The 11yo Waittillitellyou won as he liked at Navan but the veteran will need a big career best if he is to follow up. Senior Chief is rated 13lb higher over fences and could go well, as could Heliko Conti, The Story So Far and the hat-trick seeking Bridie's Beau. However, a chance is taken on the bottom weight JERIKO DE BAUNE. He's 1lb wrong but his rider claims 5lb, he'll handle the ground and if he repeats his staying on sixth at Navan he should be thereabouts. [Dave Stephens]
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Two-time winner over timber; won a handicap chase on his return to action off 142 at Cheltenham in October and wasn't disgraced off 9lb higher in the Coral Gold Gup at Newbury subsequently; could be well treated off 135 in his first handicap hurdle and handles heavy; chance.
One of three for yard; 2-9 over hurdles; has improved for each run this season and was beaten 9l into sixth of 25 at the DRF earlier this month; effective on heavy ground but his best form has come on right-handed tracks which is a slight concern.
Second runner for yard; won a maiden hurdle at Galway in October; good efforts in first two handicap hurdles at Leopardstown the last twice (3l ahead of Lucky Lyreen latest); up 1lb for that but should give another good account.
Runner up in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham last season; landed a nice pot at Listowel (2m, soft) in September off 123 but out of sorts since; likes heavy ground but has stamina to prove and never travelled on latest at Navan; others look more solid.
3-13 over hurdles; hacked up on latest at Navan on his return from a 325 day absence; hit with an 11lb rise for that and this 11yo will need a career best by some distance to follow up here.
Third runner for yard; two-time winner over hurdles for Joseph O'Brien; yet to hit the target for current stable and finished last of 12 on his latest start at Exeter; previously shaped nicely when staying on over 2m4f at Leopardstown in December; chance if getting back to that sort of form.
1-7 over hurdles, the win coming over 3m on good ground; ran well at Navan (22.5f, yielding) in November but didn't quite see out the trip when weakening late over 23.5f at Leopardstown in December; may need a sounder surface.
Useful dual-purpose sort; creditable effort on last hurdles start at Fairyhouse (20.5f, yielding) in November; ran a blinder in a hot handicap here on the Flat in October; has won on heavy and he can't be discounted.
3-14 over timber; landed a mares' handicap over 2m4f at Limerick over Christmas; up 7lb for that win and she handles heavy ground but she has to prove she stays this far; claims if she does.
Handicap debutant; won a maiden hurdle at Punchestown (2m6f, soft) on latest; opening mark doesn't look overly generous and he has to prove his effectiveness going left-handed; may be best watched.
Won a maiden hurdle on debut in October 2022 at Wexford (20.5f, heavy) and added a mares' hurdle over the same C&D on first start for this yard in October; struggled on latest in a hot handicap at Leopardstown when behind a few of these; others appeal more.
Bumper winner; off the mark at the eighth attempt over hurdles at Cork (3m, soft) on penultimate; drop in trip not ideal on latest and could do better now going back up in distance on ground he'll appreciate; claims.
Progressive sort; has won his last two starts in handicaps off 95 at Punchestown (19.5f, heavy) and off 14lb higher at Gowran (2m4f, soft); hiked up another 9lb and steps up in trip; another career best will be needed but that's not impossible.
Won a heavy ground handicap over 2m4f at Limerick in December 2023 off 109; raised 12lb for that and failed to make an impact since; lacks a run and may need more respite from the handicapper.
Lost form since back-to-back wins at Limerick and Punchestown in 2023; change of scenery hasn't sparked a revival and he is hard to fancy on what he has shown recently.
Record of 1-16 over hurdles but has run well in defeat on many occasions, including off 113 at Gowran last time out on his first try at this sort of trip; up 2lb for that but he has placed off higher marks before; handles heavy and not without a chance but this is a tougher race.
Two-time Flat winner is 0-8 over timber; not sure this ground will be to his liking and he didn't look like he was crying out for this longer trip on latest; others make more appeal.
Course winner over shorter in 2022; hasn't won since landing a Fairyhouse handicap in October 2023 off 102; hasn't shown enough in five runs this season; yard has a better chance with Waittillitellyou.
2-17 over hurdles; won off 101 at Fairyhouse (3m, soft) just over a year ago; best effort since came at Navan (22.5f) in November off 111 when staying on late to finish sixth of 23; struggled on latest at Gowran in first-time cheekpieces which are discarded; 1lb wrong but he could outrun his likely odds.
1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3,4,5
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