Connolly's RED MILLS Irish EBF Ladies Auction Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:20 | Winning time: 5m 28.00s

Aione²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: W P Mullins

2/5

A Bumper winner who put up a fair effort on hurdles debut over this trip in early January; should be sharper here and will appreciate any softening of the ground; leading contender.

Form: 1/12

Soi Cowboy⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Ms L O'Neill| T: D Queally

16/1

Has only completed one of his three hurdles starts including unseating his rider at the first flight last time out: a bumper and point-to-point winner, he certainly has some ability but needs to improve his jumping.

Form: 1/8-P3U

West Cork Wildway¹⁰⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Miss J Walton⁽⁷⁾| T: P O'Flynn| D

4/1

Not beaten far on his hurdles debut in September before winning a bumper at Tipperary in October; difficult to assess properly after recent break and market may be a useful place to start further investigation.

Form: 11-31

Henry Brown¹⁰³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Miss M O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: N Meade

9/1

Mahler gelding out of a once-raced Sendawar mare belied 14/1 odds when winning a Fairyhouse bumper on debut. This yard's hurdlers usually slick jumpers so expectant of a bold bid.

Form: 1

Wherethewindsblow³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Miss A B O'Connor⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington

20/1

Well beaten and unfancied on all racecourse appearances to date and difficult to make a case for on racecourse evidence to date including on hurdles debut last time out at Naas in December.

Form: 0-87

Funky Dady¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Jodie Townend⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hogan

25/1

No real show on either of his starts over hurdles which mirrors his progress in point-to-point events; unlikely to be troubling the judge even in this small field.

Form: 5FF006

Oneknightmoreihope¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Miss P Elvin⁽⁷⁾| T: N F Glynn

100/1

Very little of encouragement in four point.to-point outings and finished stone last beaten over 50 lengths on only racecourse appearance at Fairyhouse in a bumper; not really one to consider.

Form: 33P-P9

Forecasts

Aione (2/5), West Cork Wildway (4/1), Henry Brown (9/1), Soi Cowboy (16/1), Wherethewindsblow (20/1), Funky Dady (25/1), Oneknightmoreihope (100/1)

AIONE, with the benefit of a recent run, may prove too strong for his rivals despite the trip possibly being on the short side for a hurdler who shapes like an out and out stayer; there was plenty to like about the way he ran behind the winner on his hurdles debut at Fairyhouse on New Year's Day and can go one better here. Henry Brown produced a shock on his bumper debut at Fairyhouse in October and if fit after a long break is expected to make a solid hurdles debut. Another who needs to prove his fitness is West Cork Wildway who has done little wrong on the racecourse to date and is certainly worth a look at in the betting.