14:10 Punchestown

Sunday 11 February 2018

All13:4014:1014:4015:1515:4516:2016:50

Michael Fitzpatrick Memorial Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 14:12 | Winning time: 5m 34.5s

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Selected odds by:

Caltex⁷⁴

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

11/4

Has been left toiling in a number of recent bumper starts and hard to construct a case for him on hurdling debut.

Form: 2/33-4

Ger's Lad¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: K M Donoghue| T: G Elliott

33/1

Finished a well beaten 11th when making his racecourse debut at Punchestown before an even heavier 62L defeat at Fairyhouse in a maiden hurdle last month. Looks opposable.

Form: 00

Instant Decision

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: C D Timmons⁽³⁾| T: E Cawley

50/1

Flemensfirth gelding out of a Presenting mare related to Tidal Bay, Imperial Commander and recent Newcastle handicap chase winner Brown Trix. Unlikely to play a part in the finish on debut.

Form:

Percy Veer⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: R P Treacy⁽⁵⁾| T: E McNamara

16/1

An 81-rated handicapper at best on the Flat for Sylvester Kirk in England, he was sent off at 50-1 when pulled up on his hurdling debut at Cork before a 23L defeat at Limerick in December. Looks up against it here.

Form: P3

High Sparrow⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien

13/8

Promising second of 13 on sole point-to-point start before an encouraging win on rules debut in a Limerick bumper over Christmas. Market likely to reveal expectations here.

Form: 21

Kesselring²⁹

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

9/4

Winner on soft ground on the Flat when trained by Richard Hannon and a half-brother to a number of useful Flat performers. Fourth of 15 beaten 15½L on debut here last month. Claims from powerful stable and if tidying up his hurdling.

Form: 4

On The Mend²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: M P Walsh| T: J P O'Brien

25/1

Very good pedigree and is a full brother to useful 3m chaser Miss Xian. Tailed off when pulled-up before three out on debut in a Navan maiden hurdle and may struggle here.

Form: P

Humm Baby¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: T Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: M Hourigan| D

12/1

Solid and consistent in three bumper starts but has generally struggled in three career maiden hurdles including finishing 12th of 21 beaten 64L last month. Unlikely to play a part in the finish.

Form: 90-1250

Victoria Bay¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: S W Flanagan| T: C Bowe

25/1

Well beaten on sole bumper start in May last term and tailed off beaten 57L on maiden hurdle debut last month and requires a chunk of improvement to play a role here.

Form: 1-748

Forecasts

High Sparrow (13/8), Kesselring (9/4), Caltex (11/4), Humm Baby (12/1), Percy Veer (16/1), Victoria Bay (25/1), On The Mend (25/1), Ger's Lad (33/1), Instant Decision (50/1)

The Joseph O'Brien-trained HIGH SPARROW was always to the fore during his ¾L victory on rules debut at Limerick in December and could possibly attempt to repeat the feat on hurdling debut. Kesselring, fourth of 15 on debut here last month and Caltrex can give the selection the most to think about.