13:35 Navan

Saturday 2 March 2024

All13:3514:1014:4015:1515:4816:2316:58

Meath Farm Machinery Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:38 | Winning time: 4m 38.0s

Balko D'ange

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Brian Hayes| T: P Fenton

14/1

Balko gelding. Dam, ran once over hurdles in France, half-sister to fairly useful hurdler/very smart chaser (stayed 2¾m) Mail de Bievre.

Form:

Balovale^h⁵⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: J S McGarvey| T: E J O'Grady

200/1

Hooded but raced freely when well held in a bumper at Naas (16f, soft, 18/1) on debut 50 days ago. Makes hurdle bow.

Form: 0

Charming Star^p³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny Gilligan⁽⁵⁾| T: T G McCourt

5/6

Fairly useful winner at 12f on Flat who showed an aptitude for hurdling when fourth of 16 in a juvenile at Naas (15.5f, soft) on NH debut 34 days ago. Should progress.

Form: 4

Club Manager¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Kieren Buckley| T: G P Cromwell| D

33/1

Fair Flat winner who looked one for later on over hurdles when fifth of 13 in a juvenile at Gowran (16f, heavy) on NH debut 14 days ago.

Form: 5

Grann's Boy¹²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean Flanagan| T: H Rogers

22/1

Fair handicapper on Flat, stays 1½m, successful at Galway final start in 2023. Makes hurdles debut and can't be ruled out if taking to this new discipline.

Form:

Ilbdare

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: R P Treacy| T: M M McNiff

200/1

Fascinating Rock gelding. Half-brother to 9f winner Theophilos. Dam unraced.

Form:

Milteye³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny Mullins| T: E J O'Grady

40/1

Fairly useful Flat winner at up to 1m who shaped like a non-stayer when twelfth of 16 in juvenile hurdle at Naas (15.5f, soft) on NH debut 34 days ago.

Form: 0

Shahbaz¹³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell

5/2

Fairly useful handicapper on Flat for Charlie Fellowes, stays 1¼m, in frame final 5 starts in 2023. Interesting hurdling debutant.

Form:

Sir Callisto²⁸⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: P J Carberry| T: A J Martin

40/1

Fairly useful form on Flat in France, maiden winner last time, stays 13f:. Left J. Reynier €23,000 in November. Should have a future over hurdles.

Form:

Someone's Wish¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott

80/1

Modest Flat winner who was well held on hurdling debut at Gowran (16f, heavy) 14 days ago.

Form: 0

Welcome Back

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Jordan Gainford| T: G Elliott

4/1

Getaway gelding. Brother to 2 winners, including fairly useful hurdler Banks Boy, stays 2½m, and half-brother to fairly useful hurdler Floral Fantasy. Makes plenty of appeal on paper.

Form:

Wing Back¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Cian Quirke⁽⁵⁾| T: S Curling

100/1

Offered little in juvenile hurdle (125/1) at Gowran (16f, heavy) on NH debut 14 days ago.

Form: 6

Drum Roll¹⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: R Deegan| T: P Nolan

125/1

Fair maiden on Flat in France, stays 9.5f, below form last time. Left N. Clement for €13,000 in November.

Form:

I Dont Lie

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: E Walsh| T: Mrs D Foster

80/1

Diamond Boy filly. Half-sister to fairly useful hurdle winner/useful chaser Coach Carter. Dam (c123/h121) 2½m-3m hurdle/chase winner.

Form:

Non-Runners

St Faz⁵⁶

Weight: 11-7| Age: 4

T: E J O'Grady J: Phillip Enright

Forecasts

Charming Star (5/6), Shahbaz (5/2), Welcome Back (4/1), St Faz (7/1), Balko D'ange (14/1), Grann's Boy (22/1), Club Manager (33/1), Milteye (40/1), Sir Callisto (40/1), Someone's Wish (80/1), I Dont Lie (80/1), Wing Back (100/1), Drum Roll (125/1), Ilbdare (200/1), Balovale (200/1)

CHARMING STAR, a lightly-raced winner on the Flat, showed an aptitude for hurdling when fourth at Naas in January and has to be considered the one to beat with improvement on the cards. Welcome Back and Shahbaz are a pair of interesting hurdling newcomers who need monitoring closely in the betting.