13:50 Navan
Sunday 17 February 2019
All13:5014:2014:5515:2516:0016:3017:00
Ladbrokes Where The Nation Plays Maiden Hurdle
- 5YO plus | 2m | Yielding (Good in places) | 18 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 4m 6.30s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Six race maiden including three heavy defeats over hurdles since debut last month. Yet to start a race over timber at odds of less than 100/1. First time tongue-tie unlikely to bring about the required amount of improvement needed to play a role.
Winner on the level in a Tramore bumper last summer. Well held but given a hard time when finding no extra two out on hurdling debut at Naas last month. Any market move would be worth noting.
Won an Irish point-to-point easily in 2016, but rules form so far has been poor. Others look to be progressing at a quicker rate so gelding needs to up his game soon.
Milan gelding out of a Be My Native mare. Cost €10,00 as a foal and produced plenty of promise on debut finishing third of 11 in a Leopardstown bumper in December. Market likely to reveal expectations on hurdling debut.
Without a win in five hurdle starts to date, yet to get within 8L of the winner on each occasion including a 26L defeat here over 2m4f when last seen in September. Still looking no nearer to a breakthrough success.
Gelding by Flemensfirth who finished second in a point-to-point in December 2017 before making his debut under rules over 12 months later when finishing 73L adrift of The Big Dog at Gowran Park last month. Stable in form but still hard to fancy.
Very moderate in four Point-to-points in 2017 and beaten 25L following a break of over 12 months finishing seventh of 29 on rules debut here last month. Impossible to fancy against some of these rivals.
Impressive winner of a Killarney bumper last May and subsequently acquired for £150,000. Yet to repay that investment in three maiden hurdle defeats but running with promise on each occasion. Entitled to be in the mix.
Well held when finishing down the field in a couple of bumpers last year for previous connections. Finished well down the field beaten 54L on hurdling debut on first start for new yard when never a factor at Naas earlier this month. Others preferred
Took a while for the penny to drop on debut at Punchestown but stayed on in taking fashion to finish second of nine before landing a Cork bumper last month. One of the more likely types on hurdling debut.
Gelding by Oscar out of a Presenting mare. Dam, a Point-to-point winner was a half-sister to the very smart Oscar Whisky. Needs to improve on debut run here last month over 2m4f, well beaten before three out. Easy to look elsewhere.
Gelding by Fame And Glory out of a Saffron Walden mare. Cost €10,000 as a three-year-old. Wears a hood on hurdling debut and possibly best watched here.
By Jeremy out of a Erins Isle mare. Sent off as a 100/1 outsider on debut at Punchestown last month and running accordingly finishing 66L adrift of the winner. Plenty to find in this company.
Soldier Of Fortune gelding cost €80,000 as a three-year-old as the first foal out of a German Listed placed 1m1f-1m2f winner. Well held on both hurdle starts to date and others look to have more scope for improvement.
Poor form in a series of dismal efforts on the level in three career bumpers starts last year. Sire has his fair share of hurdle winners and could be one to follow when sent handicapping.
Encouraging point-to-point form last year has yet to be replicated following a number of heavy defeats at Punchestown since December. Drop in trip may suit but hasn't shown enough to be of interest here.
€52,000 as three-year-old and a half-brother to decent winners Mystic Theatre and Morello Royale. Needs to tidy up his hurdling following a mistake-filled debut here in December beaten 81L finishing 16th of 21.
Well held in three career maiden hurdle starts to date beaten over 70L on each occasion. Plenty to work on based on what the Duke Of Marmalade gelding has shown so far.
Has been left toiling in a couple of maiden hurdles since her debut in November including a 124L defeat at Punchestown last week. Hard to construct much of a case for her here.
Hampered at the third flight but never nearer and always towards the rear on debut in a Naas maiden hurdle earlier this month, eventually beaten over 50L. Hard to see her making any significant impact.
Has produced a number of inadequate runs in a couple of bumpers and on maiden hurdle debut at Down Royal last month. First time tongue-tie unlikely to bring about the required amount of improvement needed to play a role here.
Forecasts
Raya Time (6/4), Behind The Curtain (4/1), Milan Native (7/1), On Call (14/1), Dumhach Thra (14/1), Golden Drumlee (14/1), Mon Storm (16/1), Thegoaheadman (16/1), Table The Motion (16/1), Outside The Ring (16/1), Noureev (16/1), Time Of Day (25/1), Honourbeforeglory (25/1), Dawson's Cottage (50/1), Blackyellowred (50/1), Rio Gold (50/1), Ask Your Mother (50/1), Mighty Jeremy (50/1), Willwams (50/1), Tamakaze (50/1), Sharp As A Pin (100/1)
There doesn't appear to be a great deal of pace on here and it may be left to Outside The Ring to take the field along in the early stages which may prove a positive for the Henry De Bromhead-trained RAYA TIME. The Al Namix gelding has been running well in defeat recently and can get off the mark here at the fourth attempt over hurdles with conditions to suit. Given their running styles, Dumhach Thra and Behind The Curtain have ground and trip in favour, both are more than capable of hitting the frame in this company.
- Raya Time
- Dumhach Thra
- Behind The Curtain
Previous Winners
Prize Money
1st: €8,316.002nd: €2,579.003rd: €1,229.004th: €554.005th: €216.00
MOST READ RACING
Follow & Track
Your favourite horses, jockeys and trainers with My StableLog in
Discover Sporting Life Plus benefits
