14:05 Killarney

Sunday 12 May 2019

All13:3514:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:35

Killarney Towers Hotel Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 4m 11.70s

Hammerstein²⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| BF

5/2

Off the mark on fifth bumper start before pulling up when bursting blood vessels on hurdling debut at Wexford when last seen in September. Given plenty of time to recuperate and one for the shortlist.

Form: 48/231P-

Mambo Dancer²⁰⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: C P McNamara⁽⁷⁾| T: E McNamara| D

12/1

Tough and genuine sort on the AW for trainer Mark Johnston, winning over similar distances. Worth a check in the betting, but likely handicaps are to be more of the So You Think geldings thing in future.

Form:

Marine One¹²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan

4/1

Got off the mark for connections at the seventh time of asking on the AW in December winning over 1m4f. Second of eight at Dundalk latest over 2m and a leading player on hurdling debut.

Form:

Big King¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr L P Gilligan⁽⁷⁾| T: A Fleming

4/1

By Born King and a half-brother to winning jumper Flight Zero. Nothing of note in a couple of maiden hurdle starts to date. Tough to see where improvement is coming from to play a part in the finish.

Form: 087-

Definite Dilemma²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: D A Kiely

8/1

Impressive winner of a couple of point-to-points including by 30L on yielding ground at Bandon in February last year. No impression after three out on hurdling debut last month in a Tramore maiden. Needs to improve significantly.

Form: 11/7-

Golden Birch¹⁰⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: A McCurtin⁽⁵⁾| T: P Breen

66/1

Lord Shanakill gelding. Half-brother to several Flat winners, including smart sprinter Kuaicoss and useful sprinter Ritual. Beaten 57L on hurdling debut in June and subsequently pulled up in a Point-to-point when last seen in January. Hard to fancy.

Form: 0PP-

Right Destination³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: R P Treacy⁽⁵⁾| T: S Fahey

50/1

Gelding by Dubai Destination out of a Saints Des Saints mare. Hard to make a case for on the overall evidence in a number of below par point-to-point starts since the turn of the year.

Form: PP55PP-

Sticky Situation²⁶⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁷⁾| T: P Neville| OR: 102

3/1

Largely well held, despite the finishing positions, in a number of maiden hurdle defeats between May and August last year. Off the track since then so fitness can only be taken on trust.

Form: 096240-

Forecasts

Hammerstein (5/2), Sticky Situation (3/1), Big King (4/1), Marine One (4/1), Definite Dilemma (8/1), Mambo Dancer (12/1), Right Destination (50/1), Golden Birch (66/1)

HAMMERSTEIN for trainer, Gordon Elliott has been given plenty of time since bursting blood vessels in September. The potentially exciting hurdler can get off the mark here at the expense of the Denis Hogan trained and ridden, Marine One on hurdling debut. Definite Dilema and Big King could improve enough to hit the frame.