Racecards
16:05 Gowran Park (IRE)
Henry Shefflin & Aidan O'Brien Rated Novice Hurdle
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Yielding to Soft
- Surface: Turf
- €15,501 added
- Winner: €10,695
- 2nd: €2,479
- 3rd: €1,085
- 4th: €620
- Form 618158
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer A J Martin
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
held up in rear, progress in 4th entering straight, travelled well to lead approaching last, not extended
- Form 2216
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey A E Lynch
disputed, left in lead 1st, soon headed and chased leader in 2nd, challenged 3 out, ridden entering straight, narrow lead before 2 out, headed approaching last, no chance with winner and kept on same pace
- Form 1-12168
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey B J Cooper
chased leaders, mainly 3rd, 4th and slight mistake 3 out, soon ridden and no extra, weakened entering straight
- Form 28/2451
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
held up, mainly 5th, ridden and no impression entering straight
- Form 7-52341
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer T Foley
- Jockey R Loughran
chased leaders, mainly 4th, 3rd 3 out, ridden entering straight, kept on same pace under pressure from 2 out
- Form F20156
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer Mrs J Harrington
- Jockey R M Power
disputed when fell 1st
- Form 1
- Age 4
- Weight 10-9
- Trainer E D Delany
- Jockey C D Maxwell
chased leaders, led after 1st, pressed 3 out, ridden and narrowly headed before 2 out, no extra in 4th last, kept on one pace
Verdict
It's difficult to know what's going wrong with Killer Crow, who looked a potential start when winning three times last year. He's been beaten a long way in his latest starts and is best watched for now. BLAIR PERRONE gets the vote as he has been very highly tried since landing a Leopardstown maiden in December and will appreciate dropping to this level. He did manage to finish just in front of Domesday Book in a Punchestown Grade 2 in January though both were beaten a long way. Samson Bill easily won a Thurles maiden but like Toushan, who landed a maiden here a fortnight ago, he'll need to step-up on that form. Scooping won twice on the Flat last year and made a successful hurdling debut with an all-the-way victory at Down Royal in November but Walk To Freedom had his limitations exposed in a Listed contest at Naas.
Formwatch
Blair Perrone (IRE) 50-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, no extra and dropped to rear after 3 out, weakened, eased, completely tailed off, 8th of 9, well behind Nichols Canyon (11-9) at Leopardstown 2m 2f nov hdl G2 (1) in Feb.
Domesday Book (USA) 33-1 (11-0) Tracked leader in 2nd, challenged 3 out, no impression straight, dropped towards rear when not fluent last, last of 6, 17l behind Douvan (11-0) at Punchestown 2m nov hdl Grade 2 (1) sft in Jan.
Killer Crow (IRE) 7-2 (11-9) Settled behind leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and no extra before straight, last of 8, 38l behind Ttebbob (11-12) at Clonmel 2m 4f hdl sft in Feb.
Samson Bill (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Mid-division, 8th halfway, progress 4 out and left 2nd next, led entering straight and drew clear approaching last, kept on well, easily, won at Thurles 2m mdn hdl hvy in Feb beating Silent Wish (10-6) by 8l, 18 ran.
Toushan (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Made all, clear travelling well entering straight, ridden from 2 out, stayed on well run-in, won at Gowran Park 2m mdn hdl sft beating Lets High Five It (11-5) by 4l, 19 ran.
Walk To Freedom (IRE) 33-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden in 3rd entering straight, no extra 2 out, 6th of 7, 8l behind Phil's Magic (11-6) at Naas 2m lst nov hdl (4yo+) (1).
Scooping (IRE) 50-1 (10-2) Made all, soon clear, reduced advantage halfway, challenged approaching last, kept on well run-in, won at Down Royal 2m 3yo hdl in Nov beating Dai Bando (11-4) by 4l, 13 ran.