13:10 Gowran Park

Saturday 15 February 2020

All13:1013:4414:1914:5415:2916:0416:39

Sea Moon & Shantou At Burgage Stud Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:11 | Winning time: 4m 39.8s

Darkened³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan

50/1

Will only have disappointed new connections in a couple of below-par efforts at Punchestown and Thurles since December. Handicaps likely to suit in future.

Form: 08

Deealli⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: C D Timmons⁽³⁾| T: Thomas Coyle

50/1

Alhebayeb colt. Half-brother to five winners on Flat, including 5f/6f winner Sunny Side Up. Down the field on debut in a Naas 2m bumper last month. Others look more convincing.

Form: 7

Djasek¹²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Phillip Enright| T: A J Martin

28/1

Gelding by Rip Van Winkle out of an Invincible Spirit mare. Closely related to six-race maiden over jumps. Market likely to be the best guide on debut for Co Meath yard.

Form:

King Pellinor^p⁵¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| C

5/2

Off the mark on the Flat when landing a Gowran Park 1m4f maiden in October. Going well in third when coming down at the last on hurdling debut in a Limerick 2m maiden on St Stephens day. Leading player.

Form: F

Martello Boy⁶⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny Mullins| T: Ms M Mullins

100/1

Milan gelding who is a brother to Martello Tower who was smart over hurdles and fences. Well beaten in a couple of starts over timber in November/December and appears easy to oppose once again.

Form: 007

Metal Man³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott

25/1

Modest form at up to 1m6f in four starts on Flat for Mick Halford. Not disgraced in three starts so far over hurdles but needs to step it up sooner rather than later.

Form: U05

Millswyn^b²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| BF| C

9/2

Full-brother to useful hurdler Gardens of Babylon. Disappointed when sixth of 17 on second start over hurdles, sent off the 11/4f in a Naas 2m maiden late last month. Bit more needed but not one to be putting a line through just yet.

Form: 06

Saint D'Oroux^t⁵⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 123| BF

1/1

Four-race maiden over hurdles but thought good enough to contest a Grade 3 juvenile hurdle at Fairyhouse early last month running with credit in defeat behind Cerberus. Market best guide.

Form: 2445

Three Comets¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr D T Kelly⁽⁷⁾| T: L Comer

33/1

Nothing to see in a couple of maiden hurdles in December and last month before finding the company predictably too hot in a Grade 1 contest at Leopardstown earlier this month.

Form: U09

Ventnor^t⁵⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: C D Maxwell| T: A J Martin

100/1

Sent off at big prices in five career starts so far before running accordingly on each occasion. Unlikely to be making a significant impact in this contest on his second start over hurdles.

Form: 0

Wildewood^t1²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: I J Power| T: P Breen

100/1

Below-par 69-rated Flat handicapper for trainer Johnny Murtagh. Never a factor on a wretched debut over hurdles finishing 62L off the winner at Naas at the end of last month.

Form: 0

Annie Pender^h²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: D F O'Regan| T: J Queally

10/1

Not disgraced in a couple of initial starts over hurdles at Punchestown and more recently finishing third of 17 beaten over 14L in a Naas maiden over 2m. Likely to improve in this company.

Form: 53

Infuse²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Liam McKenna⁽⁷⁾| T: Colm Murphy

28/1

77-rated handicapper on the Flat for trainer Roger Charlton. Ran with plenty of credit on first start over timber at Naas over 2m on yielding/soft ground at the end of last month. Worth a market check.

Form: 8

Miss Oriental³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Gary Noonan⁽⁷⁾| T: E McCarthy

66/1

Daughter of Arcano. Not disgraced on first couple of starts over hurdles but the distance beaten is of a concern. Overall profile suggests she may be worth taking on again.

Form: 76

Forecasts

Saint D'Oroux (1/1), King Pellinor (5/2), Millswyn (9/2), Annie Pender (10/1), Metal Man (25/1), Djasek (28/1), Infuse (28/1), Three Comets (33/1), Deealli (50/1), Darkened (50/1), Miss Oriental (66/1), Ventnor (100/1), Wildewood (100/1), Martello Boy (100/1)

The Joseph O'Brien-trained MILLSWYN was well backed to win at Naas last month before trailing in a disappointing sixth of the 17 runners. The Camelot gelding is better than that run suggests and can make amends in this contest to get off the mark at the third time of asking over hurdles. The Gordon Elliott-trained Saint D'oroux, the mount of Davy Russell is improving with every run for his yard and looks the biggest danger ahead of the J P McManus-owned King Pellinor and Annie Pender who both appear cable of hitting the frame.