13:25 Cork

Saturday 4 January 2020

All12:2012:5013:2513:5514:3015:0515:40

MansionBet Faller Insurance Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:26 | Winning time: 6m 37.0s

Aracaras^p1⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr C J Shine⁽⁷⁾| T: L J Archdeacon

125/1

Mixed bag of efforts in point-to-point starts last year before pulling up when never in contention on hurdling debut at Limerick on St Stephens Day over 2m4f. First time cheekpieces unlikely to bring about the required amount of improvement.

Form: 8-PP52P

Atlantic Shore²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Brian Hayes| T: P Fenton| D

12/1

Without a win in five starts, well held and no impression since returning to action in October following an absence of 10 months. Still looking no nearer to breakthrough success.

Form: 1/4-6434

Berkerys Enigma^t1³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Phillip Enright| T: S Curling| D

33/1

Has failed to complete on a couple of occasions over the larger obstacles and on hurdling debut at Punchestown in November. Improved effort on latest start at Clonmel last month but needs to take a significant step forward here.

Form: 51-PB6

Captain Jimmy⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: P J Cawley⁽⁷⁾| T: P G Kelly| D

50/1

Three-race maiden quickly turned out again following an encouraging run at Limerick over Christmas in a 2m maiden hurdle on heavy ground. Market likely to be the best guide.

Form: 10P6

Deal With It³⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| BF

14/1

Improving sort last season producing a career best effort to finish second of 21 at Fairyhouse when last seen 12 months ago. Fitness can only be taken on trust and should be monitored for any market moves.

Form: 444/42-

Escaria Ten⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Adrian Heskin| T: G Elliott| D

15/8

Won a point-to-point back in March when sent off 4/6f. Running well in defeat in a couple of starts since October in a Tipperary bumper and a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle. Capable of a bold bid.

Form: 1-23

Friary Land^p⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Darragh Allen⁽⁷⁾| T: J Neilan

100/1

Well held when no signs of ability in a number of desolate maiden hurdle starts since October. Faces another tough task in this company.

Form: 006

Golden Spread²⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins

4/1

Winner of a couple of bumpers last spring before finishing eighth of 10 beaten 10L in a Grade 1 hurdle in May. Leading yard have a 71% win and place strike rate at this meeting since 2017 hitting the frame on five occasions from seven starters.

Form: 3211-8

Minella Encore³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| BF| D

5/2

Lightly raced gelding promising second of 15 on hurdling debut at Punchestown when last seen in November. Trainer has a 43% strike rate at this meeting in the last three years securing a double in 2018 with Squadron Commander and Livelovelaugh.

Form: F1114/2

Quarry Rebel⁶³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr D A Mulcahy⁽⁷⁾| T: P O'Flynn

100/1

Oscar gelding. Dam, fair 2m4f hurdle winner; half-sister to fairly useful hurdler/chaser Noras Fancy. Runner-up on third and final start in a point-to-point in April 2018. Market should reveal more ahead of this rules bow.

Form: PF2/

Quarry Royale⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: B J Foley⁽⁵⁾| T: P O'Flynn

125/1

Pulled up in a couple of point-to-points, the most recent of them being in 2017 before finishing 10th of 11 beaten 120L in a Thurles bumper in November last year.

Form: PP/0

Shanwalla⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr L P Gilligan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Gilligan| OR: 123

6/1

Six-race maiden who has hit the frame on four separate occasions and can't be completely ruled out but there still appears to be concerns running over this trip.

Form: 2333U0

Celine Soprano^t⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr W T Cronin⁽⁷⁾| T: Patrick Cronin

28/1

Running with credit in a number of bumpers since September 2018 but needs to improve on a poor hurdling debut effort over 2m at this venue in August.

Form: 922024

Lizavoura^t²⁸⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: A McCurtin⁽⁵⁾| T: B O'Keeffe

200/1

Three-race maiden over hurdles yet to start a contest at odds less than 66/1. Well beaten when last seen in March and remains easy to oppose.

Form: 0P/P000-

Forecasts

Escaria Ten (15/8), Minella Encore (5/2), Golden Spread (4/1), Shanwalla (6/1), Atlantic Shore (12/1), Deal With It (14/1), Celine Soprano (28/1), Berkerys Enigma (33/1), Captain Jimmy (50/1), Friary Land (100/1), Quarry Rebel (100/1), Aracaras (125/1), Quarry Royale (125/1), Lizavoura (200/1)

It's difficult to get away from the chances of ESCARIA TEN who finished third of 16 beaten 9¾L behind Diol Ker on hurdling debut in November. The race has produced the second, Monkfish, fourth place Opposites Attract, the fifth, Marshalled and sixth placed Eleazar Des Neiges to win since. The Willie Mullins-trained Minella Encore can improve on a pleasing return at Punchestown in November for a trainer who has a 43% strike rate at this meeting in the last three years, securing a double in 2018 with Squadron Commander and Livelovelaugh. Deal With It, from a long break and the gallant Shanwalla can compete for remaining prize money.