Racecards
13:40 Naas (IRE)
Connolly's RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Novice Hurdle
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- €20,000 added
- Winner: €12,000
- 2nd: €4,000
- 3rd: €2,000
- 4th: €1,000
- Form 12-1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer S R B Crawford
- Jockey J J Slevin
disputed lead at slow early pace, not fluent 2nd and headed next, slight mistake 4th, ridden in 4th 3 out, no impression on leaders from 2 out
- Form 11
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer N Meade
- Jockey Sean Flanagan
tracked leaders disputing 3rd at slow early pace, ridden in 3rd 2 out, no impression on leaders in 3rd at last, kept on same pace
- Form 11-1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-10
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey Rachael Blackmore
tracked leaders at slow early pace, improved to dispute lead at 3rd, led from next and made rest, slight peck on landing 2 out and ridden, stayed on well run-in, comfortably
En Avant (FR)
325- Form P-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer Louise G Lyons
- Jockey Richard Condon
held up in 6th, ridden after 3 out, no impression
- Form 40-63
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer E J O'Grady
- Jockey Phillip Enright
held up in 5th, ridden 3 out, weakened
- Form 212-142
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer M Brassil
- Jockey Darragh O'Keeffe
disputed lead at slow early pace, slight mistake and headed at 4th, ridden in 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner at last, kept on same pace run-in
- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer C O'Connell
- Jockey L P Dempsey
always last, jumped right at 5th, trailing when jumped right and ridden 3 out, no impression
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
JOURNEY WITH ME easily won a point in November 2020 before an impressive hurdling debut at Gowran last March. He reappeared in December to beat Minella Crooner and Kilcruit at Leopardstown and the runner-up finished second in a Grade 1 on the latter track a week ago. Hi Ho Phoenix didn't quite have the pace for bumpers but came into his own when tackling 2m7f over hurdles at Fairyhouse where he was very impressive. O'Toole, runner-up to Kilcruit in the championship bumper at Punchestown, was a convincing winner over 2m3f at Down Royal on his hurdling bow but Pinkerton takes on much stronger company on his hat-trick bid.
Formwatch
O'Toole (IRE) 4-9fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, closer and pressed leader entering straight, disputed 3 out and soon led, pressed briefly 2 out, pushed out to assert before last, kept on strongly run-in, comfortably, won at Down Royal 2m 1f mdn sft in Dec beating Daring Rocco (12-0) by 7 1/2l, 10 ran.
Pinkerton (IRE) 5-2 (12-0) Tracked leaders, mistake 1st, 5th halfway, 4th 3 out, headway travelling well to lead after 2 out, pushed along before last, kept on well run-in and asserted final 100 yards, won at Thurles 1m 7f mdn Good - Yielding in Jan beating John Cannon (11-10) by 3l, 17 ran.
Journey With Me (IRE) 3-1 (12-0) Disputed lead early, led approaching 2nd where not fluent, joined from final hurdle, regained lead straight, asserted and stayed on well final furlong, won at Leopardstown 2m 4f mdn Yielding - Soft in Dec beating Minella Crooner (12-0) by 3 1/2l, 9 ran.
En Avant (FR) 10-3 (12-2) Led, headed 7f out, soon pushed along and lost place, no extra 4f out, weakened and eased, well behind and pulled up 1f out, at Tipperary 2m 2f sft in Mar.
Huntingtown (IRE) 11-2 (12-0) Mid-division, slight mistake 2nd, headway after 3 out and 3rd entering straight, led 2 out, ridden and headed before last, no impression in 3rd after last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 17, 6l behind Brulure Noire (12-0) at Limerick 2m 3f mdn hvy in Dec.
Choice Of Words 9-2 (11-3) Prominent, slightly slow 7th, led approaching straight, headed after 2 out, kept on without matching winner run-in, 2nd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Daly Tiger (11-13) at Limerick 2m 4f hvy in Dec.
Quornofamonday (IRE) Libertarian gelding out of Ali Tango.
Hi Ho Phoenix 7-4fav (11-6) Tracked leaders, jumped left 2nd, 5th halfway, closer 4 out, disputed before next, led approaching 3 out, asserted 2 out, soon clear, easily, won at Fairyhouse 2m 7f mdn Yielding - Soft in Dec beating Simply Shabra (11-6) by 9l, 15 ran.
Sam's Choice (IRE) 3-1 (12-0) Disputed lead, ridden and strongly pressed when mistake 2 out, soon headed, no impression on winner when slight mistake at last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Glengouly (11-12) at Gowran Park 2m 4f mdn sft in Jan.