13:50 Cork

Monday 22 April 2019

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:2017:50

Racing Home For Easter Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 6m 13.30s

Connard^p1⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr N McParlan⁽³⁾| T: A L T Moore

7/1

Best effort so far came in 2m4f Gowran Park beginners chase last month. First time jumping hurdles in public, needs to improve on form shown previously.

Form: 6-UUF73

Diamond Turf^t³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: K Brogan⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott

13/2

Expensive to follow in two hurdles starts last year after winning a bumper at Navan; very easy to back on return at Limerick (2m6f, heavy; 20-1) last month but ran sound race in third of 16. Not written off yet.

Form: F/31-243

Lessofdnegativity¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D P Holden⁽⁷⁾| T: A J McNamara

33/1

Stamina-laden pedigree for this son of Westerner out of dam of Scottish National winner Joe Farrell. Chasing looks his game in due course; 66-1 and never threatened in 2m3f maiden hurdle at Limerick recently. Longer trip to suit.

Form: 7

Lord Schnitzel^t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: S A Shortall| T: M J Smith

6/1

Ran well (second) in 2m6f Limerick heavy-ground maiden hurdle on debut for this trainer last month. Backwards step since at Fairyhouse but well worth a try over this new trip.

Form: 7-628

Our Dark Horse^p1³³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr M C O'Donovan⁽⁷⁾| T: Eamon Courtney

100/1

Has appeared overwhelmed since returning to the track following a two year break in a couple runs at Tipperary and when beaten 35L at Ballinrobe in May. Others preferred on latest return.

Form: 42/4P

Shetland Bus^t²⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: M J Stenson⁽⁷⁾| T: P Nolan| D

8/1

Point-to-points winner, improved for step up in distance when beaten a neck in C&D maiden hurdle in July. Off since, form of that race hasn't exactly been solid. Watch betting.

Form: 3-13562

Southern Nights¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr L P Gilligan⁽⁷⁾| T: W P Mullins

9/2

Disappointing in bumper and on maiden hurdle bow, was sent off favourite for 2m4f Wexford maiden hurdle early this month and held the lead when coming down at the sixth flight. Could be more to come.

Form: 230-54F

Where Eagles Dare^b1,t³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: E Walsh⁽⁷⁾| T: N Meade| OR: 123

9/2

Heavy-ground Limerick bumper winner a year ago, just one positive run from three so far over timber, when fourth of 29 at Navan (2m4f, good to yielding) in January. Blinkers added now.

Form: 319-746

Big Tommy⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss E Doyle

100/1

Flemensfirth gelding. Half-brother to unreliable but fairly useful hurdler/chaser Newsworthy. Tailed off on debut at Naas last month, big step forward needed.

Form: 0

Camden Village¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: J R Wildman⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott

14/1

Gelding by Fame And Glory out of a Moscow Society mare. Half-brother to 2m4f - 3m1f hurdle/chase winner Green Wizard. Finished 35L down on winner in Fairyhouse maiden (2m4f) recently, though beat home plenty of 24-runner field.

Form: 7

Da Vinci Rock²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Miss M O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: E M O'Sullivan

100/1

€70,000 three-year-old. Half-brother to three winners in France up to 2m 2f. Has finished a little way down the field on a couple of recent starts at Leopardstown and Limerick. Needs to improve significantly to trouble the judge.

Form: 50

Honourbeforeglory^h³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: C D Maxwell| T: E Griffin

100/1

Gelding by Fame And Glory out of a Saffron Walden mare. Cost €10,000 as a three-year-old. Achieved nothing of note in three career starts to date over hurdles. Others look more convincing.

Form: 0PP

Hourie²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: P J Vaughan⁽⁵⁾| T: J W Nicholson

125/1

Arakan gelding, failed to complete in two point-to-points outings so far, possibly best watched going under rules for the first time.

Form: FP

Spoken For^p³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: A McCurtin⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington

20/1

Signs of ability in two starts so far including when 29L sixth on hurdles debut at Punchestown (2m4f, good-to-yielding) in February. No improvement here sporting cheekpieces (discarded) since and needs to find more upped in trip.

Form: 065

The Artful Roger³⁰

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

50/1

Westerner gelding is a brother to two winners, including bumper winner/useful 3m hurdle winner The Westerner Boy. Well seen off in a couple of maiden hurdle starts to date and others have more scope for improvement.

Form: 6788

The Second Coming^t¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: I J McCarthy| T: D Hogan

11/2

Catterick bumper winner in December (first start under rules) and shaped with promise on debut for this trainer at Fairyhouse (2m4f, good to yielding) this month in finishing fourth of 24; scope for better upped to 3m.

Form: 714

Gracious Gamble²⁷

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

80/1

Four starts in maiden hurdles, all over shorter, haven't yielded strong signs a win is imminent. Needs this trip to eke out plenty improvement.

Form: 085BU7

O Supreme¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: John J Fitzpatrick⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss D O'Shea

125/1

Makes little appeal on pedigree nor on the lack of promise in an 80L defeat on debut at Punchestown and follow-up fall at Limerick early this month.

Form: 0R

Clouncerna¹⁹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Gavin Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: J R Barry

66/1

Failed to build on promising bumper debut at Cork in August with three poor runs afterwards, back from a layoff with plenty to prove (Second Reserve).

Form: 4589

Non-Runners

Aloysius Parker¹

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: R K Watson J: Sarah Kavanagh

Castlebrook¹⁰⁷

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: J J Mangan J: Mr E P O'Brien

Wetbehindtheears¹

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: J G Bennett J: Reserve 1

Peterstown¹⁵

Weight: 11-5| Age: 7

T: T Gibney J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Where Eagles Dare (9/2), Southern Nights (9/2), Castlebrook (9/2), The Second Coming (11/2), Lord Schnitzel (6/1), Diamond Turf (13/2), Connard (7/1), Shetland Bus (8/1), Camden Village (14/1), Spoken For (20/1), Lessofdnegativity (33/1), Aloysius Parker (33/1), The Artful Roger (50/1), Clouncerna (66/1), Gracious Gamble (80/1), Our Dark Horse (100/1), Da Vinci Rock (100/1), Honourbeforeglory (100/1), Big Tommy (100/1), Hourie (125/1), O Supreme (125/1)

Shetland Bus was only just denied over C&D last summer and commands respected back from a layoff but the form of that contest hasn't been strong and he is opposed now. Diamond Turf has proved an expensive conveyance for his supporters so far but may come good before long. SOUTHERN NIGHTS was sent off favourite in a Wexford maiden hurdle recently and was still in front when he came down. A clear round here might be enough to get him on the board. The Second Coming and Lord Schnitzel are potential improvers upped in trip.