18:10 Down Royal

Friday 30 August 2019

All16:3517:1017:4018:1018:4019:1019:40

Pepsico Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 18:10 | Winning time: 5m 2.90s

Warlike Intent^p1⁵⁷

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

6/1

Bumper winner in 2017, missed 420 days prior to finishing second on hurdles bow at Roscommon (2m5f, good) in May but has delivered two disappointing efforts since. In good hands and not one to dismiss hastily (engaged at Bellewstown on Thursday).

Form: 613/280

White Desert⁹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: M J Bolger| T: Miss A Mooney

14/1

Achieved a mark of 90 on the Flat for Charlie Appleby in Britain, tailed off first start for this trainer over 2m at the Curragh in May (returning from absence). Set for hurdling debut, with market check needed.

Form:

Magic Sea²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: Mrs S Dawson| OR: 104| C

4/1

Competitive in maiden hurdle here over shorter in May but has floundered in three handicaps since over jumps. Cannot be dismissed back in this company, however.

Form: F9-4099

John Mor^t¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: P E Corbett| T: S R B Crawford

9/1

Runner-up in 2m4f maiden hurdle at Perth on penultimate start, may have had excuses back there over fences since. Respected back in this sphere.

Form: 3/F942P

Recommendation²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss A Mooney

25/1

Flat maiden, well held so far over hurdles including latest in 3m novice contest at Sligo. Has plenty improvement to find before opening account.

Form: 0-6

Cousin Harry¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell

33/1

Has tended to pull more than ideal on both bumper runs. Switches to hurdling now and watching brief looks the way to go.

Form: 67

Double Sixteen^b1¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Sean Flanagan| T: Mrs P Dobbs

25/1

66-1 chance and pulled up having never been a threat at Tramore in 2m maiden hurdle recently. Blinkers are added, plenty improvement to find.

Form: P0P

Indian Admiral³²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Liam McKenna⁽⁷⁾| T: J J Lambe| OR: 102

9/1

Was back from a 194-day absence when almost causing a 66-1 shock on hurdles bow over 2m here in May, finishing a head down in second spot. Both runs since well below that form. Up in trip now and needing to improve.

Form: 289

Lopito^t³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: L P Dempsey| T: C A McBratney

12/1

Fair maiden on the Flat, showed some aptitude for this game on third star in Perth novice last time. Still must build on that run to get in the shake-up though.

Form: 9P5

Make The Switch⁷⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: J C McConnell

15/8

Maiden on the level, has shown ability and could be capable of living up to name on this first outing over timber.

Form:

Zalika^v²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs D A Love

13/2

Fourth in two maiden hurdle at Roscommon and Sligo over shorter, twice finishing fourth. Needs to take make a step forward.

Form: F-P0403

Non-Runners

Three Boyo's³²

Weight: 11-4| Age: 6

T: T G McCourt J: Danny Mullins

Weihnachts²⁴

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: P J Rothwell J: Mark Walsh

Forecasts

Make The Switch (15/8), Weihnachts (2/1), Magic Sea (4/1), Warlike Intent (6/1), Zalika (13/2), Indian Admiral (9/1), John Mor (9/1), Lopito (12/1), White Desert (14/1), Recommendation (25/1), Double Sixteen (25/1), Cousin Harry (33/1), Three Boyo's (50/1)

Plenty with chances here. Weihnachts found only one too strong at Roscommon recently, though what exactly he beat remains to be seen, while Magic Sea would have a chance on his May run at this track. Make The Switch could have a say if taking to the jumping first time, with Lopito also capable of building on a positive start last time. JOHN MOR was second in a 2m4f maiden hurdle at Perth last month and is forgiven a lesser effort back there since over fences. A frontrunner, he could be hard to peg back over this shorter trip if getting into a rhythm.