17:27 Kilbeggan

Saturday 9 August 2025

All17:2718:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Jim Ryan Racecourse Services Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 17:28 | Winning time: 3m 56.70s

Pavilion End^h²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Gavin Brouder⁽³⁾| T: C O'Brien

12/1

Carried little win threat in bumpers. Won a 12f Dundalk maiden in January but well held when seventh of 10 in flat handicap at Leopardstown (22/1) 23 days ago. Market may guide expectations on hurdles debut.

Form: 0/67-

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Faithful Follower³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: N T Prendergast⁽⁷⁾| T: P Hennessy

7/1

Has shown promise in recent starts including third in a bumper at Tramore. Showing improved form and booked for second when fell at the last in 15-runner maiden hurdle at Bellewstown (6/1) 35 days ago. Has rejoined former yard. One to consider in this company.

Form: 265-43F

Granpa Ger²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Danny Mullins| T: A Mullins| OR: 98

9/2

Maiden ran right up to his best after 4 months off when creditable second of 16 in handicap hurdle at Clonmel (16.9f) but ran poorly upped in grade when tenth of 11 at Killarney (8/1) 23 days ago, racing off the pace and never threatening. Remains to be seen if he can get back on track in a maiden.

Form: 5500-20

Astelia⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Sam Ewing| T: Peter Fahey

8/15

Improving hurdler with consecutive second-place finishes in maiden hurdles. Sixth of 18 in Flat handicap at Galway (25/1) 9 days ago, making headway in the straight and nearest at the finish. Strong contender returning to hurdles and may go one better than previous starts in this sphere.

Form: 22

Cuguilla

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Conor Clarke⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Ryan

33/1

Workforce mare. Dam unraced, from family of bumper winner/fair 2m hurdler Very Tempting and Italian St Leger winner Comme L'Etoile. Tough ask on debut.

Form:

Marians Gal⁸⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: J Smith⁽⁵⁾| T: K Smith

50/1

Showed modest AW form last winter, then well held in 13th of 15 in flat handicap at Gowran Park (8/1) 80 days ago. Makes hurdle debut but others make more appeal.

Form:

Tenacious Spirit¹⁷⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Liam Quinlan| T: R Hackett

18/1

Well beaten on debut and taken wide on second start when sixth of 14 in maiden bumper at Gowran Park (40/1) 175 days ago, faring little better. Makes hurdle debut today but has plenty of improvement to find.

Form: 06-

Non-Runners

Cosmos D'ainay³⁷

Weight: 11-12| Age: 5

T: G Elliott J: Jack Kennedy

Abitlikethat¹

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: P J Rothwell J: Simon Torrens

Forecasts

Astelia (8/15), Granpa Ger (9/2), Cosmos D'ainay (5/1), Faithful Follower (7/1), Pavilion End (12/1), Tenacious Spirit (18/1), Cuguilla (33/1), Marians Gal (50/1), Abitlikethat (66/1)

ASTELIA has shown consistent form with consecutive second-place finishes in maiden hurdles and looks primed to go one better after a creditable sixth in a competitive Galway Flat handicap 9 days ago. Cosmos d'Ainay travelled well but didn't see out his race on hurdles debut and looks interesting dropping back to 2m, while Faithful Follower was booked for second when falling at the last at Bellewstown and rates a threat if none the worse for that tumble.