14:50 Clonmel

Tuesday 26 March 2019

All14:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:5017:20

Ardfinnan Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 4m 52.2s

Chapati¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: R P Treacy⁽³⁾| T: J Halley

6/1

Well held both starts in this sphere so far, falling on debut at Naas in January and finishing midfield since at Thurles (2m, good to yielding). Will have to sharpen hurdling technique.

Form: FC04F8

Felicity's Choice^t1¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: C J Orr⁽⁵⁾| T: J Dullea

33/1

Mahler gelding who has been tailed off in bumper/maiden hurdle and then pulled up at Limerick (2m, heavy) earlier this month on second start over timber, hard to give a chance to.

Form: 00P

Megalomaniac⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead

2/1

Took first step in the right direction when 14L fifth of 11 behind An Fraoch Mor in 2m heavy-ground Wexford maiden hurdle on St Patrick's Day on fourth start and may make more progress now.

Form: 8-805

Noureev^p1¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: M A Enright| T: G O'Loughlin

7/2

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 in three runs (two over hurdles) to this point.

Form: 086

Costalita¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 87

25/1

Gold Well filly, dam was a winner over hurdles. No show in three maiden hurdles (including here) and didn't shape any better in Gowran Park handicap (2m4f, soft; 50-1) latest.

Form: 0080

Georgia Grace^p²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Phillip Enright| T: Miss H McLoughlin| OR: 80

50/1

Has made eight starts over timber without threatening. Various headgear has been tried (cheekpieces back today) but well beaten in handicap/maiden here since the turn of the year and makes little appeal currently.

Form: 04-088P

Gracious Gamble^h²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Liam Quinlan⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss E Lalor

4/1

Georgia Grace Hints of promise in three starts in bumpers during 2018 and another workmanlike effort when 17L fifth of 16 here on hurdles bow in January over 2m3½f. Brought down and unseated in two runs since, would need to improve to land a place.

Form: 5085BU

Lady V^h³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott

8/1

Jeremy filly out of a Kings Best mare related to Our Conor, Jer's Girl and money-spinning winner Unison. Well held on all four bumper starts so far, including in first-time hood at Thurles last month. Headgear retained for hurdles introduction.

Form: 6-054

Lizavoura^t1⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: A McCurtin⁽³⁾| T: B O'Keeffe

66/1

Milan mare who appears to be struggling in a number of disciplines, including when suffering a heavy defeats in pair of maiden hurdles here recently (twice sent off 100-1).

Form: 0/P-P00

Midnight Surprise⁵⁸³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: J J Slevin| T: S J Treacy| OR: 87

16/1

Seven-race maiden hasn't been sighted for 584 days. Stable have gone three years without a winner, but the very best of her for would give her a squeak if ready to go.

Form: 60/4P06-

Non-Runners

Chin'up²⁷⁶

Weight: 11-12| Age: 5

T: Miss E Doyle J: Sean Flanagan

Ask Your Mother³⁷

Weight: 11-5| Age: 5

T: M J Smith J: A W Short

Do As You Wish⁴⁰

Weight: 11-5| Age: 5

T: A Mullins J: D E Mullins

Forecasts

Megalomaniac (2/1), Noureev (7/2), Gracious Gamble (4/1), Chapati (6/1), Lady V (8/1), Chin'up (10/1), Midnight Surprise (16/1), Do As You Wish (20/1), Costalita (25/1), Ask Your Mother (25/1), Felicity's Choice (33/1), Georgia Grace (50/1), Lizavoura (66/1)

Not a strong contest, seemingly, and a chance is taken that the jumping of hurdles will bring about more from LADY V, well held so far in bumpers. She's bred for this challenge and Keith Donohue is in excellent form (4-13). Megalomaniac took a step in the right direction at Wexford recently and can have a say while the returning Chin'up and Midnight Surprise are worth monitoring in the betting.