Sunday 5 March · Leopardstown, Eire
14:35 Michael Rafferty Memorial Maiden Hurdle
- Distance
- 2m 4f 0y
- Going
- Yielding (Good to Yielding in places)
- Class
- 0
- Prize
- EUR 11999
- Runners
- 7
Race preview
PARMENION was bought for 230,000 at Arqana after winning his only start on the Flat in France but has been beaten twice at odds-on for current connections in maiden hurdles. He filled third spot behind High Definition here at Christmas before coming up against another smart sort in Found A Fifty at Fairyhouse. He can gain compensation here if staying the extra half-mile. Lets Go Champ was also an expensive purchase after winning a point-to-point but was absent for nearly four years before filling third behind the selection's stablemate Tactical Move at Punchestown in January. Present Soldier has a similar profile having cost £300,000 after winning a point-to-point and kept on into fourth behind another Mullins maiden hurdle winner, Seabank Bistro, at Naas.
| Pos | Horse | Form | Jockey | Trainer | Wgt | SP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parmenion | 32 | Paul Townend | W P Mullins | 11 12 | 2-7 | |
| 2 | Ostend | 065P5 | Shane Fenelon | P Croke | 11 12 | 80-1 | |
| 3 | Present Soldier | 1-4 | D N Russell | G Elliott | 11 12 | 5-2 | |
| 4 | Eco Pete | 200-U24 | Thomas Reilly | J C McConnell | 11 12 | 16-1 | |
| 5 | Getaway Henry | 900P | Donagh Meyler | Daniel O'leary | 11 12 | 100-1 | |
| - | Black Field | Mark McDonagh | Ciaran Murphy | 11 12 | 100-1 | ||
| - | Pasifucan | Keith Donoghue | Ciaran Murphy | 11 12 | 50-1 | ||
| NR | Belper | 70 | Jordan Gainford | P Nolan | 11 12 | ||
| NR | Lets Go Champ | 1/3 | Rachael Blackmore | H De Bromhead | 11 12 |