13:35 Fairyhouse

Wednesday 13 February 2019

All13:3514:0514:3515:0515:3516:0516:35

Smart Money's On Coral Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:35 | Winning time: 3m 59.20s

Cloak Of Darkness¹⁸²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: B J Cooper| T: P Nolan

16/1

Showed promise in two starts on Flat for Mick Halford at up to 9.5f. First start over hurdles and debut for new connections but wouldn't have to be a world beater to figure if fit after six month break.

Form:

Colenso¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Brian Hayes| T: P T Flavin

100/1

Modest maiden on Flat for Andrew Balding, best effort from four outings when runner-up in Chepstow 1m2f handicap in July. Never better than mid division and ultimately well held when 13th on hurdling bow here last month.

Form: 0

Fallen Forest⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: C D Maxwell| T: W Durkan

33/1

Unplaced in all four starts on Flat but showed prmise when 11th of 28 on hurdles bow at Leopardstown in December, behind smart Sir Erec. Should strip fitter now and is one the livelier outsiders.

Form: 0

Great Vizier^t¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott

12/1

Some promise as a juvenile for Eve Johnson Houghton but had training issues and didn't race again on Flat. No more than average efforts so far for new handler in two starts over hurdles, latest when tongue tied for the first time.

Form: 70

Loughmask Lad

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: R P Treacy⁽³⁾| T: B Cawley

100/1

Alkhaadem gelding makes racecourse debut. Pedigree suggests stamina should be his strong suit in time and is related to some fair NH performers. Likely to be better for this experience though.

Form:

Novel Character⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: D P Holden⁽⁷⁾| T: J J Hanlon

100/1

Not much to write home about in two outings on Flat for Johnny Murtagh. Well beaten on only start so far over hurdles for current yard and much more is needed here.

Form: 0

Rocky Shores⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean Flanagan| T: D H Kelly

7/1

Fair maiden handicapper on Flat for Mick Channon at up to 1m2f. Ran well on hurdles bow for new handler when sixth of 28 to Sir Erec at Leopardstown and looks a player of stepping up on that effort.

Form: 6

Ten Bears¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: M J Bolger| T: A McGuinness

100/1

Showed little on Flat at up to 1m6f and struggled on first run over hurdles when distant last of 22 over C&D last month. Others readily preferred.

Form: 0

Way Back Home^t⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Mark Walsh| T: P Roche

7/4

Fair maiden handicapper on Flat at up to 8.5f. Set to do better over timber having run well all three starts so far and wa sa good third at Punchestown latest. Sure to be on the premises once again.

Form: U353

Zayriyan⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan

80/1

Placed in two of four starts on Flat for Dermot Weld, and shaped with some promise until weakening 2 out on hurdles debut at Punchestown just over six weeks ago. Stamina may be an issue but is worth considering.

Form: 0

Andalusa³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| BF

6/5

Two runs in France before joining current yard. Fine fourth to Sir Erec on debut at Leopardstwon and again ran creditably when third and beaten favourite at Punchestown last time in fair event. Has solid claims.

Form: 943

Deauville Society¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: D F O'Regan| T: T G McCourt

100/1

Unplaced in 11 starts on the Flat and hinted at ability although ultimately well beaten on hurdles debut at Naas last month. Should know more now and worth monitoring for any market interest.

Form: 0

Highway To Heaven¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Robbie Colgan| T: T G McCourt

50/1

Regressive maiden handicapper on Flat but led for a long way on first start over hurdles at Naas, only giving way after 2 out. May do better with more patient handling and is not without a chance.

Form: F0

Imperial Choice³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: C A Landers⁽⁵⁾| T: C Byrnes

66/1

Best run from seven on Flat when runner-up in Sandown 1m2f h'cap in September. Finished mid-division in fair maiden hurdle on debut and improved effort is not out of the question with that experience to draw on.

Form: 0

Thefaithfulindian³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: S G McDermott| T: A A Howard

100/1

Frozen Power filly who looked slow on only start on Flat and little better in two starts so far over timber. Very hard to enthuse over.

Form: 00

Volatile Lady¹⁶²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Slevin| T: B W Duke

66/1

Moderate form on Flat at up to 1m4f. Should stay but hard to see her being good enough to land this on her hurdling bow.

Form:

Non-Runners

Swiss Cottage¹¹¹

Weight: 11-7| Age: 4

T: K Thornton J: Reserve 1

Flash De Clerval

Weight: 11-7| Age: 4

T: Miss E Doyle J: Reserve 2

Nathaniel's Dream

Weight: 11-7| Age: 4

T: A J Martin J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Andalusa (6/5), Way Back Home (7/4), Rocky Shores (7/1), Great Vizier (12/1), Cloak Of Darkness (16/1), Nathaniel's Dream (16/1), Flash De Clerval (16/1), Swiss Cottage (25/1), Fallen Forest (33/1), Highway To Heaven (50/1), Volatile Lady (66/1), Imperial Choice (66/1), Zayriyan (80/1), Colenso (100/1), Deauville Society (100/1), Thefaithfulindian (100/1), Ten Bears (100/1), Loughmask Lad (100/1), Novel Character (100/1)

There are a number of potential improvers in this field but ROCKY SHORES appeared to run very well on his first taste of hurdling and may prove to be a fair sort at this game. He is narrowly preffered to Andalusa who ran well but found a few too good when favourite at Punchestown last time. Way Back Home won't be far away, and Deauville Society and Highway To Heaven may do better this time, while hurdles debutants Cloak Of Darkness and Swiss Cottage are others worth keeping an eye on.