16:30 Leopardstown

Monday 2 March 2020

All13:1513:4514:2014:5515:2516:0016:30

'Club 30 Membership' Flat Race

Off time: 16:31 | Winning time: 4m 2.4s

Alko Rouge⁶⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr N McParlan⁽⁵⁾| T: T Gibney

13/2

Shown some sparkle in point-to-points even though he's fallen twice (he was clear both times and seemingly just lacked concentration); fair effort on bumper debut here in December and more than likely to improve on that effort.

Form: F2-F3

Felino De Bersy

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr J J Codd| T: G Elliott

14/1

Gelding by Martaline out of a Epervier Bleu mare; market likely to be the best guide here for respected bumper trainer/jockey combination.

Form:

Fourneux D'isanka³⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Ms L O'Neill| T: G Elliott

6/1

French-bred who cost 57,000 euros as a three-year-old; related to plenty of hurdles winners and likely to be ready first time up for respected connections.

Form: 3P-

Hes A Hardy Bloke⁹²

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr M J O'Hare| T: N Meade

12/1

€50,000 three-year-old and related to plenty of National Hunt winners; off the mark at third time of asking in point-to-point contests and has every chance if progressing again.

Form: 551

Kempstone

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Jordan Gainford⁽⁷⁾| T: S R B Crawford

100/1

By Scorpion out of a Bob Back mare; unsold as a three-year-old; pedigree suggests he will do better in time over longer distances and probably best watched on debut.

Form:

Kessler

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr T Hamilton| T: S R B Crawford

25/1

Cost 38,000 euros as a three-year-old; half-brother to useful hurdler My Sister Sarah; looks one of the more likely of the newcomers and a check in the market may prove fruitful.

Form:

Master McShee

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Darragh Allen⁽⁷⁾| T: P Corkery

50/1

Cost 11,000 euros as a foal; fairly well bred son of Malinas related to plenty of National Hunt winners; difficult introduction but may go well.

Form:

Power Of Pause⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| BF

5/2

Doyen gelding out of a Great Palm mare; bought for £180,000 following a facile victory in a February point-to-point; ran into a useful opponent when long-odds on for debut at Thurles in January; should progress and may prove hard to beat.

Form: 1-2

Run For Oscar²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr P Byrnes⁽⁷⁾| T: C Byrnes

15/8

Oscar gelding who is a half-brother to Run For Mary who scored in a bumper and over hurdles; improved on debut run here in December when chasing home the winner at Thurles last time out; can go on again and likely to run well.

Form: 42

Ballela To Moscow^p1¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr R McLeigh⁽⁷⁾| T: J G Cosgrave

100/1

Daughter of Kalanisi out of a Moscow Society mare. Closely related to bumper winner Longhouse Poet and decent chaser Longhousesignora; pulled up on only racecourse appearance over hurdles last month.

Form: PP

Two Shoe Tom³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr D G Lavery⁽³⁾| T: Peter Fahey

10/1

Early promise of a number of bumpers 12 months ago appear to have leveled out following a couple of well below-par efforts at Fairyhouse in January.

Form: 2250-96

Non-Runners

Crosshill⁹²

Weight: 12-0| Age: 5

T: Mrs J Harrington J: Mr F Maguire

Forecasts

Run For Oscar (15/8), Power Of Pause (5/2), Fourneux D'isanka (6/1), Alko Rouge (13/2), Two Shoe Tom (10/1), Crosshill (10/1), Hes A Hardy Bloke (12/1), Felino De Bersy (14/1), Kessler (25/1), Master McShee (50/1), Kempstone (100/1), Ballela To Moscow (100/1)

This could be an easy win for POWER OF PAUSE though backers will not want to get their fingers burnt like last time when he was sent off at long odds on but could only finish in second place. Willie Mullins's bumper runners do tend to be better for a run this season so it would not be an easy decision to back against him. Hes A Hardy Bloke could prove his biggest challenger with the five-year-old already a winner in point-to-points, was an expensive purchase and has a likeable pedigree. Another with a promising pedigree is Fourneux D'isanka and any strong market moves for this French-bred gelding should not be treated lightly.