17:45 Punchestown

Wednesday 15 May 2019

All17:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:45

Kildare Hunt Club Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 17:45 | Winning time: 3m 59.3s

A Dos No Bueno¹²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Ricky Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: C O'Dwyer| OR: 92

100/1

Looked a promising sort when fourth of 13 at Fairyhouse back in October but two pretty dismal runs followed and been off since January. This easier than latest but still has plenty to prove.

Form: 0/P400-

Batts Rock^t⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 124

3/1

Three-time winner on the Flat (rated 95) has been in the shake up in all five hurdle races placing three times including a C&D second. Sets a fair standard here but all depends on how good Authorized Art is.

Form: 2345-3

Brog Ahaon³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: M McCabe

14/1

Almost caused a major shock when third beaten just ½L at Thurles two starts ago at 80/1. Ran to a similar level since when fourth of 18 at Limerick and a repeat here would again see him battling it out for a place.

Form: 8P734-

Brokopondo⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: A W Short⁽⁵⁾| T: C Cannon

100/1

Plenty miles on the clock for a seven-year-old and record on turf is just two from 31 on the Flat. Remote 15th of 20 on hurdles bow latest gives him a lot to find also.

Form: 0

Justice Jim

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: I J McCarthy| T: K P Cotter

66/1

Golden Tornado newcomer, 11th foal; half-brother to 2m2f hurdle winner Rydon Lane and two winning pointers. Doesn't appeal as a likely sort first time up.

Form:

Kirwans Lane²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| D

3/1

Roscommon bumper winner in September 2017 only raced twice since. Fourth at Fairyhouse last month after absence of 17 months was pleasing and with that under his belt now he should strip fitter so is highly respected.

Form: 18/4-

Universal Focus²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: M J Stenson⁽⁷⁾| T: R O'Sullivan

50/1

Made first hurdle start since October 2016 latest when eighth of 23 at Fairyhouse. Handicaps after today likely his target.

Form: 3/8-

Authorized Art²³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins

5/4

Heavy ground French provincial Flat winner was second at Clairefontaine in lone previous hurdles start last September. Trainer regularly converts French imports into Graded performers so makes a great deal of appeal here.

Form: 2-

Father Ailbe²⁵⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell

33/1

Hurdles debutant hails from a top yard but overall his flat form was pretty ordinary with just one win on AW. Best watched here for races further down the line.

Form:

Fightfortheroses¹³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: J S McGarvey| T: J P O'Brien

7/1

Naas maiden winner/Listed fifth far from disgraced on hurdles bow behind ill-fated subsequent Grade One winner Sir Erec when eighth of 28. With improvement from that he looks likely to be in the mix here.

Form: 8-

Non-Runners

Engelus

Weight: 11-12| Age: 5

T: E Bolger J: D J McInerney

Forecasts

Authorized Art (5/4), Batts Rock (3/1), Kirwans Lane (3/1), Fightfortheroses (7/1), Engelus (10/1), Brog Ahaon (14/1), Father Ailbe (33/1), Universal Focus (50/1), Justice Jim (66/1), Brokopondo (100/1), A Dos No Bueno (100/1)

Willie Mullins has made buying lightly raced French imports a fine art and with that in mind AUTHORIZED ART is fancied to take this with his lone previous hurdles race in France pretty encouraging in it's own right. If he needs the run or underperforms consistent Batts Rock will likely take advantage. Also once races over hurdles and respected if Fightfortheroses.