15:25 Thurles

Thursday 7 February 2019

All13:1513:4514:1514:5015:2516:0016:35

Holycross Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 5m 48.70s

Bootlegger^p1²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Paul Townend| T: E J O'Grady

8/1

Minor improvement from first start to second though ultimately well beaten on both starts. First-time cheekpieces unlikely to do the trick and may be of more interest when handicapping.

Form: 95

Castlehume Gold⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: A Ring| T: R K Watson

100/1

Modest form in a number of poor point-to-point efforts in the last 12 months before a desolate display on maiden hurdle debut at Limerick in December.

Form: 7P48-8

Extrapolate^t1⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott

4/1

Had run well in a series of bumper efforts before fourth of 15 in a hot maiden hurdle at Tramore in December. This looks an easier assignment in first-time tongue-tie and may appreciate the return to a quicker surface.

Form: 525-224

Go Hard Or Go Home¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: P Byrne

100/1

Modest form in a number of point-to-point starts since February and well down the field on maiden hurdle debut at Fairyhouse last month. By Scorpion and likely to need time.

Form: P72-0

Mossy White¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan

100/1

Dead heated in a December point-to-point before disappointing in a couple of maiden hurdle spins since the turn of the year. Step back up in trip should suit at least.

Form: 45-5180

Papal Present²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Brian Hayes| T: M Winters

33/1

Decent form in point-to-points but needs to improve on sole start under Rules in May. Market likely to be the best guide on hurdling debut.

Form: 41-02

Smokin' Vinnie^h1⁹⁷⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: Robbie Colgan| T: M A Gunn

100/1

Last seen in the point-to-point field in June 2016 when pulled up, though had shown some ability prior to that effort. Fitted with first-time hood here and unlikely to play a part in the finish.

Form: P34P/

Spyglass Hill⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 118

8/11

Second of 18 beaten a little over 3L on handicap hurdle debut when last seen in December and looks dangerous dropping back in to maiden company here. Sets the standard.

Form: 2-5332

Trappist Monk⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: J M Moore| T: N Meade

4/1

Plenty to like about his maiden hurdle debut at Down Royal when last seen in December having previously shown fair form in bumpers. May come on for that effort and not one to rule out here.

Form: 3-43

Port Sunshine¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: D J McInerney⁽³⁾| T: J R Finn

100/1

Gelding by Urban Poet who was tailed off 149L on debut in a Navan maiden hurdle contest last month on yielding ground. Hard to construct much of a case for him here.

Form: 0

Darling Miss²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: L P Dempsey| T: G Elliott

33/1

Will have disappointed connections on debut in a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle last month finishing down the field, beaten 35L. May need more time given her sire.

Form: 330

Pleasant Hill¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: D P Holden⁽⁷⁾| T: L Young

100/1

Point-to-point winner who has struggled in a couple of maiden hurdle spins under Rules. Others look to be progressing at a quicker rate.

Form: 1-80

Elaines Dirha¹⁰⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Gavin Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: T P O'Connor

100/1

Well beaten in both career bumper starts to date at Roscommon and Cork. Requires a chunk of improvement on hurdling debut to play a role.

Form: 05

Johanna Yeats²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Phillip Enright| T: J J Walsh

100/1

By Yeats out of a Shernazar mare. Well beaten and no impression in two maiden hurdle starts to date. Unlikely to play a part in the finish here.

Form: 00

Knockanora Lady²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: I J McCarthy| T: S Curling

66/1

Beaten 40L in a Punchestown bumper on racecourse debut last month. Best watched on hurdling debut.

Form: 9

Non-Runners

Castle Oliver³⁷

Weight: 11-10| Age: 5

T: J P O'Brien J: Mark Walsh

Forecasts

Spyglass Hill (8/11), Extrapolate (4/1), Trappist Monk (4/1), Castle Oliver (4/1), Bootlegger (8/1), Darling Miss (33/1), Papal Present (33/1), Knockanora Lady (66/1), Pleasant Hill (100/1), Castlehume Gold (100/1), Mossy White (100/1), Johanna Yeats (100/1), Elaines Dirha (100/1), Go Hard Or Go Home (100/1), Smokin' Vinnie (100/1), Port Sunshine (100/1)

Winner of a Fairyhouse bumper last month, CASTLE OLIVER can continue the fine form of the Joseph O'Brien yard here by getting off the mark over hurdles at the second time of asking. The solid and consistent, Henry De Bromhead-trained Spyglass Hill can perform well on his fifth start over timber and can hit the frame along with Extrapolate from the Gordon Elliott yard and the Noel Meade-trained Trappist Monk.