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Muhaafiz can make some summer waves for O'Brien

Muhaafiz, seen here winning at Hamilton for trainer David Brown, can be a force in summer handicap hurdles for Val O'Brien
Muhaafiz, seen here winning at Hamilton for trainer David Brown, can be a force in summer handicap hurdles for Val O'BrienCredit: John Grossick Racing Photography

Born To Size
Trainer: Liam Burke
6th, 2m maiden hurdle, Thurles, January 19
Having shown some promise on his hurdling debut on yielding ground at Limerick over Christmas, he showed some definite improvement at Thurles on Thursday. He attempted to make all, jumped superbly in front and really seemed to enjoy bowling along in front, but he was unable to sustain his effort and weakened after the second last. There is little to dislike about the way this horse runs with his exuberant method of jumping and he is a chaser in the making. At the moment he is struggling to get home over 2m with cut in the ground but he is improving and could well prosper on better ground in the spring and summer months.

Spring Watch
Mouse Morris
7th, 2m maiden hurdle, Navan, January 21
This son of Mahler has run two similar type races in both of his maiden hurdles. His debut on good ground over 2m at Punchestown in May certainly revealed plenty of promise when he stayed on well from a long way back. He was not seen again until appearing over an extra half-mile at Navan on Saturday in possibly a maiden hurdle with more strength in depth. He was never in the hunt and was towards the rear of mid-division for most of the journey, began to pick up from the top of the straight and the further they went the more strongly he galloped and the way he came home from the line was very eyecatching. Coming from this stable, he is a chaser in the making and if he manages to win over hurdles it would probably be bonus territory, but he has enough ability to win one and him going close in a novice handicap before the season's end looks feasible.

Political Theatre
Arthur Moore
4th, 2m2f maiden hurdle, Leopardstown, January 22
This son of Presenting has now contested a pair of Leopardstown maiden hurdles, running much better on the second occasion and the fact that there was genuinely good ground on Sunday probably was not incidental to his improvement. Held up in midfield, he began to make what appeared to be some modest headway from the second last and he wasn't that quick to respond to pressure, but he was beginning to run on with more gusto when the final flight got in his way a little bit. He did recover quite well though and without that mistake he might have finished appreciably closer to the first three. He is nicely bred, out of good mare Red Square Lady, a winner at Grade 3 level, and it would be very disappointing if he could not improve and win more races, particularly on good ground.

Muhaafiz
Val O'Brien
6th, 2m2f maiden hurdle, Leopardstown, January 22
This was not a bad horse on the Flat in Britain, winning a Hamilton handicap last summer for David Brown before being sold out of that yard for 15,000gns at the Newmarket Autumn sales, and has shown enough ability in a couple of starts over hurdles. He did improve on better ground at Leopardstown, keeping on well enough from mid-division without threatening. His trainer has made his reputation from his exploits with veteran chasers down the years, and this type of horse does not really fit the profile, but he is one that is likely to do well in summer handicap hurdles and it would be disappointing if he could not win one or two.

**Last week's winners Drops Of Jupitor (14-1), Train Time (7-1) & Acapella Bourgeois (2-1) were highlighted in Dark Horses.


RATINGS RISERS

The jumps handicapper meted out a few hefty hikes this week, in contrast to the previous couple of weeks, with the meeting at Ayr on Monday of last week being particularly fertile ground.

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