13:50 Leopardstown

Saturday 3 February 2024

All13:2013:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:40

McCann FitzGerald Spring Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 13:52 | Winning time: 4m 5.10s

Bunting³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| D

15/2

Successful on sole start on the Flat in France and looked a very good prospect as he landed the odds with plenty to spare on hurdling debut at Limerick (2m) 39 days ago. Open to significant improvement.

Form: 1

Ethical Diamond³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: M J M O'Sullivan| T: W P Mullins| BF

50/1

Fairly useful Flat winner. Failed to meet expectations when finishing a long way behind Intellotto on his hurdling debut over C&D but is clearly thought capable of a good deal better.

Form: 0

Highwind¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: W P Mullins| D

11/1

Fairly useful on the Flat (stays 1½m) for Christopher Head and created a good impression sent hurdling when winning 18-runner juvenile at Punchestown (16.2f) 19 days ago. Sure to progress.

Form: 1

Intellotto^t³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: D A Jacob| T: J P O'Brien| CD

17/2

Showed fairly useful form when runner-up in a pair of Flat maidens and looks set to scale greater heights in this sphere judged on the manner of his hurdling debut success over C&D 38 days ago. Open to improvement and is an interesting runner upped in grade.

Form: 1

Majborough³⁰⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins

5/1

Tongue tied when landing 11-runner newcomers race at Auteuil (14.9f, soft) on debut 10 months ago. First run for yard after leaving Mlle D. Mele. Open to improvement.

Form: 1-

Open To Question^p1¹²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 125| D

100/1

Fairly useful form in Flat maidens and ran to a similar level when winning 11-runner juvenile hurdle at Gowran (16f, heavy) on NH debut 126 days ago, going clear. Cheekpieces replace blinkers and has lot more on his plate at this level.

Form: 1

Ose Partir^h,t³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Slevin| T: M Brassil

100/1

Fairly useful Flat winner. Thrice-raced maiden over hurdles, not disgraced when 9 lengths eighth of 12 to Kala Conti in Grade 2 over C&D (good to soft, 80/1) 39 days ago. Looks vulnerable again.

Form: 298

Storm Heart³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins

9/4

Fairly useful 1½m winner on the Flat in France and made a highly impressive hurdling debut in 11-runner juvenile at Punchestown (16.7f, heavy) 34 days ago, storming clear. Should have a lot more to offer.

Form: 1

Kala Conti³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| CD

11/2

Made it 3 wins from 4 starts over hurdles in Grade 2 event over C&D (good to soft) 39 days ago, by ¾ length from Kargese, pushed out. Much respected.

Form: 1121

Kargese^h³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins

7/2

Group 3 winner in France who shaped well on first run since leaving D. Sourdeau De Beauregard when ¾-length second of 12 to Kala Conti in Grade 2 event over C&D 39 days ago. Big player on that form.

Form: 12-12

Kimy¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: J B Foley| T: T Mullins| OR: 112

200/1

Matched previous form on first run since leaving E. D' Andigne when 4½ lengths fourth of 18 to Highwind in juvenile maiden hurdle at Punchestown (16.2f, soft) 19 days ago. Faces a stiff task in this grade.

Form: 424

Forecasts

Storm Heart (9/4), Kargese (7/2), Majborough (5/1), Kala Conti (11/2), Bunting (15/2), Intellotto (17/2), Highwind (11/1), Ethical Diamond (50/1), Open To Question (100/1), Ose Partir (100/1), Kimy (200/1)

KARGESE was beaten only ¾-length by Kala Conti in a Grade 2 over C&D in December and, with the run likely to have brought her on, she's taken to reverse the form with her old rival on these slightly better terms and come out on top. Kala Conti seems sure to put up another bold bid, with Storm Heart and Intellotto others to take seriously following highly impressive starts to their hurdling careers.