13:55 Down Royal

Thursday 17 March 2022

All13:5514:3515:1515:5516:3517:1517:50

Bluegrasshorsefeed.com Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:55 | Winning time: 4m 25.8s

Devil's Cut¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: L Page⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| D

40/1

Doyen gelding who was successful on debut in a Downpatrick bumper (17.5f) back in May. Well held on return/hurdles bow at Naas last month and this should reveal more.

Form: 10

Imperial Ruler³⁰¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Keith Donoghue| T: D A McLoughlin

13/2

Backed at long odds and ran to a fairly useful level to make a winning debut in a Tipperary bumper (2m) back in May, asserting final 1f. Well worth a second look now hurdling on return.

Form: 1

Perceval Legallois¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: L P Dempsey| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 120

17/2

Promising individual. 10/1, good third of 17 in novice hurdle at Naas (15.5f, soft) 18 days ago, not knocked about. Should have more to offer.

Form: 1-763

The Banger Doyle^t¹⁸¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Donagh Meyler| T: R K Watson

10/1

Fairly useful bumper winner who showed some promise in a couple of hurdle spins last summer. However, handicaps may be more his bag in due course.

Form: 2210-44

True Destiny¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Liam McKenna⁽⁷⁾| T: J J Lambe

200/1

Fairly useful Flat winner. Twice-raced maiden over hurdles. 33/1, ninth of 13 in novice hurdle at Leopardstown (2m) 10 days ago. One to note when going handicapping in this sphere.

Form: 09

Arlo¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr D G Lavery⁽³⁾| T: S R B Crawford

5/1

Thrice-raced maiden under NH rules. 14/1, fourth of 17 in novice hurdle at Naas (15.5f, soft) 18 days ago, dropping away gradually. In good hands and likely to do better again in this sphere.

Form: 42-04

Billable Grant⁸¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Gavin Brouder⁽⁵⁾| T: C A McBratney

66/1

Thrice-raced maiden under NH rules. Sixth of 10 in novice hurdle at this course (17f, heavy, 66/1) on hurdles bow 81 days ago.

Form: 5-P66

Cross Court⁴⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: H Morgan⁽³⁾| T: W J Bryson

300/1

Once-raced maiden. Eighth of 13 in bumper at this course (17f, heavy, 80/1) on NH debut, pulling hard. Off 15 months. Makes hurdles debut.

Form: 8-

Fiston De Becon^t⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Phillip Enright| T: R Tyner

16/5

Lightly-raced maiden under NH rules. 14/1 and tongue strap on for 1st time, very good third of 15 in bumper at Navan (16f, soft) 54 days ago. Switches from bumpers to hurdles. Yard in good form.

Form: 0757/3

Musta Lovea Lovea¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: B Browne| T: O McKiernan

40/1

Fair maiden in bumpers. Ninth of 17 in novice hurdle at Naas (15.5f, soft, 50/1) on hurdles bow 18 days ago, some headway 3 out but ultimately never a threat. One for later on in this sphere.

Form: 0-22789

Our Ted^t¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: P J Carberry| T: S R B Crawford

80/1

Twice-raced maiden under NH rules. Fourth of 9 in novice hurdle (40/1) at Navan (22f, soft) on hurdles bow 12 days ago. Back down in trip.

Form: 404

Sixhandsinmypocket¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: C G O'Dwyer⁽⁷⁾| T: C O'Dwyer

40/1

Lightly-raced maiden under NH rules. Unseated rider in novice hurdle (150/1) at Naas (15.5f, soft) 18 days ago, keeping on into midfield when coming to grief. Type to do better in this sphere.

Form: 299U

Wild River Dragon⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Aidan Kelly⁽⁷⁾| T: V Wilson

300/1

Once-raced maiden. Last of 15 in novice hurdle at Navan (16f, heavy, 50/1) on NH debut 5 days ago.

Form: 0

Keep Er Country

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: R Deegan⁽³⁾| T: N McKnight

200/1

Kalanisi mare. Dam (c127/h107) 2½m chase winner (stayed 2¾m). Likely best watched on debut.

Form:

Watermelon Girl

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: C L Walsh⁽⁷⁾| T: J C McConnell

125/1

Stowaway mare. Sister to useful hurdler/chaser Seddon. Dam unraced half-sister to fairly useful hurdler/chaser (2m winner) Destiny's Gold.

Form:

Breagagh¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: Mike O'Connor⁽⁵⁾| T: S Millar

125/1

Modest maiden on the Flat. Twice-raced maiden over hurdles. 250/1, seventh of 18 in juvenile hurdle at Navan (16f, soft) 12 days ago.

Form: 07

The King Of Prs

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: C P McNamara| T: G P Cromwell

40/1

€6,500 3-y-o, Dansant gelding. Dam, unraced, closely related to fairly useful chaser (stayed 2¾m) The Cobbler Swayne and fairly useful hurdler (stays 2½m) Theflickeringlight.

Form:

Wrecking Ball Paul¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott

6/4

Promising sort. 17/2, third of 18 in juvenile hurdle at Navan (16f, soft) on NH debut 12 days ago, headed between last 2 and no extra from last. Player with improvement likely.

Form: 3

Closest To Heaven

Age: 4| Weight: 10-1| J: P M O'Brien⁽⁷⁾| T: G P Cromwell

100/1

Leading Light filly. Dam French hurdler/chaser (2¼m-21f winner), half-sister to useful hurdler/smart chaser (stayed 2½m) North Hill Harvey.

Form:

Non-Runners

Vintage Writer²²²

Weight: 11-4| Age: 6

T: S Fahey J: Ben Kennedy

Forecasts

Wrecking Ball Paul (6/4), Fiston De Becon (16/5), Arlo (5/1), Imperial Ruler (13/2), Perceval Legallois (17/2), The Banger Doyle (10/1), Vintage Writer (33/1), Musta Lovea Lovea (40/1), Sixhandsinmypocket (40/1), The King Of Prs (40/1), Devil's Cut (40/1), Billable Grant (66/1), Our Ted (80/1), Closest To Heaven (100/1), Breagagh (125/1), Watermelon Girl (125/1), True Destiny (200/1), Keep Er Country (200/1), Cross Court (300/1), Wild River Dragon (300/1)

WRECKING BALL PAUL shaped with definite promise when third in a big-field Naas novice hurdle on debut 18 days ago and, with progress anticipated with that under his belt, he's fancied to make a bold bid to get off the mark. Imperial Ruler landed his sole start in bumpers last spring and is feared now hurdling, along with Perceval Legallois who remains the type to do better.