13:30 Leopardstown

Sunday 29 January 2017

All13:3014:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:30

Donohue Marquees Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 3m 47.7s

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Selected odds by:

Broken Soul³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: J W Kennedy| T: G Elliott

7/2

Form of last month's bumper second behind Bon Papa looks strong, since won on debut over hurdles and sets a decent standard to aim at.

Form: 236-332

Equation Of Time^h,t⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: S W Flanagan| T: G Donnelly

80/1

Modest strike rate on the Flat and comes to this game late enough, would be a surprise should be prove up to winning this race.

Form: /-

Excelli¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: B M Cash| T: A A Howard

66/1

Has the benefit of two spins over hurdles recently but little evidence so far that he's going to make a splash.

Form: /-

Athenry Boy^t³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: M P Fogarty| T: J T Gorman

100/1

A 15-race maiden on the Flat before going over hurdles at this venue a month ago, ridden handily but faded tamely from two out and beaten a long way.

Form:

Billy's Angel

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: G N Fox| T: A Murray

100/1

Newcomer, was an inexpensive purchase but trainer has decent track record of hitting the frame.

Form: 53-

Crossed My Mind²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: M P Walsh| T: A L T Moore

33/1

Was a rank outsider at Cork for debut in two-mile maiden hurdle earlier this month when parting company with jockey early in the contest.

Form: U41

General Trickery^t³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: M A Enright| T: E P Harty

66/1

Hasn't shown anything in two bumper runs to merit support for hurdles bow, including at this last month.

Form: 69

King Of Country¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: L P Dempsey| T: M Halford

80/1

Maiden on the Flat in England before joining this trainer, two runs over hurdles have lacked promise and no surprise should he revert to the level again before winning a race.

Form:

Melon⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins

4/9

French import hasn't run for 16 months but comes to the track with a lofty reputation ahead of hurdles bow and all eyes will be trained on his every move.

Form: -12

William Tyndale^t1⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: D Meyler⁽³⁾| T: K Thornton

100/1

Outclassed in Naas maiden hurdle over 2m4f last week, drop in trip here is unlikely to see thing turned around dramatically.

Form: 0

Diamond Warrior^t1

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: D F O'Regan| T: A J Martin

33/1

Debutant for in-form trainer, bred to enjoy this game and one of the more likely types to make his presence felt.

Form: 70-

Mystique Heights²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: M J Bolger| T: L Comer

25/1

Improved on second over hurdles at Cork earlier this month, possibly going to take another step forward in this.

Form: -

Prince Charmin'^t³³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: D N Russell| T: A J Martin

9/2

Second of two for trainer in this, made a pleasing start to hurdling career when fourth of 16 over C&D last month, no surprise if there is some more to come.

Form: 431-

Forecasts

Melon (4/9), Broken Soul (7/2), Prince Charmin' (9/2), Mystique Heights (25/1), Crossed My Mind (33/1), Diamond Warrior (33/1), Excelli (66/1), General Trickery (66/1), Equation Of Time (80/1), King Of Country (80/1), Billy's Angel (100/1), William Tyndale (100/1), Athenry Boy (100/1)

A race that apparently revolves around the potential of MELON for the champion trainer. He's never jumped a hurdle in public and has been off the course for 16 months since being imported from France but there's no doubting he is held in the highest regard. The spring festivals await should he make the desired start now and it is hard to oppose him. He'll be set a fair challenge however with Broken Soul having won nicely at Down Royal last month and he won't go down without a fight. Prince Charmin' can make his presence felt too having run encouragingly on hurdling bow here last month. Newcomer Diamond Warrior and Mystique Heights are also worth of consideration for what may be minor roles. 1. Melon 2. Broken Soul 3. Prince Charmin'