14:05 Gowran Park

Friday 4 October 2019

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:30

Joe Bollard Memorial Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 4m 27.50s

Fighting Fit¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P Dempsey

66/1

Unplaced in a maiden hurdle over an extended 2m on soft going at Galway on last months debut. Probably best watched at present.

Form: 0

Judex Lefou²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: D J Mullins| T: T Mullins| OR: 92

33/1

Signs of ability in three hurdles stars so far but finished well held over 2m at Listowel (yielding) on his most recent start. Likely to find a few too good in this contest.

Form: 740470

Mazboon²⁷

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

66/1

Held in four completed Flat starts and was an early casualty on hurdling debut at Wexford (2m, good) last month. Others make more appeal.

Form: U

Mezyan²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Richard Condon⁽⁷⁾| T: J J Hanlon

28/1

Good 4L third in a bumper over an extended 2m at Clonmel (good) just under a month ago. Worth a check in the market on hurdles debut.

Form: 563

Nasee²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Brian Hayes| T: J J Hanlon

66/1

Victorious on good-to-firm ground on the Flat but has finished held on both hurdles starts so far. Interesting to see how he fares on this occasion.

Form: 88

Oscer Romero¹³²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽³⁾| T: P J Rothwell

25/1

Shown ability in three of his four point-to-point starts most recently when runner-up at Tralee (good-to-yielding) in May. Market support would be notable on debut under Rules.

Form: F4-F2

Soviet Pimpernel²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Kevin Sexton| T: Peter Fahey

9/10

Built on a couple of promising placed efforts back in March when winning a bumper at Listowel (2m, yielding) last month. Visor worn for the first time that day is absent for his hurdles debut.

Form: 23-1

Spiritus Mundi^h1¹⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: N P Madden| T: J Queally

100/1

Never involved when beaten 67L into ninth in a 2m1f maiden hurdle at Killarney (good) on racecourse debut in May. Wears a hood for the first time.

Form: 9

Stormy Judge¹⁵⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: P A Fahy

16/1

Shown promise in both bumper starts including when 21L eighth in a big field over an extended 2m at Punchestown (yielding-to-soft) in April. Top jockey booked to ride for hurdles and seasonal debut.

Form: 5-8

Western Rambler⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Donagh Meyler| T: E Doyle

66/1

Fair form in three hurdles starts to date but beaten 33L when 15th at Navan (2m, good) last week and more needed if he's to break his maiden in this event.

Form: 7-00

Ciao²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell

5/1

Dual Flat winner and stepped up on hurdling debut when finishing runner-up in a 2m maiden event at Listowel (good) last month. One to note in this contest.

Form: 72

City Ballerina⁶⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington

10/1

14 race maiden finished a decent fourth in a maiden hurdle at Limerick (2m, good) in July. Well held in a novice event subsequently and is of interest back in maiden company.

Form: U340

Mind Your Step²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny Mullins| T: Ms M Mullins

66/1

Well held in all three starts to date most recently when 50L fifth at Kilbeggan (2m, good-to-yielding) just under a month ago. Others hold stronger claims.

Form: 045

Miss Cognac¹³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade

11/4

Off the mark at the third attempt in bumpers when winning a 16 runner event over an extended 2m at Ballinrobe (good-to-yielding) in May. One for the shortlist on hurdling debut.

Form: 42-1

Forecasts

Soviet Pimpernel (9/10), Miss Cognac (11/4), Ciao (5/1), City Ballerina (10/1), Stormy Judge (16/1), Oscer Romero (25/1), Mezyan (28/1), Judex Lefou (33/1), Western Rambler (66/1), Nasee (66/1), Mazboon (66/1), Mind Your Step (66/1), Fighting Fit (66/1), Spiritus Mundi (100/1)

CIAO showed improved form when finishing runner-up on her most recent start and she can go one better by taking the opening race on the card. Miss Cognac, a bumper winner in the spring represents a good yard and she can take second on her jumps debut while third place can go to Soviet Pimpernel, a bumper winner at Listowel last time out.