| No. |
|
Selection |
Form |
|
Guide |
|
|
|
- Beacon Edge
- D J Gilligan / G Elliott
|
|
152
|
33/1 |
Beacon Edge
Grade 1 winner in his pomp and still capable of useful form, as seen when landing a below par Grade 2 at Wetherby in November; however, tough ask to give weight to all but one of these rivals.
|
|
|
|
- Hiddenvalley Lake
- D J O'keeffe / H De Bromhead
|
|
160
|
15/8 |
Hiddenvalley Lake
Progressive sort who landed a Grade 2 at Navan last season when giving weight to re-opposing runner-up, Beacon Edge; followed that up with a third in the Liverpool Hurdle just behind Buddy One and was only just touched off by Crambo in the Long Walk on seasonal return; still unexposed and could come on for that Ascot run.
|
|
|
|
- Asterion Forlonge
- P Townend / W P Mullins
|
|
165
|
4/1 |
Asterion Forlonge
Veteran; talented when he puts it all together but he was back to jumping right on return at Leopardstown when beaten a long way out and he has questions to answer now; opposable given that he's likely to be short enough in the betting.
|
|
|
|
- Buddy One
- J G Gilligan / P J Gilligan
|
|
164
|
11/2 |
Buddy One
Finished in front of Hiddenvalley Lake in the Liverpool Hurdle last season and creditable efforts in two other Grade 1s either side of that run; won three-runner beginners' on return but hasn't built on that since; will be a major player if the return to hurdles gets him back on track.
|
|
|
|
- Franciscan Rock
- G Brouder / M F Morris
|
|
159
|
14/1 |
Franciscan Rock
Has won twice over this sort of trip this winter with two career best efforts; more required again to land a hat-trick against these rivals but has each-way claims.
|
|
|
|
- Kalanisi Star
- P T Enright / O Mckiernan
|
|
144
|
66/1 |
Kalanisi Star
Bumper/maiden hurdle winner before some tough assignements; would need a career best here and has been off 638 days.
|
|
|
|
- Maxxum
- Sam Ewing / G Elliott
|
|
159
|
10/1 |
Maxxum
Won the 3m handicap hurdle at the DRF last season and he can be dangerous when allowed to dictate the pace on the front end; has to take his form to a new level against these rivals though.
|
|
|
|
- Rocky's Diamond
- S Fitzgerald / D Queally
|
|
158
|
11/2 |
Rocky's Diamond
Maiden hurdle winner at Limerick last season and made it two from four over timber in a C&D handicap on return; big career best when staying on for third in the Savills Hurdle on return, not getting a run at a crucial stage and he has a lot more upside than most of his rivals here; more needed again but not ruled out on just his sixth start over hurdles.
|
|
|
|
- Sandor Clegane
- S F O'keeffe / P Nolan
|
|
154
|
9/1 |
Sandor Clegane
Chased home Franciscan Rock at Clonmel before finishing 4l behind Rocky's Diamond when fourth in the Grade 1 Savills Hurdle last month; likely to need a career best.
|
|
|
|
- Thedevilscoachman
- M P Walsh / N Meade
|
|
162
|
16/1 |
Thedevilscoachman
Grade 2 winner in February 2022 and has won a pair of Grade 3s over fences since; however, struggled in this race last year and it was a similar story on his only start since at Fairyhouse; off 297 days.
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