3.00 2m. 4f. 156yds. 4 Declared. Marlin Hotel Dublin H'dle (Grade 3) of €27,500.00 4-y-o plus
1st - €16,500.00 2nd - €5,500.00 3rd - €2,750.00 4th - €1,375.00
FormscanBy Eamonn Murphy - Up-in-trip GRAND ROI, for Noel and Valerie Moran of Bective Stud in County Meath, could beat older rivals and make a winning start for the Cullentra House team. Gordon Elliott sends the 400,000 pound recruit into battle under Mark Walsh, and to see how the youngster goes will be mightily interesting. The annual Million In Mind Dispersal provided a major highlight of the horses-in-training section of the Goffs Summer Sale in July. Former Nicky Henderson inmate Grand Roi unsurprisingly topped the sale. He was a leading fancy for a Grade One hurdle at Aintree before the abandonment of that meeting. He is a bumper winner and unbeaten in two starts over hurdles. Bids reportedly came from all quarters, including online. It was Charlie Swan, standing with Tony McCoy, and Elliott with ‘Mouse’ O’Ryan, who had the battle to themselves after 200,000, with the latter combination coming out on top. The price was the second highest achieved by the Million In Mind group, surpassed only by the sale of Garde Champetre for 530,000 guineas 16 years ago. Happy Jacky has plenty on. Beacon Edge and Minella Melody are very much respected though.
A hurdle for four years old and upwards that have not won a hurdle race before 5th May, 2019Weights - 4-y-o 10st 12lbs 5-y-o and up 11st 3lbs Mares allowed 7lbsPenalties - Penalties (handicaps excluded) - Winner of two hurdle races 3lb extra Of three hurdle races or of a Grade 3 hurdle race 6lb extra Of two Grade 3 hurdle races or of a Grade 2 hurdle race 8lb extra Of a Grade 1 hurdle race 10lb extra