14:10 Clonmel

Thursday 11 January 2018

All12:3513:0513:3514:1014:4015:15

Monroe Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 5m 35.4s

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Selected odds by:

Caro Des Flos¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Alexis Poirier| T: W P Mullins| BF

7/1

Beaten favourite last time out when a disappointing 44L fifth of seven in a Limerick maiden hurdle last month. Second to Al Boum Photo in January makes him better than last run.

Form: P42/2-5

Cote Tete^t¹⁰

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

33/1

Not much to shout about in two below-par maiden hurdles in the last three weeks. Unlikely to play a part in the finish.

Form: 40

Giant Spirit²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 122

6/1

Finished runner-up on two occasions behind Let's Dance and Bon Papa earlier in career but has struggled since. Worth a market check on second start for powerful yard.

Form: 25244-7

Great Khan¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Phillip Enright| T: E J O'Grady

9/2

Failed to build on a promising third of 12 beaten 6¾L in a Limerick maiden hurdle last month before beaten over 16L when upped in trip last time out. May appreciated running over this trip.

Form: 233633

Kilcross Lad¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Brian Hayes| T: J O Clifford

100/1

Son of Millenary who is a half-brother to a point-to-point winner. Sixth of seven beaten 73L behind Jammy George on debut in a Limerick bumper. Looks up against it here.

Form: 6

Marcelo^h1³⁸⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: D J McInerney⁽⁵⁾| T: T Foley

66/1

Beaten a total of 90L in his two career maiden hurdles including last time out when last seen in December 2016. Plenty to prove on return to the track in first time hood.

Form: 0/58-

Simon's Castle¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: A J McNamara

100/1

Cheap purchase by Mahler out of a Busy Flight mare related to Market Rasen St Stephens Day winner Randy Pike. Last of eight beaten 97L on debut at Limerick last month. Others preferred.

Form: 8

So Influential¹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr C L Murphy⁽⁷⁾| T: E Sheehy

33/1

Best effort so far came when 5L second on heavy ground over C&D on debut for this yard last month before a heavy 55L defeat last time out when weakening four out. Others make more appeal even with hood now removed.

Form: F134-25

Western Ruler¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: A Ring⁽³⁾| T: M F Morris| OR: 102

12/1

Signs of improvement following a number of second-rate performances when finishing second of 13 in a Limerick maiden hurdle over 2m3f on St Stephens Day. Need to continue improvement if landing a blow here.

Form: 00-52

Cut Em Down^t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: D N Russell| T: J P O'Brien

20/1

Well beaten when falling in a point-to-point on debut and struggled in a bumper at Navan on rules debut before much of the same in a Leopardstown maiden hurdle last month. Looks a tall order on form shown.

Form: F-50

Moonshine Bay²⁵

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

2/1

Point-to-point winner who cost £120,000 in June beaten 42L in Fairyhouse bumper earlier this month before disappointing in a Navan maiden hurdle finishing sixth of 17 last month. Others hold stronger profiles.

Form: 4-186

Stacks Mountain⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: A E Lynch| T: H De Bromhead

9/2

Only making steady progress finishing third of 18 last time out in November though beaten 21L behind Real Steel but can be expected to improve on second start of the season.

Form: 48-3

Visioman¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: D F O'Regan| T: H De Bromhead

25/1

Decent effort when finishing 18L fifth at Cork on his debut in November before finding no extra and failing to quicken two out when ninth of 15 well beaten last time out. Will need to improve to figure on jockeys only ride of the day.

Form: 59

Forecasts

Moonshine Bay (2/1), Great Khan (9/2), Stacks Mountain (9/2), Giant Spirit (6/1), Caro Des Flos (7/1), Western Ruler (12/1), Cut Em Down (20/1), Visioman (25/1), So Influential (33/1), Cote Tete (33/1), Marcelo (66/1), Simon's Castle (100/1), Kilcross Lad (100/1)

So Influential likes to get on with things usually and may guarantee a decent pace in the early stages of the contest with Caro Des Flos along with two who could be fighting for the minors Edward O'Grady's consistent Great Khan and the Willie Mullins-trained Giant Spirit. A chance is taken with STACKS MOUNTAIN who is expected to come on for his third on seasonal debut.