12:05 Leopardstown

Friday 27 December 2019

All12:0512:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:30

Paddy Power 'Only 364 Days Till Christmas' 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 12:05 | Winning time: 4m 3.9s

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Selected odds by:

Futurum Regem¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: E Walsh⁽⁷⁾| T: H P Finegan

100/1

Fell at the first on hurdling debut in October, and down the field on both starts since. Makes no appeal this side of handicaps.

Form: F00

Insane Bolt⁸²

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott

22/1

Ran poorly on final Flat start for Johnny Murtagh, but verging on useful in that sphere, and runner-up twice in July at up to 1m1½f. One of six for the yard here, and betting sure to be informative.

Form:

Irish Art¹⁸⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: B Hayes| T: G Elliott

66/1

Fair at best on the Flat for David Lanigan, and joined current connections for 7,500 gns in July having run poorly on his final outing.

Form:

Lake McKenzie⁶⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: M P Walsh| T: J P O'Brien

11/2

Son of Australia who was mid-field in a 1m5f maiden at Navan on sole Flat start for Aidan O'Brien. Gelded since, and represents connections which won this race last year. Shortlisted.

Form:

Metal Man⁷⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: J S McGarvey| T: G Elliott

50/1

Just fair form on the level for Mick Halford, and sold for €6,500 after failing to improve on handicap bow at Thurles in October. One of a phalanx of newcomers for the yard in this contest.

Form:

Millswyn¹²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien

7/2

Full-brother to useful hurdler Gardens of Babylon, and a useful performer on Flat at up to 1¾m. Consistent sort, and has the tools to make a decent hurdler on paper. Stablemate of Lake McKenzie, and market will help separate them.

Form:

Muntahez⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: S D Torrens⁽⁷⁾| T: A A Howard

100/1

Won over 1m1f at Tipperary in July, but ran poorly on his final Flat outing, and again starting out over hurdles at Punchestown last month.

Form: 0

Orlov⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: J R Wildman⁽⁷⁾| T: P W Flynn

100/1

Finished last of 14 on his only outing on the Flat, and hard to make a case for him on that evidence.

Form:

Pepperoni Pete^p²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: P D Kennedy| T: Mrs J Harrington

25/1

Winner of a 1m Cork handicap in May and made his debut over hurdles at Roscommon in August, finishing fifth of 16. Been kept busy on AW since, but needs to improve markedly to take a hand.

Form: 5

Politicise^p¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: D J O'Keeffe| T: A McGuinness

12/1

Quite useful on the Flat, and better effort in this sphere when 15L third of 16 to Clemencia in juvenile maiden at Cork last time. Place claims if building again on that.

Form: 23

Saint D'Oroux^t²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: J W Kennedy| T: G Elliott

2/1

Showed plenty on debut for Guillaume Macaire and improved on that at second time of asking when 8¾L fourth of 9 to Cerberus in Bar One Racing Juvenile 3-Y-O Hurdle at Fairyhouse last time. Sets the form standard.

Form: 244

Scalino¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: P T Enright| T: A Mullins

66/1

Just poor form on completed starts over hurdles, and well-beaten sixth of 16 to Clemencia in juvenile maiden at Cork last time. Others stronger again.

Form: F06

Takarengo⁶⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: D Meyler| T: T Mullins| C

9/2

Improved to win last two starts on the Flat at around 1½m, both on heavy ground. Should do well in his new role, particularly when the ground is testing, although in a deep event for debut.

Form:

Theatre Of War⁷³

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell

20/1

More exposed than most after four runs, and has failed to get round the last twice, albeit set to match his previous form when unseating at Gowran on penultimate start. Remains to be seen whether latest fall, when well held, has left its mark.

Form: 53UF

Travel On⁹²

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: C Brassil⁽⁵⁾| T: L Comer| BF

40/1

Useful sort at 1½m for John Gosden, finishing fourth in the G3 Sandown Classic Trial in April. Below for on final start, but sold for 65,000 gns in October, and not dismissed lightly.

Form:

Tronador¹²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: K Brogan⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| BF

66/1

Only fair on the Flat, and sold from David Lanigan for £13,000 in September, but is out of a half-sister to smart hurdler Recession Proof, so may do better at the winter game.

Form:

Very Excellent³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: D P Maxwell⁽⁷⁾| T: A McNamara

7/1

Exposed after four hurdles starts, but is getting his act together, and best effort when second of 16 to Dinard Rose in a juvenile maiden at Gowran last time. Place claims with a repeat.

Form: 7F22

Cosmic Jazz³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 10-7| J: P E Corbett| T: Thomas Coyle

100/1

Failed to show much on the Flat for Sheila Lavery, and was again soundly beaten on hurdles debut for new yard last time.

Form: 0

Dragon's Pass¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 10-7| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs D Foster

80/1

Better effort over hurdles when 18¾L seventh of 16 to Dinard Rose in a juvenile maiden at Gowran on debut, but failed badly to build on that at Fairyhouse 13 days ago.

Form: 70

Leagan Gaeilge¹⁴⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 10-7| J: S W Flanagan| T: B W Duke

33/1

Fairly useful 1m winner for Jim Bolger in the summer, and still sports Mrs Bolger's silks now making his hurdles debut for a new stable here. Stamina to prove, but not a forlorn hope.

Form:

Pretty Fantasy^t¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 10-7| J: S G McDermott| T: G P Cromwell

100/1

Poor Flat performer who has hinted at ability in a couple of outings over hurdles, buy needs her sights lowering if she's going to get competitive in this sphere.

Form: P7

Future Romance⁶⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 10-7| J: N P Madden| T: A A Howard

66/1

Best Flat effort came on debut over 1½m, but has gone backwards over shorter trips since. Reserve 1.

Form:

Non-Runners

Soloheadbeg⁶²

Weight: 11-0| Age: 3

T: H De Bromhead J: Rachael Blackmore

Weather Alert³¹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 3

T: T Mullins J: Reserve 2

Garrison Commander¹⁷¹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 3

T: G Elliott J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Saint D'Oroux (2/1), Millswyn (7/2), Takarengo (9/2), Lake McKenzie (11/2), Very Excellent (7/1), Politicise (12/1), Theatre Of War (20/1), Garrison Commander (20/1), Soloheadbeg (20/1), Insane Bolt (22/1), Pepperoni Pete (25/1), Leagan Gaeilge (33/1), Travel On (40/1), Metal Man (50/1), Tronador (66/1), Scalino (66/1), Irish Art (66/1), Future Romance (66/1), Dragon's Pass (80/1), Futurum Regem (100/1), Pretty Fantasy (100/1), Muntahez (100/1), Cosmic Jazz (100/1), Orlov (100/1), Weather Alert (100/1)

Joseph O'Brien took this last year with Sir Erec, and he can strike again, with MILLSWYN looking the pick of his pair, while Gordon Elliott has no less than six, of whom much the most interesting appears to be French import Saint D'Oroux. Very Excellent is more exposed, but improving gradually with experience, and has place claims.