P.J. Foley Memorial Flat Race

Off time: 16:11 | Winning time: 3m 56.20s

Douglas Dc²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr J J Codd| T: G Elliott| BF

7/1

Once-raced maiden. 13/8, second of 8 in bumper at Naas (15.8f, soft) on NH debut 25 days ago. Warrants respect with the benefit of experience.

Form: 2

Hansard

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr H C Swan⁽⁷⁾| T: C O'Brien

25/1

The Gurkha gelding. Closely related to a winner and half-brother to 6 winners on Flat, including smart 1m-9f winner Quiet Meadow. Dam 1m winner. Worth a market check.

Form:

Hellsworth

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr T Hamilton| T: G Elliott

22/1

Buratino gelding. Half-brother to 6 winners on Flat, including 6f-8.5f winner Sparklealot. Dam 7f winner. Bred to have plenty of pace, so very much respected first time out.

Form:

Like A Bullet^h1

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Adam Leahy⁽⁷⁾| T: J J Hanlon

200/1

Valirann gelding. Half-brother to 1½m Flat winner Boom Box. Dam, 7f-1¼m winner, half-sister to fairly useful hurdler (stayed 3m) Last Flight. Wears hood.

Form:

Mercurey

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins

30/100

Muhtathir gelding. Half-brother to 17f winner Mushroom. Dam, 1½m winner, sister to Molotof (stayed 3m) and Marracudja (stays 21f) (both useful hurdler/smart chaser). Should take all the beating.

Form:

Whats The Solution

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: G P Cromwell

20/1

Beat Hollow gelding. Dam unraced half-sister to fairly useful hurdler/useful chaser (stayed 25f) Undeniable. Likely to need further in time.

Form:

Tiger Bay Queen

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr D G Lavery⁽³⁾| T: Peter Fahey

8/1

Westerner filly. Dam (c112/h110), temperamental 3m hurdle winner. Looks more one for the longer term.

Form:

Forecasts

Mercurey (30/100), Douglas Dc (7/1), Tiger Bay Queen (8/1), Whats The Solution (20/1), Hellsworth (22/1), Hansard (25/1), Like A Bullet (200/1)

Given his pedigree and connections, it's hard to look beyond MERCUREY as he bids to make a winning start, although the speedily-bred Hellsworth, also representing a top yard, can't be ignored in opposition. Douglas DC's experience could come in handy, too.