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12:15 Leopardstown
Tuesday 26 December 2017
All12:1512:4513:1513:5014:2014:5515:30
Horse & Jockey Hotel Maiden Hurdle
- 4YO only | 2m | Yielding (Soft in places) | 24 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 12:17 | Winning time: 4m 2.5s
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Useful performer on the Flat in France now transferred to this top jumps yard. Worth a check in the market for a leading owner.
Winner on the Flat for Tom Clover when trained in Britain. Makes hurdling debut here but doesn't appear to be his trainer's first string based on jockey bookings.
Scorpion gelding who cost €14,500 as a foal. Half-brother 0/3 in maiden hurdles but wider pedigree is slightly more appealing.
Has finished second in two maiden hurdles so far having picked up some good form in bumpers. Probably needs to improve to come out on top here but has shown he can go close in these contests.
Two wins and two seconds in bumpers (including runner-up in the Champion Bumper and Listed win). Makes his hurdling debut after a fair absence but sets the standard on bumper form.
Placed in a point-to-point (and fourth in another) and makes his debut under rules here. That form unlikely to be enough to see him win this type of race.
Fourth of nine in a point-to-point earlier in the year having fallen on debut in that sphere. Having first start under rules/for this yard but other newcomers make more appeal.
Maiden on the Flat who was pulled-up on debut over hurdles at Cork earlier in the month. Needs to show much, much more to have an impact here.
Oscar gelding who cost €34,000 as a three-year-old. Not much to go in terms of pedigree but appears to be down the owner's pecking order based on jockey bookings.
Finished fifth but beaten a long way in a Punchestown bumper earlier in the month, and that level of form would surely see him come up short here.
Bumper winner at Punchestown in May before disappointing slightly at odds-on at Down Royal in June (no obvious excuses). Should still give a good credit of himself on this debut over hurdles.
Unbeaten in two starts on the Flat in France but came up short when odds-on for hurdling debut at Cork last time. Could improve on that here with the benefit of that run.
Back down in trip having run even more poorly over 2m4f at Punchestown last time out. Unlikely to land a blow here based on what he's shown so far.
Fair stayer on the Flat but only win on the level actually came over further than this, and may enjoy more of a test in time.
Dual-purpose performer who has only won once on the Flat (but has mostly been running in Group/Listed races). Fair efforts in maiden hurdles (has fallen once), and not discounted.
Beaten 37L at odds of 66/1 on debut at Navan earlier in the month. Seems unlikely to improve too much on that performance.
Down the field on debut at Navan earlier in the month and wasn't overly impressive but represents top connections and may improve on that effort.
1/12 on the Flat, ran a couple of other encouraging races but still has plenty to find with the best of these and has to prove he can take to obstacles.
Yet to really impress in two bumpers and a maiden hurdle (placed in one bumper but beaten 31L). More needed with this top jockey taking the ride for the first time.
Four-time winner on the Flat (including three on the AW) and makes his hurdling debut here. Recent form fairly encouraging and can't be discounted if taking to jumping.
Winner of three minor events on the Flat when trained by Hughie Morrison. Makes her debut over hurdles here but will likely struggle to match the class of the leading contenders.
Has shown little in two maiden hurdles so far (pulled-up and then beaten 71L), and has too many questions to answer on her third start under rules.
Winner on the Flat but well-beaten in two maiden hurdles so far, and others hold more convincing claims based on that level of form.
0/12 combined between that Flat and hurdles and difficult to see her getting involved in this having been beaten 81L at Tramore last time in a weaker race.
Forecasts
Debuchet (6/5), Manamite (10/3), Cask Mate (7/1), Antey (8/1), Play The Game (10/1), Los Alamos (25/1), Texie Rexie (33/1), Desire De Joie (33/1), Sidetracked (33/1), Ellie Mac (50/1), At Your Ease (50/1), Leave Your Mark (50/1), St Gallen (50/1), Life Isfor Living (50/1), Nelson Road (50/1), Due Reward (50/1), Ejayteekay (50/1), Try Again (66/1), Quamino (66/1), Askari (66/1), Siempre Amigos (100/1), Nearly Famous (100/1), Faraway Hills (100/1), Meldrum Way (100/1)
This is all about whether DEBUCHET can reproduce the level of form he showed in bumpers, and if so then he seems likely to make a winning debut despite having been off since early April. The son of Smadoun was a Listed winner in that sphere, and was also a fine second in the Champion Bumper in the Cheltenham Festival. He is taken to get off the mark over hurdles at the first attempt at the expense of Antey, who makes his debut for a top yard having been bought from the Flat in France, and Cask Mate, beaten just a short head in a similar race at Navan last time.
- Debuchet
- Antey
- Cask Mate
Previous Winners
Prize Money
1st: €8,624.002nd: €2,673.003rd: €1,274.004th: €574.005th: €223.00
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