13:30 Limerick

Thursday 26 December 2019

All12:2512:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:50

Eden Capital Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:31 | Winning time: 5m 34.4s

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Selected odds by:

Assemble^t²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: O R Brown⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien

13/8

Off the mark for connections at the fourth time of asking when landing a Fairyhouse bumper over 2m on soft ground last month. More likely than some to run his race on hurdling debut.

Form: 23/44-1

Aracaras⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: D J McInerney| T: L J Archdeacon

50/1

Runner-up in a maiden point last weekend, but while he is unexposed, there is nothing we have seen from him so far that suggests he will be good enough to win this.

Form: P8-PP52

Axiomatic²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott

9/2

Will have disappointed connections in a number of below-par bumper efforts since March. Market likely to be the best guide on hurdling introduction.

Form: F1/5-826

Banner Rebel⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: C A Landers⁽⁵⁾| T: K Purcell

33/1

Stowaway gelding. Half-brother to useful hurdler/smart chaser Ballybolley. Has failed to complete in a couple of point-to-point efforts in October/November. Unlikely to play a significant part in proceedings.

Form: 1-FP

Captain Jimmy⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: P J Cawley⁽⁷⁾| T: P G Kelly

33/1

Never a factor on disappointing maiden hurdle debut over 2m½f at Galway in October. Faces a tough ask in this company.

Form: 10

Egality Mans²⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins

5/2

Gelding by Network out of a Video Rock mare. Second of nine beaten a neck on debut in a Sligo bumper back in April. Lively contender representing a yard with a 72% win and place strike rate at this meeting since 2015 with their maiden hurdlers.

Form: 1/2

Friary Land^p1¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr Darragh Allen⁽⁷⁾| T: J Neilan

100/1

Schiaparelli gelding. Dam modest 2m1f-2m5f hurdle winner. Last but one on hurdling debut in a Galway maiden on soft ground in October before tailing off at Navan over 2m4f earlier this month. More than first time cheekpieces needed.

Form: 00

Getalife²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr L P Gilligan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Gilligan| OR: 96

20/1

Not much to shout about in a number of innocuous hurdling efforts since October. Left with plenty to prove coming into this contest.

Form: 59098

Oscar Montel³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: C P McNamara⁽⁷⁾| T: E McNamara

8/1

Mixed messages in a couple of maiden hurdle spins last month. Needs to bounce back from a disappointing effort at Punchestown to have a say here.

Form: P3-3420

Port Stanley²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: P D Kennedy| T: Mrs J Harrington| BF

11/2

High-class form to his name in a couple bumpers finishing just behind the likes of Envoi Allen and Abacadabras before disappointing as the 2/1f at Fairyhouse last month. Market likely to be the best guide on hurdling debut.

Form: P132-5

O'faolains Cailin²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Phillip Enright| T: G J Power

100/1

Beaten 59L on return to action in a Clonmel 2m3f maiden hurdle earlier this month. Infrequent visits to the track will not be helping the daughter of Oscar as she bids to progress.

Form: 30/00-0

Forecasts

Assemble (13/8), Egality Mans (5/2), Axiomatic (9/2), Port Stanley (11/2), Oscar Montel (8/1), Getalife (20/1), Captain Jimmy (33/1), Banner Rebel (33/1), Aracaras (50/1), Friary Land (100/1), O'faolains Cailin (100/1)

ASSEMBLE for trainer Joseph O'Brien got off the mark for connections at the fourth time of asking when landing a Fairyhouse bumper over 2m on soft ground last month and can progress further in this company at the expense of the Willie Mullins-trained Egality Mans in the colours of Cheltenham Gold cup winner Al Boum Photo. The Jessica Harrington-trained Port Stanley and the Milan gelding Axiomatic for trainer Gordon Elliott should not be taken lightly.