16:10 Wexford

Friday 5 April 2019

All15:3516:1016:4517:2017:5018:2018:5019:20

Springtime In Wexford Maiden Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 16:12 | Winning time: 5m 13.7s

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Selected odds by:

Defy De Mee²⁶

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

1/1

€190,000 purchase at sales last year after winning in France. His two best efforts have come at around this trip including his latest when he was just run out of it close home. Would just have Lethal Steps to beat if reproducing that form.

Form:

Licklighter³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan| OR: 111

12/1

Six-time runner-uo who will appreciate the forecast quicker ground. Will be fitter for his comeback run last month but he looks likely to come up short again.

Form:

Black Market⁶⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: D P Holden⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead

25/1

Yeats gelding who failed to complete the course in either point-to-point. Has joined a top yard but chances are still not obvious.

Form:

Cenotice⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: S W Flanagan| T: N Meade

5/1

Oldcastle point-to-point winner has looked a bit one paced in bumpers. Starts his hurdling career over a suitable trip and worth checking in the market.

Form:

Eclair De Rock¹¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁵⁾| T: S J Treacy

66/1

Has been too keen on both starts in bumpers and now goes hurdling over a trip which will require him to settle.

Form:

Kilrane Road²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr G L Murphy⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs O Byrne

100/1

Little to recommend him on pedigree and four modest showings in point-to-points. Better to look elsewhere on this occasion.

Form:

Sullane Hill²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Slevin| T: P C O'Connor| OR: 100

8/1

Winning point-to-pointer has only shown modest ability over hurdles. One of his better efforts did come over C&D but an official rating of 100 gives him a bit to find.

Form:

Acrux Cass^h¹¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: D J O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: M J McDonagh

100/1

Landed a Tramore bumper in August but he was tailed off on his hurdling bow when he did not jump well. Has had four months to improve things but the experience may still be needed.

Form:

Lethal Steps^p²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott| OR: 127

4/1

Dual Flat winner who was rated 102 at his peak. Has earned a jumps rating of 125 following respectable efforts at Naas and Punchestown before finding Cheltenham too much of a test. This sharp track should be perfect and he is the one to beat.

Form:

Hansom Lady¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: P E Corbett⁽³⁾| T: S J Treacy

100/1

Fairly Ransom mare who is a half-sister to three-time Flat winner Extra Cover. Stable have gone three years without a winner and there were few positives to take from her Clonmel debut.

Form:

Lilly Geal²⁹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: J M Moore| T: Yvonne Latta

66/1

Dam was a sister to a 3m winner, and there's also a bit of speed in her pedigree, so she has her plus points, but nothing shown in first two starts suggests she can be a factor here

Form:

Arizona Flyer¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: I J McCarthy| T: M Winters

66/1

By Fame And Glory out of a half-sister to Hurricane Fly who has produced the useful Tornado Flyer. Soundly beaten on both starts so far and she is probably set to improve when handicapping.

Form:

Effernock Fizz^h1¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: Miss K Brown

66/1

Poor Flat maiden who ran well to a point last time before her stamina ran out. Up another half-mile here so hard to fancy.

Form:

Kos

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: D Meyler| T: A Fleming

25/1

Unraced Ruten gelding out of a well-related Polish mare. Stable 3-9 with hurdlers here so would be worth a check in the market if making the lineup. (Second reserve)

Form:

Non-Runners

Our Dark Horse³¹⁶

Weight: 11-4| Age: 7

T: Eamon Courtney J: P T Enright

Bannow Breeze³⁴

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: Mrs D Foster J: Reserve 1

Cahir Abbey Tavern⁷⁵

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: Peter Fahey J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Defy De Mee (1/1), Lethal Steps (4/1), Cenotice (5/1), Sullane Hill (8/1), Licklighter (12/1), Black Market (25/1), Kos (25/1), Cahir Abbey Tavern (33/1), Bannow Breeze (33/1), Our Dark Horse (33/1), Eclair De Rock (66/1), Effernock Fizz (66/1), Arizona Flyer (66/1), Lilly Geal (66/1), Kilrane Road (100/1), Hansom Lady (100/1), Acrux Cass (100/1)

LETHAL STEPS and Defy De Mee stand out on form in this company. The latter bumped into an improver last time and would appear to have a race in him at this trip. However, the selection is less highly tried than of late and sets the standard with an official rating of 125. His Flat speed should see him to good effect around this circuit with the quicker ground also adding to the appeal.