13:50 Thurles

Friday 10 January 2020

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3016:00

Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 4m 8.7s

Anuas Ar An Bpost¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: C A Landers⁽²⁾| T: K Purcell

100/1

Elusive Pimpernel gelding who finished last on both Flat outings and showed no form on hurdles bow when tailed off from halfway at Limerick recently.

Form: 9

Cafe Con Leche¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: P J Cawley⁽⁴⁾| T: D Hogan

9/4

Placed 4-6 on Flat at up to 1m2f but yet to get win a race. Highly tried in Grade 3 on hurdles bow at Fairyhouse last month and ran well in very testing ground when third at Limerick on Boxing Day. Better conditions a bonus and looks a player.

Form: 63

Darkened¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: O R Brown⁽⁴⁾| T: D Hogan

12/1

Placed 3-5 on Flat for John Oxx. Bought by current connections for 47,000gns at October Sales. Hurdles bow at Punchestown last week where not knocked about and may do somewhat better this time.

Form: 0

Irish Art¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: E O'Connell⁽⁴⁾| T: G Elliott

50/1

One of four stable representatives. Seven-race ex-British Flat maiden at up to 1m2f for David Lanigan. Never in the hunt on hurdles bow at Leopardstown recently but will have learned from that. Much more needed though.

Form: 0

Metal Man¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Jordan Williams⁽⁴⁾| T: G Elliott

33/1

Modest form at up to 1m6f in four starts on Flat for Mick Halford. Has shown little in two starts so far over timber and may do better once he goes handicapping.

Form: U0

Moghram¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽²⁾| T: G Elliott

20/1

Placed once from four starts for Marcus Tregoning last term and showed promise after six-month absence when fair fourth on hurdles bow at Limerick on Boxing Day. Solid chance if building on that.

Form: 4

Orlov¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: M Hamill| T: P W Flynn

50/1

Society Rock gelding picked up by connections for just €1,000. Last of 14 on Flat debut at Dundalk last month, but wasn't running too badly when slipping up after 3 out when still just about in touch on hurdles bow at Leopardstown recently.

Form: S

Pepper'n Salt⁹²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: C P McNamara⁽²⁾| T: G P Cromwell

7/1

Only modest form in five Flat start at up to 2m, best effort when fourth in 1m4f Tipperary maiden. Makes his hurdles bow and wouldn't have to be a world-beater to finish with more behind than in front.

Form:

Tronador¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: K Brogan⁽⁴⁾| T: G Elliott

11/10

Moderate 1m2f maiden on Flat for David Lanigan but made promising start for new yard when stayed on well having been hampered to finish 4th of 22 in Leopardstwon maiden hurdle two weeks ago. Every chance on that evidence.

Form: 4

Majority Share²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: A W Short| T: A Oliver

9/1

11-race maiden. Distant second on hurdles bow at Gowran Park in October. Pulled up at Punchestown next time but better latest when led until headed 2 out, finishing 5th of 14 at Fairyhouse last month. Has place prospects.

Form: 2P5

Miss Oriental¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Gary Brian Noonan⁽⁴⁾| T: E McCarthy

50/1

Twice raced Arcano filly who wasn't disgraced on only Flat outing then was 7th of 14 on hurdles bow at Limerick on Boxing Day. Open to improvement and worth noting for any market interest.

Form: 7

Forecasts

Tronador (11/10), Cafe Con Leche (9/4), Pepper'n Salt (7/1), Majority Share (9/1), Darkened (12/1), Moghram (20/1), Metal Man (33/1), Miss Oriental (50/1), Irish Art (50/1), Orlov (50/1), Anuas Ar An Bpost (100/1)

Gordon Elliott holds a strong hand here with four entries but his TRONADOR looks the pick on a good first hurdles run when fourth at Leopardstown's big Christmas meeting. A similar effort here would be enough to gain the day. Stable companion Moghram showed ability on his hurdles bow and may not be far away either. Cafe Con Leche has been set a few stiff tasks but has some talent and will be in the mix here, while the likes of Majority Share and Darkened are others worth a glance.