13:25 Cork

Saturday 5 January 2019

All12:2012:5013:2513:5514:3015:0515:40

2019 Annual Membership Now Available Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:26 | Winning time: 6m 29.4s

Castlebrook²⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: R M Power| T: J J Mangan| D

9/4

Point-to-point winner in 2017 subsequently placed in all four races under rules, two bumpers and two hurdle races. First run of the season here but should make presence felt and looks sure to go well.

Form: 12/23-2

Clinton Hill²⁹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| BF

6/4

Flemensfirth gelding out of a Saddler's Hall mare related to a host of smart winners including Tidal Bay, The Last Samuri and Imperial Commander won one and was placed in two more bumpers. Bred to stay this trip and merits maximum respect here.

Form: 212-

Getaday³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny Mullins| T: T J Nagle-Jr| OR: 104

10/1

Staying on third at Clonmel last time out in a 2m1f maiden left the impression he definitely would appreciate a step up in trip. Stayed 3m in point-to-points so trip should be within compass and has genuine claims now.

Form: P34-053

Invincible Cave^p1¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| D

6/1

£210,000 buy after winning lone point-to-point at Bartlemy. Won a bumper at Navan first time under rules but only fifth on hurdles bow as favourite and fourth since. Likely prove a different proposition now upped in trip so not ruled out.

Form: 114-54

Light Myles Ahead²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: P J McGrath⁽⁷⁾| T: P Stafford

100/1

Well-beaten in two bumpers and a 2m4f maiden hurdle to date. May fare better now upped to 3m but not seen nearly enough to recommend at present.

Form: 560

Mossy White^p1²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan| D

66/1

Got up on the line to force a dead-heat in fourth and final point-to-point in December. Trip should hold no fears but others with similar backgrounds boast better overall form.

Form: 45-51

Tinnehinch²¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: D F O'Regan| T: J Nash| D

66/1

Returned after an 1120 days break to win an Oldcastle point-to-point and also finished second next time out. Belated debut under rules here and likelihood is that he will struggle.

Form: PPP2/12

Barntown^h¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: C W J Farrell

33/1

Showed ability in four bumpers culminating in a 21L third at Thurles in December. Interesting decision to go over 3m first time over hurdles but best watched on balance.

Form: 58-63

Eurobot²⁷²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| D

11/2

Well-backed and duly obliged in an Andoversford point-to-point, winning by 20L. Bought for £105,000 afterwards and is well related for such contests so expecting a bold bid for last year's winning trainer.

Form: 1-

Flagsofourfathers³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: J M Moore| T: N Meade

66/1

€30,000 son of Doyen was easy to back on debut at Punchestown and finished 12th of 21. Connections teamed up to win this last year but he looks stable second string to Eurobot.

Form: 0

Angelic Moon²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: C D Maxwell| T: Mrs S Dawson| D

100/1

Loughanmore point-to-point winner in fourth such race was 100/1 and beaten 52L in a Navan maiden hurdle over 2m4f on rules bow. Up against it here.

Form: F-P010

Dare To See^h1⁶⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: W J Martin

100/1

54L seventh of nine in a Wexford bumper in October, her lone start. Changed yards since and goes up dramatically in trip for hurdles debut in a first-time hood. Can only recommend a watching brief.

Form: 7

Johnnys Girl⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: A E Lynch| T: N Lee| D

100/1

Point-to-point winner beaten 74L and 51L in two 13th placed hurdle races over 2m4f. Longer trip may help but not sufficiently for her to be involved.

Form: 133P-00

The Full Office²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr A T Feeney⁽⁷⁾| T: G Ahern| OR: 83

100/1

Unplaced in four starts over hurdles and pulled-up before two out at Tramore last time out over 2m5f. Better chances in handicaps.

Form: PP-775P

Forecasts

Clinton Hill (6/4), Castlebrook (9/4), Eurobot (11/2), Invincible Cave (6/1), Getaday (10/1), Barntown (33/1), Tinnehinch (66/1), Mossy White (66/1), Flagsofourfathers (66/1), Johnnys Girl (100/1), The Full Office (100/1), Angelic Moon (100/1), Light Myles Ahead (100/1), Dare To See (100/1)

In what could be quite a warm contest the vote goes to CLINTON HILL for Willie Mullins. He showed plenty in three bumpers and has a very likable pedigree for staying trips over obstacles so could easily be able to win this at the first time of asking. Expensive Gigginstown purchases Invincible Cave and Eurobot both have possibilities here and they rate the biggest dangers.