14:30 Downpatrick

Wednesday 15 July 2020

All13:0013:3014:0014:3015:0015:3016:00

Randox Health Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 5m 29.9s

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Selected odds by:

Soldiers Hill^b1,t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 111| C

7/2

Winner of a Downpatrick bumper in August before disappointing connections in a number of dour efforts over hurdles since September. Sixth of 13 beaten 20L on seasonal debut last month. Worth a check in the market in first-time blinkers.

Form: 31448-6

Ballylig¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: D E Browne⁽⁷⁾| T: J C McConnell

100/1

Plenty to like about debut third of nine 11L behind Andy Dufresne at Down Royal in January 2019 but was pretty awful in two subsequent appearances including a couple of spins over hurdles.

Form: 3/90-0

Bloodstone²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead

4/1

Shaped well on hurdling debut, showing a good attitude in a Roscommon 2m5f maiden last month. Likely to improve.

Form: 22/8-5

Bourbon Borderline¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: C Bowe| OR: 102

5/2

Failed to make the mark for trainer Dan Skelton in four starts under rules. Ran well in defeat behind Bread And Butter - winner once again at Roscommon, Monday - on stable debut earlier this month. Should be involved again.

Form: 13/58U-3

Doyler's Mate¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: C P McNamara⁽⁵⁾| T: L Lennon

250/1

Gelding by September Storm out of USA bred mare. Pulled up in all five point-to-point starts before a dismal effort on maiden hurdle debut at Tipperary last month. Tough ask.

Form: P/PPP-0

Enjoy D'allen¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: K C Sexton| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 116

7/4

Appears the penny is starting to drop for the Network gelding. Beaten a neck on return to action at Kilbeggan last month over 2m4f and one for the shortlist here.

Form: 86854-2

Knot On Time^h¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: S F O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: P Nolan

66/1

Has failed to build on a pleasing effort in a Thurles bumper in October, posting a couple of desperate performances at Punchestown and last month at Kilbeggan. Best watched on hurdling introduction.

Form: 48-0

Aileens Joy²³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: S W Flanagan| T: D H Kelly| OR: 84

66/1

10-race maiden obliged to hit the frame on just one occasion when in the care of trainer John Burke. No realistic chance on what she has shown so far on stable debut.

Form: F5098P-

Annual Flavour^p¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: D H Kelly| OR: 84

40/1

Yet to hit the frame in five career starts over hurdles but the mare produced a pleasing effort at Tipperary on seasonal debut last month. Needs to improve in this company.

Form: 07609-5

Memories Remain¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: D J McInerney| T: J C McConnell

11/1

Will be looking to improve on a couple of encouraging efforts in bumper company including earlier this month on return to action at Bellewstown. One to note on hurdling debut.

Form: 333-4

Scarlet Rebel¹⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: Caroline Mccaldin

125/1

Not disgraced on two point-to-point outings during the winter but that does not suggest she has a winning chance on racecourse debut.

Form: 43-

Doing The Double⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: J J Slevin| T: Caroline Mccaldin

300/1

Half-sister to hurdles/chase winner G V A Ireland and very useful 2m hurdler/chaser Dines. Pulled up on first career start at Kilbeggan on Friday. Quickly turned out once again.

Form: P

Forecasts

Enjoy D'allen (7/4), Bourbon Borderline (5/2), Soldiers Hill (7/2), Bloodstone (4/1), Memories Remain (11/1), Annual Flavour (40/1), Knot On Time (66/1), Aileens Joy (66/1), Ballylig (100/1), Scarlet Rebel (125/1), Doyler's Mate (250/1), Doing The Double (300/1)

ENJOY D'ALLEN shaped like the step up in trip would suit on his most recent start and can get off the mark at the seventh time of asking. The Network gelding ran well in defeat on return to action in a Kilbeggan 2m4f maiden hurdle last month, running on in the closing stages, beaten a neck by Somptueux on good ground. The six-year-old will appreciate this trip enough to hold off the challengers in the shape of the Gigginstown House Stud-owned Bloodstone for trainer Henry De Bromhead and the John McConnell-trained, Memories Remain, another in the field who will appreciate going up in distance. Winner at this track previously, Soldiers Hill commands respect.