13:52 Galway

Saturday 23 October 2021

All13:2013:5214:2715:0215:3716:1016:45

Connolly's RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:53 | Winning time: 4m 4.80s

Sam's Choice²³

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott

9/2

Fairly useful in bumpers. 15/8, won 13-runner bumper at Clonmel (16.7f, good) 23 days ago. Top yard should have him well prepared for this hurdling debut, so boasts solid claims.

Form: 24-1

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Explosive Boy¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: B J Cooper| T: A J Martin

3/1

Promising type. 25/1 and tongue strap on for 1st time, third of 17 in novice hurdle at this course (19.1f, heavy) 18 days ago. Open to improvement, but vulnerable to above-average types.

Form: F/3

Emperor Dani¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: E Walsh⁽⁵⁾| T: L P Cusack

250/1

Once-raced maiden. Seventh of 8 in bumper at Fairyhouse (16f, good, 18/1) on NH debut 14 days ago. Makes hurdles debut.

Form: 7

Pyramid Hill¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: L P Dempsey| T: G P Cromwell

150/1

Twice-raced maiden under NH rules. 28/1, twelfth of 15 in novice hurdle at Punchestown (16f, good to soft) on hurdles bow 10 days ago.

Form: 80

Rightful Mind⁹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: C P McNamara| T: G P Cromwell

40/1

Below form sixth of 10 in bumper at Ballinrobe (16.2f, good, 13/2) 95 days ago. Makes hurdles debut. First run for yard after leaving Eddie & Patrick Harty.

Form: 54-6726

Choice Of Words^t¹⁷⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: M Brassil

11/10

Fairly useful winner at 18f in bumpers. Good second of 14 in bumper (9/1) at Punchestown (16.3f, good to soft) 178 days ago. Likely to take the beating on hurdling debut.

Form: F/4212-

Derrylinda²⁰³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Flanagan| T: G P Cromwell

7/2

Fair winner at 18f in bumpers. 8¼ lengths seventh of 11 to Party Central in listed bumper at Fairyhouse (16f, good to soft, 11/1). Off 6 months. Notable hurdling newcomer.

Form: 17-

Non-Runners

Freedom To Dream⁶⁶⁶

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: Peter Fahey J: D F O'Regan

Forecasts

Choice Of Words (11/10), Explosive Boy (3/1), Derrylinda (7/2), Sam's Choice (9/2), Freedom To Dream (10/1), Rightful Mind (40/1), Pyramid Hill (150/1), Emperor Dani (250/1)

Based on bumper form, CHOICE OF WORDS is the most talented one in this field and shouldn't have any issue with obstacles, so he's narrowly preferred to Sam's Choice, who fits a similar mould. Derrylinda is another one to consider in what could prove to be an above-average maiden hurdle.