18:30 Down Royal

Friday 2 June 2023

All17:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

BoyleSports Opportunity Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 18:30 | Winning time: 4m 57.3s

Stadium Talk²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: B W Harvey| T: J C McConnell

5/2

Winning pointer at second attempt who made a successful bumper debut in 5-runner event at Hexham (16.2f, good to soft) 20 days ago, keeping on well. Should have a future over hurdles.

Form: 6/1-1

Alkajack^v1¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: P J O'Hanlon| T: S R B Crawford

33/1

Showed more temperament than ability when well held in maiden hurdle at Punchestown (15.8f, good to soft, 20/1) on NH debut 10 days ago. Up in trip. Visored for 1st time.

Form: 5P4-P0

Iguis^p1²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: J P Shinnick⁽⁴⁾| T: Paul Traynor

125/1

Well held in pair of maiden hurdles and pulled up sole start in points. Cheekpieces on for 1st time.

Form: 90-P

Marv Michael^t1²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: H Morgan| T: H De Bromhead

13/8

Twice-raced maiden under NH rules who offered something to work on when fifth of 16 in maiden at Kilbeggan (19f, good to soft, 15/2) on hurdles bow 21 days ago. Stable having good spell. Tongue strap on for 1st time. Respected.

Form: 15-5

Noble Blue¹⁰³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: J P O'Sullivan| T: P Nolan

7/1

€58,000 3-y-o, Brave Mansonnien gelding. Half-brother to French 10.5f-1½m winner on Flat Cressida. Dam unraced half-sister to smart hurdler/very smart chaser (stayed 25f) Noble Prince. Runner-up on second of 2 starts in points (Feb 19).

Form: 62-

Ochocinco

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: L A McKenna⁽²⁾| T: Colm Murphy

13/2

€20,000 3-y-o, Kalanisi gelding. Dam, dual bumper winner, half-sister to smart hurdler/top-class chaser (stayed 25f) China Rock and useful hurdle winner/chaser (stayed 2½m) Barrakilla.

Form:

Royal Class³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: N J Ryan⁽⁴⁾| T: Joseph Murray

13/2

Kalanisi gelding. Half-brother to fair hurdler/fairly useful chaser Beforeall and fair staying hurdler Scooby. Fell sole start in points (Apr 29).

Form: F-

The Bridge House¹⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Shane Fenelon⁽⁴⁾| T: J J Hanlon

66/1

Safely held in 2 bumpers. Makes hurdles debut.

Form: 77-

Heart Of Rome¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: J G Gilligan⁽⁴⁾| T: P Nolan

125/1

Well held in 2 maiden hurdles. Up in trip.

Form: 00

J'adore Chas⁸¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Liam Quinlan⁽²⁾| T: Gerald Quinn

22/1

Looked in need of the experience when fourth of 5 in juvenile hurdle at Stratford (18.7f, soft) on NH debut 81 days ago. Should do better.

Form: 4-

Alkascotch^p1¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: R P Geoghegan⁽⁴⁾| T: S R B Crawford

50/1

Looks one for low-grade handicaps. Cheekpieces on for 1st time.

Form: P-060

Noble Annys^p⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: C McGivern⁽⁴⁾| T: John Winston

25/1

Modest form at best in bumpers. Makes hurdles debut up in trip.

Form: S39-40

Tiz All Hush Hush⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Peter Smithers⁽⁴⁾| T: R K Watson

100/1

Well held in bumpers/maiden hurdle. RESERVE.

Form: 090-

Non-Runners

Shajak¹⁹

Weight: 11-6| Age: 4

T: G Elliott J: Danny Gilligan

Chasing Chances⁵³

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: J J Hanlon J: Reserve 2

Moneynabane⁵⁵

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: N McCluskey J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Marv Michael (13/8), Shajak (15/8), Stadium Talk (5/2), Ochocinco (13/2), Royal Class (13/2), Noble Blue (7/1), Chasing Chances (20/1), J'adore Chas (22/1), Noble Annys (25/1), Moneynabane (25/1), Alkajack (33/1), Alkascotch (50/1), The Bridge House (66/1), Tiz All Hush Hush (100/1), Heart Of Rome (125/1), Iguis (125/1)

Useful Flat performer SHAJAK made an encouraging hurdling debut under a considerate ride when fifth at Killarney 19 days ago and looks a certain improver with that under his belt, so he's fancied to make his second start in this sphere a winning one. Marv Michael and bumper-winner Stadium Talk head the opposition.