17:15 Limerick

Thursday 23 July 2020

All16:4517:1517:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:15

Well Done To All Frontline Staff From Limerick Racecourse (C & G) Maiden Hurdle (Div 2)

Off time: 17:16 | Winning time: 4m 5.80s

Fallen Forest^p¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: J B Kane⁽⁵⁾| T: W Durkan| OR: 100

22/1

One of the more exposed sorts in the line-up given his 12-race maiden status. Seven-length deficit to make up with Haggard Lad (2nd) after finishing third behind that rival at Bellewstown (2m; good). That was more encouraging though.

Form: 4F/605-3

Good Reception³⁶⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: J S McGarvey| T: T Foley

50/1

Beaten 60+ lengths in a pair of summer bumpers last year for these connections. Now makes seasonal/hurdles debut with a lot to prove and is subsequently best watched.

Form: 88-

Haggard Lad^t¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Keith Donoghue| T: Mrs G Callaghan

18/5

Lightly raced and posted career-best when second to an odds-on shot at Bellewstown (2m; good) recently. That proved his previous third at Thurles (2m; good to yielding) when 100-1 was no fluke. Place claims once more.

Form: P/03-2

Hesamanofhisword²²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: K J Brouder| T: D E Fitzgerald| OR: 112

6/4

Ultra consistent sort who hasn't finished out of the first three in any of his last five starts. May have bumped into one when runner-up at Tipperary (2m4f; yielding) at the start of the month. Major player back at 2m.

Form: 62232-2

My Friend The Wind

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: C P McNamara⁽⁵⁾| T: E McNamara

50/1

By Sholokhov. Makes hurdles debut. Dam was an unraced half-sister to a 2m4f/3m hurdle/chase winner. Yard had a 50-1 outsider run well on Monday, but they are not renowned for producing winning newcomers.

Form:

Natch^t⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: D E Browne⁽⁷⁾| T: J C McConnell

66/1

Connections must be keen to get a handicap mark with this one given this is his third start over hurdles this month. Midfield on both starts to far over 2m/2m2f. Place claims at best, but one to watch with interest after this.

Form: 67

Say It Ain't So³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead

5/1

Produced a very promising debut effort over hurdles when fourth over C&D last month behind three rivals who all had previous experience on their side. Winner is rated 124 so the form looks solid. Major player with improvement expected.

Form: 4

Some Spin²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr P A King⁽⁵⁾| T: James King

100/1

No show on debut when comfortably beaten in a bumper at Tipperary (2m; good to yielding). Now tries hurdles but would have to show abnormal improvement off the back of recent effort, and he wants further judged on pedigree.

Form: 0

But I Like It³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁷⁾| T: F Birrane

200/1

Tailed off when last of 13 at Ballinrobe (1m5f; good) on Monday, and beaten a long way in two hurdle starts prior to that when a big price on each occasion. Stiff task and plenty to prove makes him impossible to recommend.

Form: 9-9

Garrison Commander¹⁷⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: L P Dempsey| T: G Elliott

50/1

Latest effort when down the field at Naas (2m; yielding to soft) in January was a backwards step after he posted an encouraging effort to finish fifth on just his second hurdles start the time before that. Quick turnaround may have been to blame.

Form: 750-

Kamikaze Kid¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: C A Landers⁽⁵⁾| T: C Byrnes

66/1

Pulled up before two out when 66-1 on hurdles debut at Kilbeggan (2m4f; good to yielding) recently. Masses to find to even get close to the leading contenders so can be confidently ruled out.

Form: 0P

Top Line Tommy⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Paul Townend| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 111| BF

5/2

Hit the crossbar on each of his previous four starts over hurdles, but was beaten fair and square when last seen beaten 12-length into third at Kilbeggan (2m; good to yielding) last week. Winter hurdles form gives him strong claims again though.

Form: 9524-23

Non-Runners

Blue Ribbon³

Weight: 12-0| Age: 5

T: E Doyle J: R P Treacy

Forecasts

Hesamanofhisword (6/4), Top Line Tommy (5/2), Haggard Lad (18/5), Say It Ain't So (5/1), Blue Ribbon (16/1), Fallen Forest (22/1), Good Reception (50/1), Garrison Commander (50/1), My Friend The Wind (50/1), Natch (66/1), Kamikaze Kid (66/1), Some Spin (100/1), But I Like It (200/1)

A more competitive division of this 2m maiden hurdle with preference for SAY IT AIN'T SO who is open to more improvement than his rivals after finishing a promising fourth on his hurdles bow over this C&D last month. He should be much wiser with that experience under his belt and can get off the mark at the second time of asking. His biggest danger looks to be the more exposed Hesamanofhisword who tends to find one too good. However, the bulk of his form would entitle him to go close once again. Similarly, Top Line Tommy is also a key player despite being slammed into third last time out. The fact Paul Townend keeps the ride is a positive sign.