14:20 Clonmel

Tuesday 20 February 2018

All13:5014:2014:5015:2515:5516:3017:00

Derrygrath Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 4m 34.6s

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Selected odds by:

Ballikanan⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D E Splaine| T: T O'Brien

33/1

Went close on Rules debut in bumper last year but has looked no great shakes in two starts over hurdles so far. Needs to find more to figure.

Form: FF-280

Giant Spirit^p¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 121

6/4

10-race maiden formerly trained by Sandra Hughes. Joined current stable in November and was decent runner-up here in January. Ran well in hot Leopardstown handicap hurdle over 3m latest. This trip looks a bare minimum.

Form: 244-727

Great Khan^t1⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: P T Enright| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 115

4/1

Has finished second or third in seven of his last eight starts in maiden hurdle, suggesting he lacks a kick when it's needed most. Remains one to consider if they make plenty of use of him and drop back in trip may help his cause.

Form: 336333

Kilcross Lad¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: N M Kelly⁽⁵⁾| T: J O Clifford

33/1

Has looked very, very slow in three starts so far, beating just one horse in total. Impossible to fancy at this level.

Form: 6U0

Mohart⁶⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: R Loughran| T: J Dullea

33/1

In rear on all four starts to date in bumpers and novice hurdles and hopes rest on a lowly handicap mark later in the term.

Form: 0668

Pallaskenry⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: A E Lynch| T: H De Bromhead

20/1

Bought for £50,000 after winning point-to-point last February. In touch until fading 3 out in two starts for current yard over longer trips so may do better at 2m, but needs to start improving.

Form: 21-69

Pedro^t1²³

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

14/1

Pulled up in two point-to-points, stats that hardly inspire on this debut under Rules. Very hard to get excited about.

Form: PP

Southerner^h1⁸⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr W T Cronin⁽⁷⁾| T: William Cronin

33/1

No great shakes in four bumpers to date. Hinted at a little ability on penultimate start but this looks tough on his hurdling bow.

Form: 50/48

Border Control¹²

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

7/1

Showed ability in both bumpers and ran well when runner-up in second hurdles start at Naas last month over this trip. Stepped up a mile and appeared not to stay last time. Has place prospects.

Form: 34826

Caveat Emptor⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: J J Burke| T: W J Burke

14/1

Eighth in both maiden hurdles, but has shaped with some promise on each occasion. Open to some improvement and any positive market move would be an interesting sign.

Form: 88

Doyen Bay²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: A McCurtin⁽⁵⁾| T: E O'Grady

33/1

Beaten out of sight in both starts so far over hurdles and looks to face a near impossible task on that evidence.

Form: P00

Glenrua¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: B Hayes| T: J J Hanlon

20/1

Failed to complete in all four point-to-points but did better on first start over hurdles for current yard when seventh at Thurles. May improve but needs to do just that to get involved at this level.

Form: P-PPF7

Monatomic¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott

8/1

Respectable sixth on debut last month and was running a fair race when unseating 2 out at Naas recently. Wasnt going to win that day but has some ability and won't be too far away with a clear round.

Form: 6U

Nonameyet⁷⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: R P Treacy⁽⁵⁾| T: L Young

50/1

Not shown very much in two starts so far and looks the type that will be more at home in a modest handicap in due course.

Form: 80

Rough Night²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: A W Short⁽⁵⁾| T: E U Hales

12/1

Poor form on first three starts but better in last three, including when third at Tramore on New Year's Day and when fifth of 24 at Fairyhouse four weeks ago. One of the more likely outsiders.

Form: 807F35

The Nosey Man

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

33/1

Unraced Atraf gelding who cost connections just 500 euros. Half-brother to three individual winners, but sale price doesn't inspire confidence. Probably best watched for now.

Form:

Forecasts

Giant Spirit (6/4), Great Khan (4/1), Border Control (7/1), Monatomic (8/1), Rough Night (12/1), Caveat Emptor (14/1), Pedro (14/1), Pallaskenry (20/1), Glenrua (20/1), Mohart (33/1), Southerner (33/1), Doyen Bay (33/1), Ballikanan (33/1), The Nosey Man (33/1), Kilcross Lad (33/1), Nonameyet (50/1)

GIANT SPIRIT should benefit from this drop in class having run well for a long way in a hotly contested staying handicap hurdle last time out. Assuming he has the pace at this minimum trip he should go very well. Great Khan looks a fair bet once again to reach a place, and Monatomic won't be too far away if putting in a clear round. Border Control cannot be ruled out, and while the rest are mainly dead wood there is some hope for both Rough Night and Caveat Emptor.