14:45 Down Royal

Monday 1 May 2023

All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

Club Orange Hurdle

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 6m 0.00s

Holmes St Georges¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Ben Bromley⁽⁷⁾| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 119| BF

5/2

Fairly useful hurdler. Latest win in hurdle at Musselburgh in November. 11/4, very good second of 7 in handicap hurdle at Newcastle (16.9f, good to soft) 16 days ago. Significantly up in trip. Much respected.

Form: 421222-

Lieutenant Highway^p¹⁹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Danny Gilligan⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 129

5/1

Useful hurdler. Four wins from 6 runs last season. Pulled up in handicap hurdle (12/1) at Cheltenham (24f, good to soft), beaten quickly. Off 6 months. Not taken lightly if on song after his lay-off.

Form: 11113P-

Paul Marvel⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: K Callaghan⁽⁷⁾| T: W P Mullins

15/8

Stylish debut winner in hurdle at Limerick in January. Very good third of 5 in novice hurdle at Navan (22f, heavy, 4/1) 42 days ago. Has more to offer. Interesting.

Form: 13-

Bella Bliss^t⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: E Walsh⁽⁵⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 115

3/1

Fairly useful hurdler. Creditable second of 11 in novice hurdle at Hexham (16.2f, soft, 7/1) 7 days ago, staying on well. Significantly up in trip. No forlorn hope.

Form: 11UB72-

Wee Jerry^t²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Mike O'Connor⁽⁵⁾| T: N McCluskey| OR: 81

50/1

Poor hurdler. 20/1, respectable seventh of 12 in handicap hurdle at Downpatrick (21.7f, heavy) 29 days ago. Plenty to find on form.

Form: 0B9067-

Cocoplum¹⁰⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Shane O'Callaghan⁽⁷⁾| T: C A McBratney| OR: 95

14/1

Cheekpieces on for 1st time, fifteenth of 18 in handicap hurdle (25/1) at Navan (20f, soft) 100 days ago. Others are much preferred.

Form: F/43770-

Social Distancing⁶⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Dillon Maxwell⁽⁷⁾| T: N McCluskey| OR: 85

125/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 150/1, pulled up in novice hurdle at Punchestown (22.1f, good to soft) 68 days ago, dropping away 4 out. Hard to warm to.

Form: 64P/4PP-

Non-Runners

Joyeux Machin²

Weight: 11-10| Age: 6

T: P Nolan J: R Deegan

Forecasts

Paul Marvel (15/8), Joyeux Machin (15/8), Holmes St Georges (5/2), Bella Bliss (3/1), Lieutenant Highway (5/1), Cocoplum (14/1), Wee Jerry (50/1), Social Distancing (125/1)

Willie Mullins' Limerick scorer PAUL MARVEL looks to have more to offer so is taken to resume winning ways at the chief expense of Holmes St Georges, who comes here on the back of a very good Newcastle second. In-form Bella Bliss appeals as the pick of the remainder for minor honours.