16:50 Downpatrick

Friday 26 April 2024

All16:2016:5017:2017:5018:2018:5019:20

Billie & Bertie FitzGerald Memorial Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 4m 31.4s

Eco Pete^p²⁶⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Simon Torrens| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 107| CD

16/1

Bumper winner here. Second in course maiden in 2022/23 on first completed start over hurdles. Disappointing after. Off 8 months. First run for yard after leaving John McConnell.

Form: 244-03P

Razdan^h,t³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Kieren Buckley| T: C Timmons| OR: 107

11/4

Lightly-raced maiden over hurdles. Respectable twelfth of 19 in handicap at the Curragh (8f, heavy, 20/1) 39 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Hood back on. Remains unexposed in this sphere.

Form: 3/272P-

Mille Miglia^p³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Flanagan| T: C A McBratney| OR: 81

66/1

Lightly-raced maiden over hurdles. Creditable seventh of 14 in handicap (28/1) at Dundalk (16f) 31 days ago, unable to sustain effort.

Form: 0-0800

Tina Meehan⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Gavin Brouder⁽⁵⁾| T: J Nash| OR: 104

12/1

Bumper winner. Tenth of 15 in novice hurdle at Leopardstown (16f, soft, 50/1) 54 days ago.

Form: 1-7380

Kalsman^h¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Thomas Reilly⁽⁷⁾| T: L Lennon| OR: 82

100/1

Poor maiden. Eleventh of 15 in handicap hurdle at Down Royal (19.8f, soft, 150/1) 12 days ago.

Form: 0U7U00

Pallas Athene^p1¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| BF

3/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 2/1, creditable fourth of 15 in novice hurdle at Down Royal (19.8f, soft) 12 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Proving expensive to follow but should have a good chance in this company.

Form: 1-44P44

The Great Unknown²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 104

5/4

Promising sort. Fourth of 19 in novice hurdle (11/2) at Naas (16f, soft) 22 days ago, close up when badly hampered home turn before keeping on. Leading claims.

Form: 3-554

Non-Runners

The Flying Spur⁴⁹³

Weight: 11-4| Age: 8

T: M Brassil J: C Brassil

Hey Whatever⁶²

Weight: 10-3| Age: 4

T: G Elliott J: Sam Ewing

Forecasts

The Great Unknown (5/4), Razdan (11/4), Pallas Athene (3/1), Hey Whatever (6/1), The Flying Spur (8/1), Tina Meehan (12/1), Eco Pete (16/1), Mille Miglia (66/1), Kalsman (100/1)

THE GREAT UNKNOWN has made a promising start over hurdles and looks the way to go. Pallas Athene has a great chance on these terms in first-time cheekpieces although 4 consecutive defeats when sent off favourite tempers enthusiasm a bit. Stablemate Hey Whatever is another to note.