13:38 Cork

Saturday 2 January 2021

All12:3013:0313:3814:1314:4815:2315:55

Happy New Year From All At Cork Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:38 | Winning time: 6m 53.7s

Johngus^t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: E Walsh⁽⁵⁾| T: S Aherne

16/1

Fair hurdler. 20/1, took a step back in the right direction when fourth of 11 in novice hurdle at Fairyhouse (23.5f, heavy) 21 days ago.

Form: 5264-P4

Mercury Lane^t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: B J Cooper| T: P Nolan

9/2

Thrice-raced maiden under NH rules. 7/1, second of 11 in novice hurdle at Tramore (16f, heavy) on hurdles bow 23 days ago. Significantly up in trip. Open to progress.

Form: 2-332

Pat's Pick⁶⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade

6/5

Lightly-raced winner under NH rules. 13/2, got back on the up when second of 9 in novice hurdle at Down Royal (22f, soft) 64 days ago, staying on from 3 out. The one to beat judged on that effort.

Form: 1/743-2

Twelve Olympians

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: I J Power| T: V Clifford

200/1

Windsor Knot horse. Half-brother to numerous winners, including fair hurdler/chaser Rusty Red and modest hurdler Abow. Dam maiden on Flat. Can only be watched on belated debut.

Form:

The Cool Dude²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: J S McGarvey| T: J J Hanlon

40/1

Offered something to work on when seventh of 17 in novice hurdle at Punchestown (16.4f, heavy, 100/1) on NH debut 22 days ago. Significantly up in trip. Engaged 12.20 Tramore Friday.

Form: B-447

Velvet Elvis²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: T Gibney

11/8

Plenty of encouragement when second of 11 in novice hurdle at Fairyhouse (23.5f, heavy, 9/1) on hurdles bow 21 days ago, pulling clear of remainder. Open to improvement.

Form: 1-402

Emily Roebling³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁵⁾| T: G Kelleher| D

80/1

Point winner who hinted at ability when ninth of 12 in bumper at Limerick (16f, heavy) on NH debut 32 days ago. Makes hurdles debut. Significantly up in trip.

Form: 2/3-19

Tellemnothing¹⁴⁶⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: A McCurtin⁽⁵⁾| T: David Barry

200/1

Once-raced maiden. Fifth of 8 in bumper (16/1) at Limerick (16f, heavy) on NH debut. Off over 4 years. Makes hurdles debut. Significantly up in trip.

Form: 5/

Forecasts

Pat's Pick (6/5), Velvet Elvis (11/8), Mercury Lane (9/2), Johngus (16/1), The Cool Dude (40/1), Emily Roebling (80/1), Twelve Olympians (200/1), Tellemnothing (200/1)

Only a few of these make any serious appeal, with PAT'S PICK taken to come out on top and build on his runner-up effort at Down Royal a couple of months ago. He was staying on from 3 out that day and this step up in trip should be right up his street. Velvet Elvis and Mercury Lane look the major threats on paper and can chase the selection home in that order.