Monksfield Novice Hurdle 2011

12.45 Navan

Irish Form Book 'Monksfield' Novice Hurdle (grade 2) (Class 1)  (4YO plus)

Winner €24,375

Advice: 2 pts win Texas Jack (9/4 Hills)

Rebel Fitz: Good bumper performer, winning twice before Grade 2 fourth; Buzzy character not stopped his progress over hurdles, winning three out of 5 starts, notably impressive in drawing away from useful opponent at Cork; Has to concede 3lbs to useful rivals but looked good so far.

Jetson: Useful in bumpers and over hurdles for Noel Meade, showing good form when runner up twice; Won nicely enough on reappearance when using that experience to good effect; That form gotten a boost from second and not hard to see him going nicely.

Just For Joe: Followed up his Cork bumper win with ease in maiden hurdle at Roscommon , couldn’t give the weight to useful next time out winner at Galway last time out; Has plenty on his plate here again.

Make A Track: Looked to have a promising future when unbeaten in two bumpers for David Arbuthnot and progressed when beaten two next time out winners in good style, shaping as if he’d improve for step up in trip; No real match for Texas Jack when doing so and must improve again to win.

Mount Benbullen: Made fast progress in bumpers, his most impressive performance being his 8 length win over subsequent Punchestown Champion Bumper winner Lovethehigherlaw in impressive fashion at Limerick; Going well when slipping up at Galway but none the worse for that when winning in a hack canter last time; Should go well.

Texas Jack: Made a really taking debut when quickening up well to land valuable Goffs Bumper at Punchestown Festival on debut, and taken that form to hurdles, 2-2 with the minimum of fuss; Stable won this race in 2008 and 2010 and may be big pointer that he’s sent here.

 

Tullaintain: Dual winner over fences who’s rated 120 but failed to complete twice this season and likely to be too slow.

VERDICT: A good looking renewal of this race with more than a few useful prospects running. Many will fancy Mount Benbulben heavily based on his impressive bumper win and easy hurdle win last time, but it’s hard to say that TEXAS JACK doesn’t have the same potential, having taken his unbeaten record to three with a contentiously easy win over previous maiden hurdle winner Make A Track at Clonmel last time. Both can take advantage of the 3lbs they get from Rebel Fitz.