Mullins| T: Ms M Mullins

33/1

Gelding by Scorpion out of a Supreme Leader, not seen since finishing down the field in a Punchestown bumper in April. Will possibly come on for the experience here.

Form: 0-

Small Farm²³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| BF

14/1

Will have disappointed leading connections in a number of dismal bumper efforts towards the end of last season. Worth another chance on hurdling debut.

Form: 1/P2-5

Amber And Black⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: A McCurtin⁽³⁾| T: J J Walsh

100/1

Not much to shout about in a couple of maiden hurdle starts to date at Galway and Cork recently. Looks vulnerable in this company.

Form: 707

Beeverstown Beauty²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Phillip Enright| T: M A Cahill

100/1

Finished down the field when never nearer in a Navan maiden hurdle over 2m4f earlier this month on debut. Hard to construct much of case for the mare here.

Form: 316-0

Mollyella²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: M J Bolger| T: S Byrne

100/1

Daughter of Mahler out of a Supreme Leader mare. Well beaten and no impression on maiden hurdle debut at Navan earlier this month. Needs to show significant progress in this company.

Form: 0

Non-Runners

Ventura Boulevard⁴⁷

Weight: 11-4| Age: 6

T: S J Mahon J: Robbie Colgan

Forecasts

Minella Indo (5/4), Voix Des Tiep (2/1), Where Eagles Dare (4/1), Last Minute Man (10/1), Small Farm (14/1), Atlantic Shore (33/1), Scorpion Boy (33/1), Ventura Boulevard (50/1), Buttevant Boy (66/1), Beeverstown Beauty (100/1), Mollyella (100/1), Amber And Black (100/1)

Experience could be the key to the opener here with the Paul and Clare Rooney-owned LAST MINUTE MAN winning at the fourth time of asking over hurdles for trainer Gordon Elliott. Trainers in form this week, Willie Mullins, Noel Meade and Henry De Bromhead are represented by Voix Des Tiep, Where Eagles Dare and Minella Indo, all deserving consideration in this tight contest.