14:35 Leopardstown

Sunday 5 March 2023

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

Michael Rafferty Memorial Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 14:35 | Winning time: 5m 1.60s

Black Field¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark McDonagh⁽⁵⁾| T: Ciaran Murphy

100/1

Once-raced maiden. Sixteenth of 18 in novice hurdle (100/1) at Clonmel (16f, heavy) on NH debut 17 days ago. Up in trip.

Form: 0

Eco Pete¹⁸⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Thomas Reilly⁽⁷⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 116| BF

16/1

Fairly useful hurdler. Below form fourth of 10 in novice hurdle at Downpatrick (21.7f, good, 10/11). Off 6 months and needs to hit the ground running.

Form: 200-U24

Getaway Henry¹⁹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Donagh Meyler| T: Daniel O'leary

100/1

Lightly-raced maiden under NH rules. Pulled up in novice at Killarney (16.4f, good, 150/1) on hurdles bow. Off 6 months. Back up in trip with work to do.

Form: 900P

Ostend⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Shane Fenelon⁽⁷⁾| T: P Croke

80/1

Lightly-raced maiden under NH rules. Fifth of 12 in bumper (150/1) at Fairyhouse (16.5f, good to soft) 8 days ago. Switches from bumpers to hurdles with more needed.

Form: 065P5

Parmenion^t³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| BF

2/7

Fair ex-French Flat winner. Promising type. Tongue strap on for 1st time, second of 25 in novice hurdle at Fairyhouse (16f, soft, 4/6) 36 days ago. Up in trip. Stable in good form. Big shout.

Form: 32

Pasifucan

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Keith Donoghue| T: Ciaran Murphy

50/1

Mamool gelding. Dam point winner. Others are preferred on this occasion.

Form:

Present Soldier³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott

5/2

Promising type. 11/1, fourth of 18 in novice hurdle at Naas (19f, soft) on NH debut 35 days ago. Stable in good form. This points scorer can do better.

Form: 1-4

Non-Runners

Belper²²

Weight: 11-12| Age: 5

T: P Nolan J: Jordan Gainford

Lets Go Champ⁴⁹

Weight: 11-12| Age: 8

T: H De Bromhead J: Rachael Blackmore

Forecasts

Parmenion (2/7), Lets Go Champ (15/8), Present Soldier (5/2), Eco Pete (16/1), Belper (33/1), Pasifucan (50/1), Ostend (80/1), Getaway Henry (100/1), Black Field (100/1)

PARMENION found only the very promising Found A Fifty too good at Fairyhouse and Willie Mullins' ex-French recruit can go one better now at the chief expense of Lets Go Champ who also has better days ahead of him. Present Soldier appeals as the pick of the rest for minor honours.