13:55 Gowran Park

Saturday 9 March 2019

All13:2513:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

BetVictor Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:57 | Winning time: 4m 4.7s

Alcatraz¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: B J Cooper| T: P Nolan

100/1

Decent on the Flat; won over 1m-1m2f, but poor showings in three previous outings over hurdles. Big improvement required.

Form: P/09

Bizzario²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Slevin| T: P Maher

100/1

Mediocre 65-rated handicapper on the Flat for trainer Mark Johnston. Mid-division on return from 41 months off and much better required.

Form: 0

Bronson In Blue⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: S G McDermott| T: G P Cromwell

100/1

Took a backward step last time having set a modest standard on his first two starts.Hard to be impressed.

Form: 770

Castello Sforza⁵⁸⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: J S McGarvey| T: P Roche| OR: 135| D

25/1

High class bumper horse that was fourth to Ballyandy in the 2016 Champion Bumper. Showed some promise in maiden hurdles but back from a lengthy break with fitness to prove.

Form: 43320/3-

Good Ol Days^h1

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: O McKiernan

66/1

€20,000 purchase as a three-year-old by Milan out of a half-sister to Gold Cup winner Bob's Worth. Trainer does well here so worth noting in the market.

Form:

La Tektor^t1⁷¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: D F O'Regan| T: A J Martin

25/1

Showed more promise than had been the case in the point-to-point ranks when 11L second on bumper debut. Looks a chaser in the making but worth noting any market moves in a race lacking depth.

Form: R4/2

Need For Gold⁷¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Brian Hayes| T: E Cawley

100/1

Home-bred gelded son of Gold Well out of a mare who was placed over hurdles. Well held on a couple of bumper starts and he did not jump well at Limerick.

Form: 0-80

Papal Present³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁵⁾| T: M Winters

100/1

Winning point-to-pointer who was last of ten on bumper debut and looking held when falling at Thurles last month.

Form: 41-02F

The Gunner Murphy^t¹⁰¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien

6/4

Looked useful when landing his bumper and his last run revealed he can fulfil that promise. However, having taken time to change gear the 6f drop in trip is a worry.

Form: 12P-2

The Shunter⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: J M Moore| T: J O Clifford

50/1

Has shown some ability in bumpers and over hurdles but not enough to say he will be good enough in ths company.

Form: 3-40345

Tomasbar⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: Bernard Crowley

100/1

Has shown nothing when jumping moderately in three novice events when starting at 100/1 and easy to look elsewhere again.

Form: P00

Vent D'Automne³¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins

10/1

Looked a thorough stayer when landing a weak looking bumper at Ballinrobe in May. Stable also have Voix Des Tiep and Queens Boulevard and the jockey bookings look revealing.

Form: 2/2-1

Voix Des Tiep⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| D

11/8

Has appeared to be outbattled on both hurdle starts having travelled well. Drop to 2m looks interesting and yard have taken two of the last three renewals. Paul Townend, on board for last two starts, prefers Queens Boulevard.

Form: 3152-22

Creasted Court²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: I J McCarthy| T: M Winters

100/1

Failed to buid on a promising debut last time but possible she found 2m3f too far. Has an outside chance in a race lacking quality.

Form: 67

Merry At Heart²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: D J McInerney⁽³⁾| T: M Winters

100/1

By Mahler out of a Broken Hearted mare. Sister to genuine hurdler and decent chaser Ornua. Tailed off on debut and evidently requires more time.

Form: 0

Peterstown⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Donagh Meyler| T: T Gibney

66/1

Showed her first signs of ability last time, but like a few in this is probably ready for a stiffer test.

Form: 3-7P95

Queens Boulevard^h1⁶²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| D

8/1

Landed her first two bumpers but has made little progress since and finished behind a couple of 100/1 shots last time. Paul Townend clearly has faith in her and hopefully the hood and softer ground will make a difference.

Form: 11P65

Rosmarine^t²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: P E Corbett⁽³⁾| T: Miss E McCutcheon

100/1

Achieved next to nothing in a bumper and five flat races before finishing tailed off on both hurdling starts. Not good enough.

Form: 6-00

Well Set Up⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Ricky Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: M Fahey| D

10/1

Had plenty of subsequent winners behind when springing a 20/1 shock on debut in January. Sold for £95,000 shortly after and highly tried on stable debut. Has her first run over hurdles in an ordinary looking race so worth a market check.

Form: 1-5

Non-Runners

Bay Ambition⁴²⁶

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: R Tyner J: Phillip Enright

Hansom Lady

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: S J Treacy J: Reserve 1

Dunbar¹⁹⁷

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: E Doyle J: Reserve 2

My First Symphony⁶

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: Patrick Cronin J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Voix Des Tiep (11/8), The Gunner Murphy (6/4), Queens Boulevard (8/1), Well Set Up (10/1), Vent D'Automne (10/1), Bay Ambition (14/1), La Tektor (25/1), Castello Sforza (25/1), The Shunter (50/1), Peterstown (66/1), Good Ol Days (66/1), Creasted Court (100/1), Bronson In Blue (100/1), Papal Present (100/1), Tomasbar (100/1), Rosmarine (100/1), Merry At Heart (100/1), Need For Gold (100/1), Alcatraz (100/1), Bizzario (100/1)

Willie Mullins has a good record in this and has a strong hand with three runners. Voix Des Tiep has the best form but his attitude has been questioned and Paul Townend has deserted him in favour of QUEENS BOULEVARD. The mare looked useful in winning two bumpers on testing ground but three runs since on a sounder surface have been disappointing. Conditions will be more favourable here and she has most to fear from The Gunner Murphy who made a good impression last time, whilst also looking ready for a much longer trip than his. Well Set Up has solid bumper form and looks interesting on her hurdling debut.