14:15 Clonmel

Thursday 28 February 2019

All13:4514:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:05

Coral 100K Cash Cheltenham Smart Money Series Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 14:17 | Winning time: 4m 2.2s

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Selected odds by:

Accidental²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D E Mullins| T: Ms M Mullins

66/1

Miguel Angel gelding out of a Shantou mare. Well held on both maiden hurdle starts to date and fared little better in a bumper last time.

Form: P00

Banquet Hill^t⁶⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: L Quinlan⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 92

33/1

Modest ability this far reflected in a handicap mark of 92. That would be good enough in this company, but his last effort was particularly poor.

Form: 7/44U0-0

Pont Aven¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins

1/2

Travels well but has not found enough for pressure on either hurdles start. Yard in better form in run up to Cheltenham, but he would have to be considered a risk at short odds.

Form: 0-45

Eclat Du Large⁷²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: P D Kennedy| T: M Kennedy

11/1

Half-brother to useful types All Together and Du Soleil hs regressed in recent outings and does not look good enough at present.

Form: 05790

Keep Standing³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: B Hayes| T: P Fenton

12/1

Poor form in Point-to-points but exceeded market expectations when fourth on hurdles bow at Tramore (2m, soft) on New Year's Day. Has failed to back that up in two runs since, but this far less competitive.

Form: P56400

Presenting Point⁷²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: P T Enright| T: E O'Grady| OR: 89

20/1

Presenting gelding out of an Alderbrook mare. Beaten a long way in all three starts over timber so far and unappealing for now after another modest effort last time.

Form: 7-000

Georgia Grace^p⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: D F O'Regan| T: Miss H McLoughlin| OR: 80

66/1

Seven-race maiden hurdler for whom blinkers failed to deliver any improvement last time and she looks out of her league.

Form: 904-088

Trees Valley¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: D J O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: W J Burke

25/1

Mahler half-sister to useful staying chaser Major Malarkey. Has not jumped well enough in either start, but could offer more in a race as poor as this having gained useful experience.

Form: F00

Caddy Shack³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr J P Berry⁽⁷⁾| T: J A Berry

66/1

Has looked moderate in point-to-points, bumpers and three starts over hurdles. Looks likely to struggle again.

Form: PU0060

Fur Elise^t³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr S Cavanagh⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs D A Love

7/2

Showed some ability in bumpers prior to finishing fifth in a poor race on hurdling debut. This looks no better and she should be in the reckoning.

Form: 7875

Rebel Early⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: W J Burke

12/1

In rear on both compeleted starts and may have finished mid-division last time but for falling two out. Rider 0-16 for yard and little to recommend her.

Form: 00F

Forecasts

Pont Aven (1/2), Fur Elise (7/2), Eclat Du Large (11/1), Rebel Early (12/1), Keep Standing (12/1), Presenting Point (20/1), Trees Valley (25/1), Banquet Hill (33/1), Caddy Shack (66/1), Accidental (66/1), Georgia Grace (66/1)

It says something that the highest officially rated in this is Banquet Hill with a mark of 92. Pont Aven will likely be sent off favourite but there is unlikely to be any value in chasing him at short odds given he has been soundly beaten having found little response to pressure on his two most recent starts. Trees Valley has a nice pedigree and looks one of the more likely types to win in the future, but on this occasion it may pay to side with FUR ELISE who made a satisfactory debut over hurdles in similarly modest company and who receives a useful allowance.