17:50 Bellewstown

Saturday 6 July 2019

All16:4017:1517:5018:2018:5019:2019:50

Hibernia Steel Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 17:55 | Winning time: 4m 14.2s

Baboin^t³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| D

3/1

Running well in a number of bumpers since returning to action in March following a long lay-off. Second in a maiden hurdle over 12 months ago at Cork over a similar trip. More than capable of a big run.

Form: 2827-12

Batcio⁷¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr A McMahon⁽⁷⁾| T: T M Walsh| OR: 115| BF

10/3

Winner over this trip of a Down Royal bumper in November. Has shown little or no signs of ability in five career hurdle starts including heavy defeats in his last tow starts. Possibly best watched.

Form: 166640-

Heir of Excitement³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: S A Shortall| T: J P O'Brien

40/1

Basement rated handicapper on the Flat the Tagula gelding makes his hurdling debut here. Makes the shortlist on the back of the yards good form with maidens over timber at this meeting in the last four years.

Form:

Keble^b1,t¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: M Hamill⁽³⁾| T: J J Hanlon

66/1

Finished eighth of 11 beaten over 26L on return to the track following a 726 day absence at Sligo last month. Others have more scope for improvement and this looks another tall order in first time blinkers.

Form:

Licklighter^p1¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan| OR: 111| D

4/1

Appears to be improving with every run since May culminating with a 1½L defeat at Down Royal last month. First time cheekpieces fitted representing a yard with a good record with their hurdles at this meeting in the last four years.

Form: 40P-435

Room To Roam^b¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: K C Sexton| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 112

4/1

Still looking for his first success in 12 starts over hurdles but the Fast Company gelding has hit the frame with plenty of consistency. Running well in defeat in three starts since May and plenty to like here.

Form: 758-345

Yamato^t1¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D E Browne⁽⁷⁾| T: J C McConnell

100/1

Once a 75-rated handicapper on the Flat for trainer Mick Halford but had, over a couple of year, tumbled down to a basement mark of 44 by April. Well down the field on hurdling debut at Down Royal last month and others preferred.

Form: 0

Five Gems^h,t³¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: M J Bolger| T: D P Dunne

100/1

Modest sort on the Flat, fell early doors in hurdling debut at Ballinrobe before pulling up at this venue when last seen in August. Looks a tall order on stable debut.

Form: FP-

Generalisation²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 107

8/1

Six-race maiden over hurdles and the Arcadio gelding will have no doubt have disappointed leading connections despite a number of decent efforts in defeat. Liable to find a couple stronger again.

Form: 3947-4F

Mats Hall^t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Ben Harvey⁽⁷⁾| T: J C McConnell

25/1

Disappointed on hurdling debut on racecourse reappearance in a Downpatrick maiden when fancied to go well. Yard going well at this meeting and one for the shortlist.

Form: 41/35-9

Mister Saxman⁵⁸²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr T Reilly⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss T M Reilly

100/1

Poor 46-rated handicapper on the Flat where the Piccolo gelding remains a nine race maiden. Little to enthuse over on hurdling debut.

Form:

Rum And Black¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: A W Short⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss K Brown

100/1

By Kalanisi out of a Shernazar mare. Dam Flat and bumper winner, out of half-sister to Grand National winner Don't Push It. Has shown little or no aptitude in a couple of career starts over hurdles to be considered in this company.

Form: 09

Storm Flight⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Ricky Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: C O'Dwyer

33/1

The promise of his run at Down Royal in May evaporated following a 105L defeat at Wexford later in the month. On balance probably has plenty to find in this contest.

Form: 7P89-58

Track Mac^h1⁷¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Phillip Enright| T: Thomas Coyle

66/1

Failed to complete in five of his six point-to-point starts last season and is better watched on hurdling debut. First time hood unlikely to bring about the required amount of improvement needed to play a role here.

Form: F2FPF8-

Whenurgoodurgood^p³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: C J Orr⁽⁵⁾| T: N Slevin

20/1

Sending out mixed signals in a number of bumper starts in the last 12 months. Needs to improve on even his best form to play a role on hurdling introduction.

Form: 5R66-25

World Stage^p³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr L J McGuinness⁽⁷⁾| T: W Durkan

11/1

Accident-prone 11-race maiden for trainer J J Feane, colliding with rails and losing a shoe in a couple of starts since April. Not disgraced in hurdle appearances in May but needs to up his game on stable debut.

Form: 6-65

Non-Runners

Cedar Hill²⁴

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: S Crawley J: Reserve 1

Jakerz

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: D H Kelly J: Reserve 2

Bridget Cottage⁴⁰

Weight: 10-11| Age: 5

T: S J Mahon J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Baboin (3/1), Batcio (10/3), Room To Roam (4/1), Licklighter (4/1), Generalisation (8/1), World Stage (11/1), Whenurgoodurgood (20/1), Jakerz (20/1), Mats Hall (25/1), Storm Flight (33/1), Heir of Excitement (40/1), Track Mac (66/1), Keble (66/1), Yamato (100/1), Five Gems (100/1), Rum And Black (100/1), Cedar Hill (100/1), Mister Saxman (100/1), Bridget Cottage (100/1)

The Denis Hogan-trained, LICKLIGHTER can win his first hurdle in 17 starts following up on a solid run at Down Royal last month. The son of Brian Boru wears cheekpieces for the first time and can get the better of Baboin making his hurdling debut for Joseph O'Brien, the Peter Fahey, Fast Company gelding, Room To Roam and Mats Hall.