14:55 Navan

Saturday 14 March 2020

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:15

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Hurdle

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 6m 20.0s

Opposites Attract⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: C D Maxwell| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 131

7/1

Followed up a first career win over hurdles in December, landing a Down Royal novices' contest over 2m3½f when last seen in January. Looks a progressive type and is shortlisted here.

Form: 25-4311

Quartz Du Rheu⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 134

14/1

Holding his form well in a number of starts over timber since August until a desperate effort at Leopardstown when never a factor over 3m last month behind Treacysenniscorthy. Not ruled out dropping in trip.

Form: 123240

Francin²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 140| C

4/1

Off the mark at the fourth time of asking when landing a 20-runner 2m heavy ground maiden at this venue last month. Entitled to have designs on more prize money in this contest.

Form: 3/631

Fully Charged²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 133

7/1

Ran out a 22L winner of a Limerick 2m5f maiden on heavy ground in December on just his second start over timber. Backed that run up when running well in defeat at Punchestown last month in a Grade 3 contest over 3m. One to be interested in.

Form: 521-214

Mr Hendricks²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: P D Kennedy| T: Mrs J Harrington| C

33/1

Maiden hurdle winner at the third time of asking at Navan in January over 2m4f on soft/heavy ground. No impression on the leaders when falling two out in a Grade 3 contest at Punchestown last month. Others look more convincing.

Form: 41-061F

Pencilfulloflead²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: R M Power| T: G Elliott| D

3/1

Bumper winner on debut in a 2m Down Royal bumper on soft ground in November and ran well in Listed Navan event subsequently. Off the mark at the second attempt over hurdles at Punchestown last month over a similar trip. Respected.

Form: 1421

Festival D'ex⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| C

11/4

Winner of a Punchestown bumper last April before landing a Navan maiden hurdle over 2m on soft ground in December. Below par effort when last seen at Thurles in January, but better than that run suggests.

Form: 114

Sixshooter⁹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: E Walsh⁽⁷⁾| T: N Meade| OR: 133

9/1

Things have not gone the way of the gelding in a couple of starts since winning on hurdling debut at Punchestown in October. Well beaten 19L when last seen in December and market likely to be the best guide on return to action.

Form: 1-1134

Forecasts

Festival D'ex (11/4), Pencilfulloflead (3/1), Francin (4/1), Opposites Attract (7/1), Fully Charged (7/1), Sixshooter (9/1), Quartz Du Rheu (14/1), Mr Hendricks (33/1)

The Gordon Elliott-trained PENCILFULLOFLEAD can back up his win in a Punchestown maiden on heavy ground over a similar trip last month. The six-year-old destroyed the 13 runner field by 12L and should have too much for the likes of his biggest threat in Francin, trained by Willie Mullins who was last seen getting off the mark at the fourth time of asking at this venue last month. Fully Charged for trainer Henry De Bromhead and the Gigginstown House Stud-owned Sixshooter can compete for minor honours.