Kilbeggan 3:30 Result

Whats New carries the highest official rating in the field (110) and his form figures (R22U23) show he's been running well in defeat, placing second twice and third recently against similar/stronger maiden hurdle company, with the R and U likely explained by inexperience/mistakes rather than lack of ability. He's by Soldier's Call out of a Dansili mare - solid European jumps pedigree - and is trained by Andrew Slattery who knows how to place these types. The booking of the trainer's own son/associate apprentice Mr A P Ryan(5) claiming 5lbs is a nice weight break. Key market rivals: Firebrand (OR106) has been running well too (32-254) but hasn't shown the toughness to actually win yet either, and Power Of Knowledge is a fascinating Mullins newcomer (5th on debut) with elite connections (McManus/Magnier, Mark Walsh) but his solitary run was only a 5th - unproven. Tomthescaffolder (OR105, De Bromhead) is respectable but the form figures show a plateau at this level. Given Whats New's rating edge and consistent placing without ever quite getting it together, he looks the most solid of the exposed types to finally break through, especially if traded at a fair price given his rating advantage over the field. The market may be underestimating him in favour of the fashionable Mullins/Elliott/De Bromhead string runners.