14:10 Down Royal

Tuesday 25 January 2022

All13:1013:4014:1014:4015:1015:4016:10

Molson Coors Rated Novice Hurdle

Off time: 14:11 | Winning time: 4m 14.00s

Drumbear^t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Simon Torrens| T: J C McConnell| D

5/2

Bumper winner who jumped well when making a successful hurdling debut in 5-runner novice at Musselburgh (19.8f, soft) 22 days ago, impressively. Sure to do better.

Form: 13-1

Clifton Warrior²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 121

14/1

Made a winning start over hurdles on first outing for this yard at Thurles in November, but failed to match that on handicap debut at Leopardstown (20f) 27 days ago. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 4P-10

Ballycoose³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: J J Slevin| T: S R B Crawford| C

10/3

Won a course bumper on debut and looked a good prospect when following up on Ayr hurdling debut (2m) 35 days ago, staying on well. Open to progress.

Form: 11

Rodaniche⁵⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 118

11/1

Off the mark in convincing fashion at Wexford in October but failed to repeat that effort in minor event hurdle at Fairyhouse (20f, good) last time

Form: F-2217

Faith Du Val^t³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 115

20/1

Fair hurdler. Winner at Sligo in August. 12/1, 21¾ lengths sixth of 9 to Lunar Display in listed hurdle at Thurles (16f, good to soft) 37 days ago, eased down.

Form: 31F676

Summer Tide²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: D J McInerney| T: C Byrnes| OR: 115

7/1

Fairly useful hurdler. Winner at Tipperary in July but was well held after 4 months off in handicap hurdle (12/1) at Limerick (20f, heavy) 29 days ago.

Form: 06-1950

Pike County²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Mark Walsh| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 113

9/1

Fairly useful hurdler who caught the eye after 11 weeks off when seventh of 28 in 2m4f handicap at Leopardstown (soft) 28 days ago, making late headway and not knocked about. Needs considering.

Form: 2/F49-67

Sam Lorenzo²²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Ewing| T: W J Bryson| OR: 101

80/1

Fair hurdler. Ninth of 11 in handicap hurdle at Downpatrick (17.3f, good, 10/1). Off 7 months. Plenty to find on form.

Form: 563-409

Stansfield²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Shane Fitzgerald⁽⁵⁾| T: Paul Traynor| OR: 97| C

66/1

Fairly useful chaser. One win from 21 NH runs. 20/1, fell in handicap chase at Naas (16f, soft) 23 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles. Uphill task.

Form: 6P2F5F

The Dasher Conway²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: C D Maxwell| T: Mrs G Callaghan| OR: 110

4/1

Lightly-raced winner over hurdles who shaped as if still in good form when twelfth of 28 in handicap hurdle at Leopardstown (20f, soft) 28 days ago, doing best of those held up. Not ruled out.

Form: F0-140

Non-Runners

Hammersmith⁹

Weight: 11-11| Age: 6

T: J Nash J: J B Foley

Forecasts

Drumbear (5/2), Ballycoose (10/3), The Dasher Conway (4/1), Hammersmith (6/1), Summer Tide (7/1), Pike County (9/1), Rodaniche (11/1), Clifton Warrior (14/1), Faith Du Val (20/1), Stansfield (66/1), Sam Lorenzo (80/1)

DRUMBEAR galloped on strongly up the straight on his Musselburgh hurdling debut, despite being plenty keen enough early, so with this drop back in trip holding no fears, he's fancied to go in again. Pike County caught the eye back in this sphere at Leopardstown over Christmas and is one to bear in mind, as is the unbeaten Ballycoose, who created a good impression at Ayr last month.