12:25 Down Royal

Friday 1 November 2024

All12:2513:0013:3014:0514:4015:1515:50

Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 12:25 | Winning time: 5m 49.4s

Augusta George²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr N Gault⁽⁷⁾| T: W J Bryson| OR: 99

28/1

Fair hurdler. Winner in bumper at Downpatrick in August. 5/1, second of 5 in novice hurdle at Downpatrick (21.8f, good to soft) 21 days ago, better placed than most. Well in the mix.

Form: 286182

Garnacho^t²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: M Hamill| T: D A McLoughlin

22/1

Fair hurdler. Below form seventh of 15 in novice hurdle (9/1) at Gowran (16f, good to soft) 28 days ago. Significantly up in trip.

Form: 5-52277

Healdsburg¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: L A McKenna⁽⁵⁾| T: M A Molloy

125/1

Twice-raced maiden under NH rules. 8/1, sixth of 11 in novice hurdle at Limerick (16.3f, good to soft) on hurdles bow 12 days ago. Significantly up in trip.

Form: UP-56

John The Spark²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Keith Donoghue| T: Ian Donoghue

12/1

Modest hurdler. 4/1, creditable second of 9 in novice hurdle at Fairyhouse (18.5f, good) 20 days ago, unsuited by drop in trip. Back up in distance now and not ruled out.

Form: 428-P42

My Lyka³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins

10/3

Useful Flat winner. Promising individual (shaped well on hurdles debut). 50/1, twenty ninth of 30 in handicap at the Curragh (16.8f, good to soft) 33 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Solid claims.

Form: 2

The Yellow Clay¹⁸⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott

4/11

Very smart form in bumpers. Player now hurdling significantly up in trip for top yard that targets this (1 of 2 runners).

Form: 11/462-

Interchangeable^h1¹⁸⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-11| J: D A Jacob| T: S R B Crawford

80/1

Twice-raced maiden. 80/1, thirteenth of 17 in bumper at Punchestown (16.7f, good to soft). Off 6 months. Makes hurdles debut. Significantly up in trip. Hooded for 1st time.

Form: 00-

Non-Runners

Champagne Kid³⁷

Weight: 11-12| Age: 5

T: P E Collins J: Patrick M O'Brien

Wingmen¹⁸³

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: G Elliott J: Jordan Gainford

Forecasts

The Yellow Clay (4/11), My Lyka (10/3), Wingmen (7/2), Champagne Kid (7/1), John The Spark (12/1), Garnacho (22/1), Augusta George (28/1), Interchangeable (80/1), Healdsburg (125/1)

Willie Mullins' MY LYKA is the clear pick of those with experience and fancied to get off the mark in this sphere. Gordon Elliott saddles two interesting hurdling newcomers though in the shape of Wingmen (second choice) and The Yellow Clay and they should ensure the selection doesn't have things all his own way.