IWE Electrical Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 4m 11.5s

Fingal D'Arthel²⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr

9/2

French import who makes his GB/stable/hurdles debut having run in three 1m4f bumpers scoring on the most recent of them. That run did come back in the spring so he does have to prove his fitness; yard 5-21 (past five years) in course maiden hurdles.

Form: 421-

Here In The Dark^v⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr Cameron Wadge⁽⁷⁾| T: V Thompson| OR: 105

66/1

Flat/jumps maiden 0-24 overall who made his debut for this yard last time finding the 2m4f in heavy ground at Hexham too much of a test. Blinkers worn first-time on his latest outing are now swapped for a visor; hard to make a case for.

Form: 7-8P89P

Irish Odyssey^t⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland

5/4

Lightly-raced sort who made a winning bumper debut back in March 2018 before disappointing next time out. Showed plenty to work on after 18 months off when shaping nicely in third at Carlisle (first-time tongue-tie); should improve further.

Form: 18/3

Jabbaar²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine

7/2

Capable of some decent Flat form (4-43) although he often gave himself a tough task due to being slowly away. Stays well on the Flat so this trip should prove no problem; on a long losing run, has the ability for hurdles but has to prove himself.

Form:

Stonific¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 117

4/1

Fairly useful on the Flat (4-24) he shaped well on his hurdling debut over C&D just outstayed in testing conditions. Appeared to not get home last time (gruelling surface); looks the sort to do better when given a less exacting examination.

Form: 23

Tara Tiara

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Blair Campbell⁽³⁾| T: R Craggs

66/1

Cost £4,500 as a 4yo but has had to wait until now (7yo) to make her belated debut. From a family of winning jumpers, dam related to Crossbow Creek, Cool Roxy (prolific winner) and Mwaleshi; despite that probably best watched this time around.

Form:

Ulterior Motives¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁵⁾| T: M Todhunter

12/1

Irish point-to-point winner by a short-head at the eighth attempt who then started at longs odds (80-1) for her GB/stable/hurdle debut. Shaped encouragingly at Carlisle to be nearest at the finish to a long odds-on chance, should improve.

Form: 573-P16

Forecasts

Irish Odyssey (5/4), Jabbaar (7/2), Stonific (4/1), Fingal D'Arthel (9/2), Ulterior Motives (12/1), Tara Tiara (66/1), Here In The Dark (66/1)

The unknown quantity in this race is Fingal D’Arthel who won a French bumper last time and his form does make him one to consider, the market may give some more clues as to his expectations. Irish Odyssey returned from a long absence last time at Carlisle to turn in a good effort, that was 70 days ago so it’s hoped he won’t be vulnerable to the bounce factor here. Jabbaar is an interesting Flat recruit although his demeanour on the Flat sometimes suggests this may not be the ideal sphere. STONIFIC wasn’t as highly rated on the Flat but his debut effort here pointed out that he has a future over hurdles and is likely to enjoy this better surface as he goes in search of his first hurdles win.