16:30 Downpatrick

Sunday 7 August 2022

All14:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:0017:30

Magners Irish Cider Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 16:30 | Winning time: 5m 19.9s

Rexem⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Simon Torrens| T: J C McConnell| C

5/6

Winner of bumper here in July. 12/1, promising hurdling debut when third of 17 in novice at Galway (16.7f, heavy) 8 days ago, forcing pace. Significantly up in trip. Respected.

Form: 12-313

Ask Charlie^t¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Kieren Buckley⁽⁵⁾| T: D Harvey| OR: 95

11/1

Modest hurdler. 25/1, sixth of 15 in maiden hurdle at Ballinrobe (17.4f, good) 19 days ago. Back up in trip. More needed to get involved.

Form: 654836

Ask Philip^b1¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Jordan Gainford| T: G Elliott| OR: 105

14/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Cheekpieces on for 1st time, fourth of 14 in novice hurdle (11/2) at Limerick (20f, good) 17 days ago. Blinkers now applied. Shortlisted as he goes up in trip.

Form: 07504

Badgerisland

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: N T Prendergast⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss E McCutcheon

66/1

Rule of Law gelding. Dam, failed to complete all 3 starts in points, sister to fairly useful chaser (stayed 3½m) Chosen Dream. Tough ask on his first start.

Form:

Joshua Chamberlain¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Ricky Doyle| T: G Keane

12/1

Thrice-raced maiden. Seventh of 20 in bumper at Galway (18.3f, good, 22/1) 10 days ago. Improvement needed now going over hurdles.

Form: P-567

L'or Des Roses¹⁰⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr B W Harvey⁽⁷⁾| T: D Harvey

50/1

£8,000 5-y-o, Lord Du Sud gelding. Dam 1¼m/11f winner on Flat in France. Maiden pointer who looks to be up against it on Rules debut.

Form: 435P8-

Wee Rupert^t⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr O McGill⁽⁷⁾| T: N C Kelly

50/1

Lightly-raced maiden under NH rules. 28/1, first run since leaving Nick Gifford when fourth of 8 in novice hurdle at Cartmel (22.1f, good to soft) on hurdles bow 44 days ago, not unduly punished.

Form: 04/P4-14

Westcoastinformant³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott

2/1

Promising type. 7/2, stepped up on hurdling debut form when second of 11 in novice hurdle at Wexford (24f, soft) 37 days ago. The one to beat with further progress to come.

Form: 9-52

Born Famous^p³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: P J O'Hanlon⁽⁵⁾| T: C O'Connell

50/1

Lightly-raced maiden under NH rules. Cheekpieces on for 1st time, went backwards from hurdling bow when sixth of 11 in novice at Wexford (24f, soft, 28/1) 37 days ago.

Form: P1-7536

Little Nan³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: J J Slevin| T: A J Black

50/1

100/1, well held when eighth of 16 in novice hurdle at Kilbeggan (19f, good to soft) on NH debut 30 days ago. Easy enough to look elsewhere.

Form: P-U68

Non-Runners

Drumroe Lad³⁴

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: R Murphy J: Mr J P Kirwan

Forecasts

Rexem (5/6), Westcoastinformant (2/1), Ask Charlie (11/1), Joshua Chamberlain (12/1), Ask Philip (14/1), Born Famous (50/1), L'or Des Roses (50/1), Wee Rupert (50/1), Little Nan (50/1), Drumroe Lad (66/1), Badgerisland (66/1)

WESTCOASTINFORMANT improved from his first start over hurdles when runner-up at Wexford last month and he can go one better this time around with further improvement to come. Rexem is feared most going up in trip after his promising debut over timber, while stablemate of the selection Ask Philip helps to give Gordon Elliott a strong hand in the race.