GAIN Rated Novice Hurdle

Off time: 12:30 | Winning time: 4m 18.60s

Hes A Hardy Bloke^t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 125| D

11/8

Lightly-raced winner under Rules. Tongue strap on for 1st time, career best when winning 17-runner novice hurdle at Punchestown (16.4f, heavy, 10/3) 22 days ago, well on top finish. Major player.

Form: 1P-2131

Bal De Rio⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan| OR: 120| D

20/1

Fairly useful hurdler. Remains a maiden after 18 hurdle runs. 25/1, pulled up in novice hurdle at Limerick (20f, heavy) 7 days ago. Claims if able to bounce back.

Form: 32352P

Yafordadoe⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 122| CD

11/2

Fairly useful hurdler. C&D winner. Creditable tenth of 20 in handicap hurdle at Leopardstown (16f, soft, 33/1) 6 days ago. Stable in good form, but this 5-y-o needs to find some improvement.

Form: U-11640

Majestic Maid^t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: P D Kennedy| T: M Kennedy| OR: 115| C| D

3/1

Fair hurdler. Course winner. 14½ lengths fifth of 8 to Skyace in listed hurdle (20/1) at Punchestown (20f, heavy) 27 days ago. Not discounted down in class here.

Form: 35P-215

Takarengo^p⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Jack Brendan Foley⁽⁷⁾| T: T Mullins| OR: 116

5/1

Fair hurdler. Remains a maiden after 8 hurdle runs. Below form seventh of 20 in novice hurdle (16/1) at Leopardstown (20f, soft) 5 days ago. Cheekpieces back on. Must improve.

Form: 57-3337

Annie Pender^h⁸³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: D F O'Regan| T: J Queally| OR: 111| D

10/1

Fair hurdler. Winner at Listowel in September. 4/1, bit below form fourth of 8 in handicap hurdle at Limerick (16f, heavy) 83 days ago. Needs considering.

Form: 3P2-414

Forecasts

Hes A Hardy Bloke (11/8), Majestic Maid (3/1), Takarengo (5/1), Yafordadoe (11/2), Annie Pender (10/1), Bal De Rio (20/1)

There should be better to come from HES A HARDY BLOKE, who left his hurdles debut well behind when landing a big-field maiden hurdle at Punchestown last month, surviving a last-flight mistake. He gets the nod ahead of the filly Annie Pender. Bal de Rio won't be far away if he puts his best foot forward, while Majestic Maid is also in with a shout.