Racecards
14:15 Downpatrick (IRE)
Martinstown Opportunity Maiden Hurdle
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 2m 2f 50y
- Going: Yielding, Good to Yielding in places
- Surface: Turf
- €10,000 added
- Winner: €6,900
- 2nd: €1,600
- 3rd: €700
- 4th: €400
- Form 784180
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer A Oliver
- Jockey Liam McKenna
led, strongly pressed when jumped left last, headed under pressure over 100 yards out and no extra closing stages
- Form 6-95884
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer M Torrens
- Jockey K C Sexton
tracked leaders in 4th, 2nd approaching 2 out and challenged before last where carried left, soon ridden and led over 100 yards out, all out to hold on
- Form 004P
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer J J Hanlon
- Jockey G N Fox
tracked leader, mistake 3rd, 3rd halfway, 4th approaching 2 out and no extra from last
- Form F
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
rear of mid-division, 9th halfway, no threat after 3 out
- Form P
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer S Fahey
- Jockey S E Butler
tracked leader, 2nd halfway, ridden along in 3rd approaching 2 out where nodded on landing, soon no extra
- Form 50090
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer P J Rothwell
- Jockey T Dowling
unruly at start, chased leaders on outer and 8th halfway, no extra approaching 2 out
- Form 668
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer P O Brady
- Jockey A F O'Neill
tracked leaders in 5th, pushed along in 7th 2 out and no impression in 5th after last, kept on one pace
- Form 322506
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer M Hourigan
- Jockey J S McGarvey
rear of mid-division, slight mistake 5th,10th halfway, closer 3 out went 5th next, ridden in 4th early run-in and kept on same pace under pressure without really threatening winner
- Form U/0
- Age 7
- Weight 10-11
always rear, awkward 3 out and no extra before next
- Form 68
- Age 4
- Weight 10-9
- Trainer A J Martin
- Jockey S A Shortall
always towards rear, never a factor, kept on one pace from 2 out without troubling leaders
- Form 6245
- Age 4
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer P J Rothwell
- Jockey A Ring
tracked leaders in 6th, went 3rd before last, ridden early run-in and kept on well under pressure closing stages, just failed
- Form 9
- Age 4
- Weight 10-2
- Trainer Mrs H McGahan
- Jockey C M Walsh
mid-division, 7th halfway, no impression approaching 2 out, kept on one pace run-in
Verdict
FAANAN ALDAAR is still a maiden after 13 career starts and she's been beaten a long way on her two latest outings. She would have no problems winning this on her close second to Dalasiri at Cork in January but potential punters will need to forgive those last two runs which were run on very heavy ground. She should be good enough as The Crafty Butcher started off over hurdles in fine form but hasn't made the expected progress though his last two efforts have been in handicaps so he should find this a bit less daunting. Golden Firth is penalised for her bumper victory and is another who has been performing in handicaps without showing much while Four Kicks, a dual winner on the Flat in the UK in 2010, floundered in heavy going on her first start for Liam Lennon in January.
Formwatch
Drumgooland (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Mid-division, weakened 3 out, 19th of 22, well behind Un De Sceaux (11-11) at Punchestown 2m mdn hdl hvy in Feb.
Golden Firth (IRE) 11-2 (11-10) Mid-division, 5th 4 out and ridden when not fluent next, no impression early straight and kept on one pace to go moderate 4th run-in, 4th of 12, 18l behind Shanroe Society (10-10) at Thurles 2m hcp hdl 80-95 in Jan.
An Spailpin Fanach (USA) 20-1 (11-7) Waited with, clipped heels and stumbled approaching 5th, no danger from 6 out, pulled up entering straight, in a race won by Futuramic (11-12) at Limerick 2m 3f 5yo mdn hdl hvy in Dec, 8 ran.
Captain P K (IRE) 4-1 (12-0) Alw pr, cl up 3out, not go with wnr but still disp 2nd when fell last, in a race won by Lecale Lad (11-4) at Loughanmore 3m ire ptp hvy in Dec, 17 ran.
Fruit Or Nut (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Pr & n j fluent, still in tch & pu 6out, in a race won by A Hare Breath (12-0) at Bennettsbridge 3m ire ptp in Feb, 19 ran.
Known Witness (IRE) 100-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, weakened from 4 out, tailed off, 10th of 14, well behind Defy Logic (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m mdn hdl hvy in Feb.
Step One (IRE) 25-1 (11-9) Close up in 2nd for much, lost place from before straight, dropped to 6th and no extra from over 2f out, last of 8, 27l behind Apache Jack (11-5) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f N H flat sft in Feb.
The Crafty Butcher (IRE) 11-2 (10-10) Held up towards rear, ridden in 7th before 2 out, no extra, 6th of 12, 13l behind Miss Xian (10-0) at Naas 3m hcp hdl in Feb.
Four Kicks (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Chased leader, clear with leader 5 out, came back entering straight, ridden and no extra when hampered 3 out, weakened and tailed off, 10th of 18, well behind Blissful Moment (11-12) at Navan 2m mdn hdl hvy in Jan.
Gentle Aussie (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) In rear, some modest last headway, 8th of 13, well behind Fatcatinthehat (11-0) at Leopardstown 2m 4yo mdn hdl hvy in Jan.
Faanan Aldaar (IRE) 10-1 (9-8) Mid-division, went moderate 7th 3 out, no impression before straight, 5th of 15, 37l behind Balnagon Boy (11-4) at Fairyhouse 2m mdn hdl hvy in Feb.
Whispering Down (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Led, headed 4th, disputed lead again briefly 5 out, weakened after next, 9th of 10, well behind Call Me Bubbles (11-7) at Navan 2m 4yo mdn hdl sft.