15:57 Naas

Saturday 8 February 2020

All13:0513:3714:1214:4715:2215:5716:32

Connolly's RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Novice Hurdle

Off time: 15:57 | Winning time: 4m 49.9s

Aione¹⁶

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

10/11

Off the mark at the second time of asking over hurdles when landing a Gowran Park maiden over 2m4f last month. Entries in the Albert Bartlett and Ballymore novices at the Cheltenham festival.

Form: 1/121

Russian Diamond^t⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Brian Hayes| T: E Mullins

13/8

Appears to be progressing nicely following up on a win in a Galway bumper by landing the spoils in a Down Royal 2m1f maiden hurdle on St Stephens day. Entitled to have designs on more prize money.

Form: 6-11

Alpine Cobra²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: C A Landers⁽⁵⁾| T: C Byrnes| OR: 135| D

11/2

Running with plenty of credit in a number of starts over hurdles at Grade 2 and Grade 3 level since December. Not to be taken lightly.

Form: 431252

Arcadian Sunrise²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: D F O'Regan| T: J Queally

10/1

Followed up his win in a Carlisle bumper in November with a pleasing second of 14 beaten 9L on hurdling debut at Tramore before getting off the mark at the second attempt to win a Thurles 2m maiden last month. Shouldn't be underestimated.

Form: 9-F3121

Sonnenkonig⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington

66/1

Dream Well gelding out of a French bred mare. Needs a vast amount of improvement based on a dismal debut effort in a Leopardstown 2m4f maiden on soft ground in December.

Form: 50

Wherethewindsblow¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: P D Kennedy| T: Mrs J Harrington

50/1

Well held and no impression in a couple of hurdling starts so far at this venue in December followed by a 31L reversal at Gowran Park last month. Possibly best watched on this occasion.

Form: 0-874

Soi Cowboy^h¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Phillip Enright| T: D Queally

66/1

Has proceeded to complete just one of his four starts over hurdles. Pulled up when tailed off on latest start at Gowran Park last month and needs a vast improvement to figure in this company.

Form: 1/8-P3UP

The Echo Boy^h,t¹¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: C D Maxwell| T: D A McLoughlin

33/1

Lightly raced maiden of five starts over hurdles. Well beaten and no signs of improvement on latest start at Tramore when last seen in October.

Form: 625-P56

Wingin A Prayer²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington

16/1

Weakening when falling two out in a Navan 2m4f maiden hurdle on soft ground in December before a much likable effort to finish third of 10 beaten 10L in a Thurles maiden over 2m last month. Could be a progressive type.

Form: P-133F3

Non-Runners

Chief Of Police²⁴

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: O McKiernan J: B Browne

Forecasts

Aione (10/11), Russian Diamond (13/8), Alpine Cobra (11/2), Arcadian Sunrise (10/1), Wingin A Prayer (16/1), The Echo Boy (33/1), Wherethewindsblow (50/1), Chief Of Police (50/1), Sonnenkonig (66/1), Soi Cowboy (66/1)

The Willie Mullins-trained AIONE can progress from a facile win over hurdles at Gowran Park last month over 2m4f to win here. The seven-year-old can hold off the challenge of potential dangers in the shape of Alpine Cobra, winner of a Punchestown maiden in November, the John Queally-trained Arcadian Sunrise, gutsy winner at Thurles last month and Russian Diamond who comes here on a hat-trick of wins following success in a Galway bumper before a win in a Down Royal maiden hurdle in December.