Four-time chase winner got his second hurdling success with a wide-margin victory at Limerick last month (2m5f, heavy) at 28-1; that was a career best, he enjoys testing ground and he may come on for the run, but he must shoulder 11lb more.
Some merit in last season's form, notably a 5l second in a Naas bumper on soft/heavy ground; also placed over hurdles at Clonmel; faced a daunting task at Clonmel on reappearance and okay effort in a Punchestown maiden last time when a distant fifth of 14 at 66-1 (2m6f, soft to heavy); check market for handicap debut.
Slight promise shown in his maidens, remote third of five at Punchestown latest; may do better in handicaps and entitled to respect given the yard and rider.
4-22 with two wins apiece over fences and hurdles; back-to-back winner over fences in January at Down Royal and Fairyhouse at 2m4f/2m2f on different ground types; not at his best in final two starts last season and cheekpieces go on now for his return.
Won consecutive staying handicap hurdles in Spring 2024 on soft/heavy ground; not as effective as a chaser, and well held on seasonal return at Gowran last month; in the process of running creditably back over timber over 3m here last time when falling at the second last; could be thereabouts with a clear round off same mark.
Took runner-up spot at Kilbeggan in second maiden hurdle start and inquiry held into running and riding of her fifth-placed finish in a Punchestown festival novice hurdle when she stayed on from the rear but was ultimately beaten over 25l at 80-1; finished a distant sixth in a Naas maiden hurdle last time when keeping on again (soft-heavy); check market for handicap debut up in trip.
9yo has two career wins split evenly between hurdles and fences from 38 attempts; well beaten in a handicap chase at Kilbeggan following his four-runner beginner's chase win at Tramore and was tailed off at Wexford last time; reverts to hurdles now from a 9lb lower mark, but others look more appealing.
Distant runner-up in only point start and well beaten in three maiden runs, including over 2m here last time (yielding to soft); hard to fancy on form to date but comes from a top yard.
Best of four maiden hurdle runs have come at Sligo, finishing second and third at that venue over 2m5f/2m4f on good to yielding; well beaten in a novice contest at Thurles last time and cheekpieces worn that day now left off; handicap debutant with good claimer aboard.
Down Royal maiden hurdle winner for Gordon Elliott in 2023; hasn't been the same since returning from a lengthy break and has been tailed off in three handicap hurdle runs for new yard.
Some okay efforts in two Clonmel maiden hurdles but below his best on final run there last term and was tailed off when unseated at Gowran in a beginners' chase on seasonal return latest; others more likely.
Tramore specialist added his third chase win at his favoured track on his final start last season (2m5f, good to yielding); easily got second hurdles win on New Year's Day prior to that off 93; has run well fresh in the past and not discounted.
Win here in 2023 came at 2m (soft) off 90 and second over this trip in Gowran handicap on heavy following March; later in the year won Downpatrick beginner's chase but absent since decent third in 2m2f Listowel handicap hurdle in September last year; has run well fresh before and ground/trip to suit with good claimer aboard.
Has taken the third spot in her last three maiden hurdle runs; good effort to take third at Gowran last time on heavy ground; makes her handicap debut now but perhaps not much wriggle room in her mark.
Point-to-point winner got off the mark under rules in a 2m6f Thurles handicap chase in October (good to yielding); 0-7 hurdling having reverted to timber at Fairyhouse (3m, heavy) latest when sent off favourite but losing second place in the dying strides; holds a 6lb lower hurdles mark and has his chance back in trip.
Sent off 25-1 for handicap debut at Limerick in March (2m, soft) but ran out a 1.75l winner off 93; better ground was a possible excuse for a poor run at Kilbeggan the following month (2m2f, good to yielding); put in a decent showing on seasonal return at Fairyhouse last month when a distant sixth of 15 (2m4f, heavy); entitled to improve.
Some fine runs in defeat in maiden hurdles last season and he is entitled to come on from his seasonal return in a maiden over C&D in August; not totally ruled out.
Four-time Flat winner showed some promise hurdling in a Kilbeggan maiden last year but hasn't progressed and was tailed off on handicap hurdles debut over 3m here latest at 100-1.
Some promising efforts in bumpers and when second in a low-quality maiden (2m, yielding) at Tramore when well backed; well beaten in last two maiden starts and makes handicap debut now.
Glimmers of ability on bumpers and in third maiden hurdle start at Gowran when fourth (yielding); tailed off on handicap debut at Navan (2m, heavy) last month and cheekpieces are now added to the tongue-tie.
Generally struggled in runs over fences this term but now the two-time hurdles winner returns to the smaller obstacles; hard to be confident in all the same as he finished 11.5l behind when last seen in this sphere in May.
12yo who got his third win over hurdles here (also a chase win to his name) latest over 2m on yielding/soft ground, racing 3lb out of the handicap; that win broke a losing streak stretching back to 2019 so not guaranteed to reproduce it, but he won nicely, so if in the same form he can have a say.
First reserve; off the mark over hurdles in a Galway maiden at the fourth attempt in October (2m, yielding); failed to build on that last time at Punchestown in a juvenile hurdle when well beaten.
1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3,4,5
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
