12:00 Down Royal

Thursday 26 December 2019

All12:0012:3013:0013:3514:1014:4515:20

I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 12:00 | Winning time: 5m 22.90s

Alighted³⁹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: P E Corbett| T: J P O'Brien

11/4

Scored in a bumper at Leopardstown (2m) on his debut. Went close to following that up on his first start over hurdles as he was a close second at Punchestown (2m). Leading contender here.

Form: 1/2-

Jaunty Warrior¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: P Merrigan| T: G Elliott

25/1

A winner in a bumper at Ffos Las (2m) but that was back in March 2017. Has been disappointing in three appearances since returning from a lengthy lay-off, including when he was 13th of 25 last time at Navan (2m4f). Others are preferred.

Form: 01/790

Junius Brutus²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Dillon Maxwell⁽⁷⁾| T: Caroline Mccaldin

50/1

Was successful at Catterick (1m7½f) in a bumper on his debut in December 2014 but has been unable to follow that up since. Was a long way off on his latest attempt when he was 16th of 25 at Fairyhouse (2m). Needs to improve.

Form: 1/FP5-U0

Legacy Thor^t²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr B G Crawford⁽⁷⁾| T: S R B Crawford

14/1

Has some good form in bumpers, with the pick of those results being his victory at Downpatrick (2m1½f). Came back 10th of 25 on his hurdles debut at Fairyhouse (2m). Likely to improve on that run so he shouldn't be ignored.

Form: 62-130

Lily's Gem^t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: M P Fogarty| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 107

16/1

Bumper winner who has hit the frame on three occasions over hurdles. She was denied by just a neck at Carlisle (2m1f) on her penultimate start, however, she was disappointing last time at Fairyhouse (2m4f). Has each-way claims.

Form: 643-328

Arakan Quest^t³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr J J Codd| T: B R Hamilton

14/1

Finished third of 15 at Gowran Park (2m) on his hurdles debut last month where he was staying on well at the finish so this latest trip should suit. Remains open to improvement. Worth thinking about.

Form: 322273

Bintheredonethat¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr O McGill⁽⁷⁾| T: N C Kelly

66/1

Has struggled in his three starts under Rules. He was tailed off on his latest attempt when he was 11th of 14 at Navan (2m4f) after going off at 100/1. Hard to fancy on the evidence of what he has produced so far.

Form: P-418F0

Coolagh Park¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott

8/1

Made an encouraging start to his career when he was second of seven in a bumper at Ballirobe (2m1½f). Was eighth of 25 on his first run over hurdles at Navan (2m4f) on his latest appearance. Likely to improve on that. One to consider.

Form: 28

Dessie Deschamps³⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: M Hamill⁽³⁾| T: C A McBratney

66/1

Has been unable to make an impression in two starts under Rules. He was 13th of 14 at this course (2m½f) on his debut, while last time he finished 12th of 15 at Punchestown (2m4f). Hard to make a case for.

Form: F91/F00-

Dinos Mixa^t1³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Sarah Kavanagh⁽⁷⁾| T: P Downey

66/1

Was well held on his two runs under Rules to begin his career, including in a hurdles contest at Naas (2m). Has been pulled up in three starts in point-to-points since. Tongue-tie is on for the first time. Difficult to fancy.

Form: 60/P-PP

Falkland Castle^h,t⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss S Barkley

66/1

His opening two starts on the track have offered little encouragement. He had just one horse behind him in a 10 runner contest at Perth (2m4f) on his debut, while he was pulled up last time at Naas (2m3f). Others appeal more.

Form: 9P

Opposites Attract¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: C D Maxwell| T: D A McLoughlin

15/8

Has performed well over hurdles without success so far. He was third of 25 on his latest attempt at Navan (2m4f) earlier this month where he finished just 1¾L off the winner. One for the shortlist.

Form: 325-43

Outside The Ring^t1²⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: N McKnight| OR: 114

20/1

Has some modest form over hurdles in his four outings under Rules so far. He was sixth of 14 on his latest run at Sligo (2m4f). Tongue-tie is on for the first time here where improvement can't be ruled out. Has an each-way chance.

Form: 22/745-6

Stansfield¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁷⁾| T: Paul Traynor

16/1

Made a promising debut under Rules when he was third of seven at Punchestown (2m½f). Did not build upon that on his latest effort as he had just one horse behind in a seven runner field, albeit in a Listed contest. Others leap out more.

Form: FFUP-36

Cala Di Volpe²²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: P J O'Hanlon⁽⁷⁾| T: R K Watson

50/1

Was well held on both of his two appearances in point-to-points, including when he was sixth of 13 at Necarne (3m). Will need to improve to be in the mix on his opening attempt under Rules.

Form: 6-6

Farceur Du Large³²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: E Walsh⁽⁷⁾| T: N Meade

9/2

Finished third in a bumper at Limerick (2m) which was rated as a Listed contest. He was fourth of 19 at Navan (2m4f) on his hurdles debut last time. Likely to improve on that outing here. Worth consideration.

Form: 3-364

Punchers Path³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: N P Madden| T: N C Kelly

25/1

Produced two respectable performances in point-to-points. Then finished fifth of 12 at Punchestown (2m6f) on his Rules debut. Set for his first run for his new yard now where he is down in trip. Best to watch.

Form: 3-45

The Miser⁵⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr N Gault⁽⁷⁾| T: W J Bryson

66/1

Has failed to beat a single horse in three bumper appearances, including last time at this course over the extended 2m trip after going off at 100/1. Going up in distance now but he is difficult to make a case for.

Form: 7-98

Non-Runners

Blue Markie¹⁹³

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: D M Christie J: R P Treacy

Forecasts

Opposites Attract (15/8), Alighted (11/4), Farceur Du Large (9/2), Coolagh Park (8/1), Legacy Thor (14/1), Arakan Quest (14/1), Lily's Gem (16/1), Stansfield (16/1), Blue Markie (16/1), Outside The Ring (20/1), Punchers Path (25/1), Jaunty Warrior (25/1), Cala Di Volpe (50/1), Junius Brutus (50/1), The Miser (66/1), Dinos Mixa (66/1), Bintheredonethat (66/1), Falkland Castle (66/1), Dessie Deschamps (66/1)

ALIGHTED has already had success in a bumper and he can go one place better than his second place finish in a big field at Punchestown on his hurdles debut last time out. Opposites Attract has gone close to his first win on a number of occasions since going hurdling so expect another big run, while Coolagh Park has done very little wrong on his two appearances on the track so far and is worth taking to finish in the placings.