16:55 Ballinrobe

Tuesday 20 July 2021

All15:1515:4816:2316:5517:2517:5518:2518:55

Brewin Dolphin Rated Novice Hurdle

Off time: 16:55 | Winning time: 4m 12.9s

Asserted^t⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: S Fitzgerald⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien

11/2

9/2 and tongue strap on, won 16-runner novice hurdle at Kilbeggan (18.3f, good to soft) on NH debut 44 days ago. Open to progress, so likely to get involved.

Form: 5/1

Mars Harper³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: Mrs D Foster| C

16/5

Career best when winning 15-runner novice hurdle (7/1) at Down Royal (16.4f, good) 32 days ago, always holding on. Going the right way and hasn't finished improving, so firmly on the radar.

Form: 13-621

The Little Yank¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: B J Cooper| T: J P Ryan| OR: 113

7/2

Fairly useful hurdler. Twenty one runs since last win in 2019. 10/3, creditable second of 6 in novice hurdle at Roscommon (20.9f, soft) 14 days ago. Can make presence felt.

Form: 97-7232

Persia^b,t¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 116| D

7/4

Useful winner at 10f on flat. 1/6 and blinkered for 1st time, easily landed 9-runner novice hurdle at Bellewstown (16.8f, good) 17 days ago. Should take the beating once more.

Form: 4-131

Staging Post^t³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Phillip Enright| T: M M McNiff| OR: 110

7/1

Fair hurdler. Latest win in hurdle at Wexford in June. Creditable fourth of 8 in novice hurdle at Wexford (16f, good to soft, 12/1) 34 days ago. Stable having good spell. Should go well again.

Form: 1530-14

Good Time Jonny¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: P J Carberry| T: A J Martin

40/1

Fair hurdler. Fairly useful winner at 16f in bumpers. Ninth of 13 in novice hurdle (6/1) at Roscommon (16.1f, soft) 14 days ago. Difficult ask.

Form: 319/64-9

Hot Beat⁵⁵³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Shane O'Callaghan⁽⁷⁾| T: T M Walsh| OR: 102

40/1

Thrice-raced maiden over hurdles. 20/1, fourth of 6 in minor event hurdle at Fairyhouse (16f, heavy), not knocked about. Off 18 months. Plenty to find on form.

Form: 344/

King Lenox⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: L P Dempsey| T: P W Flynn

22/1

Modest maiden on the Flat. First run since leaving W. Ross when third of 14 in novice hurdle at Sligo (17f, good to soft, 40/1) on NH debut 9 days ago. May do better.

Form: 3

Forecasts

Persia (7/4), Mars Harper (16/5), The Little Yank (7/2), Asserted (11/2), Staging Post (7/1), King Lenox (22/1), Good Time Jonny (40/1), Hot Beat (40/1)

PERSIA is already a dual winner over hurdles but has the scope for a good deal better based on Flat form, so he's a straightforward choice ahead of Mars Harper, who also arrives on an upward curve. The Little Yank is also a player, but he's a bit more exposed.