12:30 Navan

Sunday 24 November 2019

All12:3013:0013:3014:0014:3015:0015:30

www.navanracecourse.ie Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 12:30 | Winning time: 5m 18.40s

Allbarone³⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead

16/1

Winner of sole start between the flags and subsequently bought for £90,000. Has joined a respected yard, and one to bear in mind if market speaks for him.

Form: 1-

Dinny Lacey²¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: R M Power| T: J Motherway

28/1

Showed fairly useful form when winning a bumper at Punchestown in February. Below that form next time, though, and others more convincing now he switched to hurdles after an absence.

Form: 316-

Entoucas²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien

9/4

Runner-up on first two starts over hurdles last season, and again ran with credit when third at Down Royal on his return. Sure to benefit from step up to 2½m, and should be in the mix again.

Form: 1/226-3

Francin⁶⁹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| BF

15/8

Winner on the Flat in France, but just one run since 2016, when 1L third to Flawless Escape on hurdles bow at Leopardstown in December 2017. Long absence to overcome, but clearly merits respect.

Form: 3/

Golden Nomad^t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: B J Geraghty| T: G Elliott

33/1

Dual point-to-point winner. Flopped when fancied for bumper debut here, but shaped much better when sixth of 18 in a C&D novice hurdle two weeks ago when fitted with a tongue tie. Will improve.

Form: 12-2106

Jaunty Warrior⁹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott

66/1

Won a bumper for Brian Eckley at Ffos Las in March 2017, but has seen the track only once since, when last of 7 in a 2m5f novice hurdle at Downpatrick in August. Bit to prove after that.

Form: 01/7

Junius Brutus²³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Phillip Enright| T: Caroline Mccaldin

100/1

Won a Catterick bumper on sole Rules start to date way back in 2014, but form in point-to-points this year after an absence has been woeful, and he makes no appeal starting out for a new yard.

Form: 51/FP5-

Liam Eile^t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: J B Kane⁽⁵⁾| T: P Martin

100/1

Low-grade Flat handicapper who was tailed off on his hurdles debut here a fortnight ago. Hard to see him playing any significant part.

Form: 0

Scully's Dream⁸⁸¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: M J Bolger| T: J Fahey

50/1

Point winner, and successful on second bumper start in June 2017 at Kilbeggan for Seamus Fahey. Absent since, and fitness taken on trust now belatedly starting off on his hurdles career.

Form: 171/

Thatsy^t1²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| BF| C

2/1

£130,000 buy in April 2018 after point-to-point win. Made a big impression when winning a Navan bumper in February. Has lost nothing in defeat in a couple of maiden hurdle spins last month and makes more appeal than most with a tongue tie deployed.

Form: 12/1-22

Chasing Charlie¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: Caroline Mccaldin

100/1

No sign of ability in three Irish point-to-points and was again well held wearing cheekpieces on hurdles bow at Ayr. Unlikely to figure on evidence to date.

Form: 6-PP6

Farceur Du Large²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| BF

20/1

Beaten favourite on all three starts in bumpers, with his best effort coming on debut. May yet build on initial promise now hurdling, but has a little to prove now.

Form: 3-36

Raleagh Flora²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Danny Mullins| T: C A McBratney

100/1

Jumped poorly when pulled up in a point-to-point last month, and switched to hurdles with questions to answer.

Form: P

Some Can Sing²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: J M Moore| T: D M Christie

66/1

Similar form when fourth in bumpers at Galway and Down Royal in recent weeks, showing promise, but beaten 54L in total. Can do better somewhere down the line, but this looks a tough starting point over hurdles.

Form: 44

You Should Have¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: P Nolan

100/1

Stoutly-bred Milan gelding who didn't seem close to being ready when tailed off on his debut at Naas recently. May improve, but this comes too soon to expect much better.

Form: 0

Lady Maureen⁶⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: J J Slevin| T: S R B Crawford

100/1

Better effort in bumpers when fourth of seven at Sligo in August, but that's barely modest form, and she was soundly beaten on hurdles bow at Ballinrobe the following month.

Form: PP-5440

Lisavalley Lass

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: C J Orr⁽⁵⁾| T: J P Dempsey

66/1

By Ask out of a Flemensfirth mare from the family of smart staying chaser Merry Master. No winners in immediate family, though, and an unlikely winner on paper.

Form:

Ringhill Lady²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr C Abernethy⁽⁷⁾| T: J J Lambe

100/1

Has looked very limited in bumpers and no better switched to hurdles the last twice.

Form: 695P9

Samsara Lady

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Aidan Kelly⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Fahey

66/1

Homebred daughter of Casamento. Half-sister to connections' fair 1m½f Flat winner Nanabad. Makes only limited appeal starting out over hurdles.

Form:

Forecasts

Francin (15/8), Thatsy (2/1), Entoucas (9/4), Allbarone (16/1), Farceur Du Large (20/1), Dinny Lacey (28/1), Golden Nomad (33/1), Scully's Dream (50/1), Some Can Sing (66/1), Lisavalley Lass (66/1), Jaunty Warrior (66/1), Samsara Lady (66/1), Chasing Charlie (100/1), Lady Maureen (100/1), Ringhill Lady (100/1), Raleagh Flora (100/1), You Should Have (100/1), Liam Eile (100/1), Junius Brutus (100/1)

Thatsy is the pick of those with recent form over hurdles, and should be in the frame at least, but it is significant that connections are keeping faith with FRANCIN, whose debut came in a hot contest, and he's taken to defy a long absence. It's exactly one year since Allbarone made an impressive point-to-point debut, and he's another to bear in mind now switching codes.