14:10 Gowran Park

Saturday 8 March 2025

All14:1014:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:35

Golf Classics At Gowran Park Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 14:11 | Winning time: 4m 35.6s

Bop Wont Stop⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Donagh Meyler| T: R Sweeney

50/1

Ran a long way below hurdling debut form when eleventh of 17 in maiden (16/1) at Clonmel (18.9f, heavy) 9 days ago.

Form: 4P300

Can Happen³¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Ricky Doyle| T: M Fahey

18/1

Vadamos gelding. Closely related to modest staying chaser Instant Gambler. Dam, maiden on Flat, sister to French 2m-23f hurdles/chase winner Ole Companero. Last of 5 finishers sole start in points (Apr 2024).

Form: 5-

Captain Ryan Matt⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead

3/1

Much improved from hurdling debut when second of 16 in maiden at Punchestown (16.2f, heavy) 40 days ago. Big chance on that form.

Form: P52

Fierce Handay²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: N Meade

12/1

Showed a bit when sixth of 14 in novice hurdle (16/1) at Navan (15.7f, heavy) on NH debut 27 days ago. Possibly more one for handicaps a bit further down the line.

Form: 6-6

Grimaud⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 123

8/13

Fairly useful Flat winner and similar form over hurdles, including when second of 9 in maiden (10/1) at Fairyhouse (20f, soft) 51 days ago. Leading contender.

Form: 332

I Feel Fine

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

125/1

Califet gelding. Dam placed, in bumpers/over hurdles, half-sister to smart hurdler/chaser (stayed 2½m) Bamako Moriviere (by Califet).

Form:

Killala Bay

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Gavin Brouder⁽³⁾| T: P W Flynn

150/1

Policy Maker gelding. Dam modest hurdler (23f winner).

Form:

Pension Plan⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Niall Moore⁽⁵⁾| T: P W Flynn

250/1

Sixteenth of 18 in novice hurdle at Leopardstown (16f, good to soft, 100/1) on NH debut 6 days ago.

Form: 0

Siege Ofjadotville²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: J S McGarvey| T: M Hassett

150/1

Well held in pair of maiden hurdles.

Form: 39

Sparrow Wings¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Jordan Gainford| T: L Kenny

250/1

Nineteenth of 20 in novice hurdle at Naas (15.5f, heavy, 150/1) on NH debut 13 days ago.

Form: 0

Tackletommywoowoo¹²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: K C Sexton| T: D Queally

33/1

Placed both starts in bumpers but finished last of 6 in novice hurdle at Ascot (15.7f, good, 11/1) on hurdles bow 126 days ago. First run for yard after leaving Samuel Drinkwater.

Form: 336

Tippinaway²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: R Deegan| T: Eric Larkin

250/1

Bred for longer trips and shaped accordingly when thirteenth of 18 in novice hurdle at Clonmel (16.1f, soft, 150/1) on NH debut 23 days ago.

Form: 0

Union Alley⁷²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D E Mullins| T: Ms M Mullins

125/1

Well held in 2 bumpers so makes very little appeal on this switch to hurdling.

Form: 00

Welcome Aboard^t¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Simon Torrens| T: A A Howard

150/1

Looks more one for handicaps after this run.

Form: 90

Zuzukel³³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D King| T: A J Martin

100/1

Fair maiden on the Flat but well held complete start over hurdles. Off 11 months.

Form: 6F-

Glendower^h⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Cian Quirke⁽³⁾| T: E Doyle

100/1

Went the wrong way on the Flat for William Muir & Chris Grassick and failed to make much of an impact sent hurdling at Navan last week.

Form: 8

Harpy Eagle

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Tiernan Power Roche⁽⁵⁾| T: R P Cody

22/1

Free Eagle gelding. Half-brother to numerous winners, including fairly useful hurdler/chaser Mont Royale, stayed 23f, and fair hurdler Modulus.

Form:

Imarajan^t³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Kieren Buckley| T: E & P Harty

10/1

Fair maiden handicapper up to 1¾m on the Flat and showed some aptitude for hurdling when fourth of 13 in juvenile at Fairyhouse (16f, soft) on NH debut 31 days ago. Open to improvement.

Form: 4

Nobody^h²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Phillip Enright| T: Brendan Walsh

300/1

Modest maiden on the Flat. 200/1, eighth of 16 in juvenile hurdle at this course (16f, heavy) 21 days ago, not knocked about.

Form: 6S8

Sixtripleeight

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott

11/1

€44,000 3-y-o, Blue Bresil gelding. Half-brother to fairly useful hurdler/chaser Outside The Door, stays 3¾m, and fair chaser Loud As Lions. Bred more for stamina than speed but still a respected newcomer from top stable.

Form:

Non-Runners

Out Moll's Gap²¹

Weight: 11-2| Age: 4

T: Brendan Walsh J: Reserve 1

Jurality²⁵³

Weight: 11-2| Age: 4

T: P W Flynn J: Reserve 2

Woodford Warrior²³

Weight: 11-12| Age: 5

T: P T Foley J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Grimaud (8/13), Captain Ryan Matt (3/1), Imarajan (10/1), Sixtripleeight (11/1), Fierce Handay (12/1), Can Happen (18/1), Harpy Eagle (22/1), Tackletommywoowoo (33/1), Bop Wont Stop (50/1), Jurality (50/1), Woodford Warrior (50/1), Out Moll's Gap (66/1), Zuzukel (100/1), Glendower (100/1), I Feel Fine (125/1), Union Alley (125/1), Siege Ofjadotville (150/1), Welcome Aboard (150/1), Killala Bay (150/1), Sparrow Wings (250/1), Tippinaway (250/1), Pension Plan (250/1), Nobody (300/1)

CAPTAIN RYAN MATT was no match for a smart prospect at Punchestown on his most recent outing, but it still represented a big step forward from his hurdling debut and a reproduction of that form may well suffice. Grimaud is proving consistent over hurdles and is an obvious threat, with Imarajan and newcomer Sixtripleeight others worthy of consideration.