15:50 Cork

Monday 5 August 2019

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

Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 15:51 | Winning time: 4m 47.9s

Clonguile Way⁷⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: J B Kane⁽²⁾| T: W J O'Doherty

33/1

Landed Curraghmore maiden point in April and held every chance on Rules debut in novice hunter chase at in May when falling 4 out. Second between the flags last time and may not be far away first time over timber.

Form: 3521-F2

Da Vinci Rock¹⁰⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: M Hamill| T: E M O'Sullivan

100/1

No show in all three maiden hurdles and was well behind when pulled up last time at Cork. Huge leap forward needed.

Form: 50P-

Dashing Major²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: P J Cawley⁽⁴⁾| T: A J McNamara

66/1

€50,000 as a three-year-old in 2014 but didn't make his debut until this February. Hasn't shown very much in two maiden hurdles and it's not far to look elsewhere for the likely winner.

Form: 0-0

Exit Eleven^t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D P Holden⁽⁴⁾| T: Ms Debbie Hartnett

9/1

Winning pointer. Fair first try over hurdles last time out at Cork when beaten less than a length in 3m maiden and has claims if able to step up on that promising run.

Form: 21-3F43

Jakerz¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: R P Treacy| T: D H Kelly

100/1

Asian Heights gelding who has shown little in two starts over hurdles to date and has plenty to find. Yard had big winner at Galway last week but he makes little appeal.

Form: 00

Mambo Dancer²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: C P McNamara⁽⁴⁾| T: E McNamara

66/1

Won three times over two miles on AW for Mark Johnston last year but bought for just 9000 guineas at horses-in-training sale in the autumn. Well beaten all three starts so far in maiden hurdles over 2m.

Form: 600

Military Poet^t¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr J C Canavan⁽⁴⁾| T: E M O'Sullivan

66/1

Ran a couple of times on Flat without distinction in 2017 for previous handlers and has hinted at a little ability when midfield in two runs over hurdles so far for current yard. Doesn't appear a winner-in-waiting though.

Form: 98

Pike County²³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽²⁾| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 119

7/2

Ballinrobe bumper winner last July and was good second on hurdles bow at Tipperary in October. Disappointed prior to good third at Navan in December. Not seen since but extra 3f should suit and has decent claims.

Form: 521263-

Sky Marshal⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: K J Brouder⁽²⁾| T: C Byrnes| OR: 123

4/6

Run well when placed in four of last five starts, including in Galway Festival maiden hurdle last week. Big chance if ready to roll again and should be thereabouts.

Form: 823P-23

The Secret One^t⁸⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Ricky Doyle| T: D Duggan

50/1

Ordinary bumper form this spring prior to winning between the flags last time out. This is a much tougher assignment and will do well to make his presence felt.

Form: P07/P4-4

Aliym^b²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: D J McInerney| T: D H Kelly

10/1

Winning debut in January in Naas bumper prior to being outclassed in listed affair time after. Solid third on hurdles bow at Wexford in June and ran respectably on Flat last time. Interesting contender and may not be far away.

Form: 17-3

Ardaghs Choice²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr L P Gilligan⁽⁴⁾| T: E Sheehy

66/1

Signs of ability when unplaced in two bumpers so far and looks the type to do better with more experience down the line.

Form: F-85

Baliyad⁵⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽²⁾| T: S Neville

50/1

Fair Flat maiden at up to 1m4f for Dermot Weld. Signs of some ability in three runs so far over timber but may well do better once he goes handicapping.

Form: 7-60

Clody Valley²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁴⁾| T: Miss E Doyle

66/1

Fair pedigree on dam's side and has shown glimpses of ability in two runs so far in bumpers. Hurdles debut here but may need more time unless market suggests he's going to run well.

Form: 80

Its My Deal¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: C J Orr⁽²⁾| T: O McKiernan

66/1

€25,000 Robin Des Champs gelding. Easy to back and jumped very novicey on debut at Kilbeggan, finishing well down the pack. May need more time before realising his potential.

Form: 0

Lake Chad²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: F J Hayes⁽⁴⁾| T: P Fenton| OR: 100

50/1

Midfield on all three runs so far over hurdles and may well be suited by the step up from two miles. May pick up a race in future but will do well to score here on what we've seen so far.

Form: 6-80

Aileens Joy¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: P A Gallagher⁽²⁾| T: J M Burke| OR: 90

50/1

Doesn't look a straight-forward conveyance but has shown signs of ability. Was clear at the ninth when falling at Roscommon last month having run out previously. Headstrong and weakened tamely 2 out last time having led for much of the way.

Form: U36RF5

Blanketontheground¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: A McCurtin| T: J J Walsh

28/1

Promising fifth on hurdles bow at Cork last month and again ran creditably when third in Ballinrobe bumper recently. Can win a race or two and is worthy of consideration here.

Form: 4R-53

Westernerona²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: A W Short| T: G J Power

14/1

Placed in both maiden hurdles at Cork this spring but less effective in two bumpers since. Has a reasonable chance if building on that early promise.

Form: 23-05

Forecasts

Sky Marshal (4/6), Pike County (7/2), Exit Eleven (9/1), Aliym (10/1), Westernerona (14/1), Blanketontheground (28/1), Clonguile Way (33/1), Baliyad (50/1), The Secret One (50/1), Lake Chad (50/1), Aileens Joy (50/1), Its My Deal (66/1), Dashing Major (66/1), Ardaghs Choice (66/1), Mambo Dancer (66/1), Clody Valley (66/1), Military Poet (66/1), Da Vinci Rock (100/1), Jakerz (100/1)

Quite a few in this race are open to improvement and PIKE COUNTY did enough last year to suggest he might be ready to make hay now having been given time to strengthen up. Sky Marshal ran well at Galway and again has decent claims, while Aliym has shown ability and another bold show is anticipated. Lake Chad, Blanketontheground and Westernerona are others worth noting for any positive market signals.