15:05 Downpatrick

Saturday 17 June 2017

All14:0014:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

Eire Og GAC Fundraiser Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 5m 20.0s

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Selected odds by:

Blue Empyrean²⁹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: K M Donoghue| T: G Elliott| C

14/1

Won a bumper here last June but some mixed efforts over hurdles after, best one coming at Sligo in heavy ground, so a bit to prove here after an absence and best watched today.

Form: 531424-

Harold Peto³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D F O'Regan| T: A Fleming| OR: 122

11/8

Has some solid efforts to his name and only just went down at Killarney last time, looking like a bit further would suit. Goes on a variety of ground and form wise, just about sets the standard here. Must be considered.

Form: 75254-2

Major Destination^t¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: S W Flanagan| T: N Meade

5/1

Bumper winner at Wexford (over 2m4f) in May, coming right away late in the piece, and a perfectly solid first hurdles effort at Punchestown when midfield behind Lac Kivu. More to come and this extra distance should help.

Form: 2-317

Immortal Bridge^b,t¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: M P Walsh| T: J P O'Brien

8/1

Winner on the Flat for Aidan O'Brien last year, and finished five lengths in front of Major Destination on hurdles debut at Punchestown. Quick ground suits, and there should be improvement on the cards over this trip. Not discounted.

Form: 4

Millar Jack¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: J M Moore| T: T Gibney

33/1

Was making progress when unseating at the last in a point-to-point earlier this month but this simply looks too hard a task on hurdles debut.

Form: U

Polymath²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: B J Cooper| T: G Elliott| OR: 108

7/1

Made a good fist of it from the front over this C&D two starts back but dropped away disappointingly quickly when back here later in the month. Questions to answer now and others preferred.

Form: 5685-23

Thinkinginmysleep¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Rachael Blackmore⁽³⁾| T: Mrs D A Love

20/1

Placed a few times in bumpers and breeding suggests she should have a future hurdling, but form shown to date only modest and she makes little appeal here.

Form: 484-334

Chubi Chekker¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: B J Reynolds⁽⁷⁾| T: K H Clarke| OR: 95

40/1

Has been well behind a few of these on recent starts and yet to prove this trip really suits. Little realistic chance.

Form: 58-49

Caerleon Kate²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: P Townend| T: C A McBratney| OR: 86

50/1

Couple of reasonable efforts to her name but form not of the same standard as a few of these, and is easily passed over.

Form: D447-B0

Mistheatre²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington

4/1

Looked to be crying out for a step up in trip when third to Khalessi at Limerick on most recent start, and that was a step forward form-wise as well. More improvement likely and she looks a major player here.

Form: 077-63

Mollyking^t²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: C D Maxwell| T: J G Cosgrave

14/1

Has won a couple of point-to-points and clearly has some ability. Fourth to Iolani in a bumper on debut and will improve for hurdles and step up in trip, but does need more to get involved for win purposes here.

Form: 1/3-14

Maureen's Star¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: J J Slevin⁽⁵⁾| T: L Lennon

50/1

Tailed off most starts and not doing anything to suggest she's going to get involved today.

Form: 06-068

Forecasts

Harold Peto (11/8), Mistheatre (4/1), Major Destination (5/1), Polymath (7/1), Immortal Bridge (8/1), Blue Empyrean (14/1), Mollyking (14/1), Thinkinginmysleep (20/1), Millar Jack (33/1), Chubi Chekker (40/1), Caerleon Kate (50/1), Maureen's Star (50/1)

This looks a good opportunity for HAROLD PETO to get on the scoresheet after another solid effort at Killarney last time, and this does look less competitive. Mistheatre should do better over this trip and can prove the main danger. Major Destination ought to have more to offer and can take the bronze.