While Jeriko Du Reponet has attracted the ante-post interest and has headgear for the first time, there are rather more appealing options at longer prices. Preference is for KARL DES TOURELLES, a lightly raced youngster who quickly did enough to justify a position near the top of the weights but still brings notable potential. Win Some Lose Some (second choice), Will The Wise and D Art D Art are among several other Irish youngsters who should be capable of better, while One Big Bang may emerge best of the British.[Richard Austen]
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650 days off before taking the Wincanton qualifier (3m1f, good to soft; 5lb higher today) in tidy style at Christmas, always prominent; chase debut one month later wasn't great but he's respected on the former run.
All starts on softer than good; 100-1 winner of a maiden hurdle on debut last February; runner-up in Grade 2 novice in April and stayed on well when runner-up in the Punchestown qualifier (3m, soft) on handicap debut in November; after a creditable 2m4f run at Christmas, this promising youngster looks set to resume improvement on today's step back up in trip.
12l third in Grade 1 novice hurdle at Aintree (2m4f) last April; back from chasing for 3m handicap hurdles on last two outings, always close up when second of 11 at Musselburgh (again good to soft) last time; up 2lb but, in this second season under rules, no shock if he has more to give.
All nine starts over hurdles, winning four; firmly on an upward curve and he won with more authority than the bare result suggests in 20-runner qualifier at Leopardstown (yielding) over Christmas last time, produced to lead at the last on step up to 2m7f; has a much higher mark for the Final but clear potential too and he's on the shortlist.
Placed on his only two runs at Cheltenham, latterly when second over C&D (good) last April; Aintree qualifier (3m, good) after five months off saw him end a two-year losing spell; followed that with a close second to Supreme Gift at Market Rasen later in November, so he's never been better but he is also on a career-high mark which requires further improvement.
Has run creditably over C&D on good; won the qualifier at Market Rasen (soft) in November, rallying to regain the lead from Harbour Lake; out of form at Kempton and Leopardstown since, which sees blinkers go on today instead of a visor; needs a career best.
Got up late on at Punchestown (2m4f, good to yielding) in October and made good late headway for third of 23 at Navan (2m6f, yielding) next time; close call at Carlisle (upped to 3m1f, soft) in December when last seen confirms that this 6yo brings an encouraging progressive profile.
4-11, all over hurdles; good third of 20 at Leopardstown (2m7f, yielding) at Christmas when last seen, where she raced a bit freely and did not see it out after leading approaching the final flight; there's a bit to prove at this new trip, therefore, but she's not discounted for a respected stable which had a comfortable win in this race in 2021 with a mare at very similar stage of her career.
Won twice last term; this second season hurdling has seen best form in big-field handicaps on testing ground over 3m and 2m7f on his last two outings, claimer ridden in both and taking third on latest to Will The Wise and Maxi Mac Gold at Naas; needs further improvement but going the right way.
Big reputation going into this season but unsettled in the preliminaries when pulled up on seasonal/chase debut; also favourite for handicap hurdles at Newbury (2m) and Exeter (2m7f) on his two starts since, coming up short but there has been some renewed promise from off the pace; wears headgear first time and he's been the ante-post favourite.
Point/bumper winner who was sent hurdling in only October, winning at first attempt; two fourths and a fifth when sent handicapping (claimer ridden) on last three outings, against some of today's rivals when upped to 3m/2m7f in the mud with big fields at Leopardstown and Naas on last two occasions; should retain potential and Jack Kennedy takes over.
Took a Grade 2 novice (soft) in 2022 and stormed home well clear when upped to an extended 2m7f for a handicap back at Sandown (heavy) in December this term; found a promising one much too good over that same C&D (heavy) last time but beat the rest; second in a novice on good going in 2023 but today's likely move away from the mud asks the question.
Point/bumper winner who went hurdling in November; won a maiden at Punchestown (2m6f, soft) in January and asserted late on in a right slog against Maxi Mac Gold for the 19-runner Naas qualifier (2m7f, heavy) 18 days ago; at such an early stage in his career, he must be open to further progress.
Has good record for claiming riders; trying headgear seemingly had a negative effect on penultimate outing but he bounced back with a career best to win the Haydock qualifier (3m1f, good to soft) last month from Doddiethegreat; did it quite tidily too, so could be a player despite 7lb rise.
Back hurdling (from chasing) for last four starts and impressively resurgent this winter, winning at Doncaster (extended 3m, good to soft) and Huntingdon (3m1f, soft; from Shanagh Bob); latest 6lb rise takes him to almost his career-high mark, however.
12yo returning from 315 days off when 33-1 at Chepstow (3m, soft) 19 days ago but he had the call from approaching the final flight; back up 5lb in this hot race, he needs to find best form since his peak year of 2021.
Sole win (11 races) was a 3m maiden on good ground last May; rather inconsistent since but he's been fourth and second in big-field handicaps on two of his last three starts, latterly when knuckling down well with second-time blinkers in his slog against Will The Wise at Naas (2m7f, heavy) 18 days ago; same respected stable as Feet Of A Dancer and he's also just a 6yo.
Won Grade 2 novice hurdle at Cheltenham (3m, soft) in December 2023; failed to shine over fences before he reverted to hurdles at Huntingdon (3m1f, soft) and finished second in first-time cheekpieces; being brought out for a lesser show 16 days later is a concern, notwithstanding the inadequate 2m5f, but the headgear returns today and he may have more to offer as a stayer.
Staying-on fourth off 1lb higher in top handicap at Newbury (2m, heavy) last February; 12th in the Coral Cup next time initiated a most disappointing sequence but he surged back near his best when second to One Big Bang at Haydock on latest outing, when trying 3m, cheekpieces and Brian Hughes all for the first time; now has first-time tongue-tie as well.
4-7 in handicaps, the wins including his first and latest of four starts this term; underperformed on New Year's Day on his sole start here but roared back with a new high when clearcut winner of the Exeter qualifier (2m7f, good to soft); 6lb higher this time but overall he's been progressive.
Won handicap debut at Warwick (2m5f) in October, before second at Aintree (3m) and Newbury (2m4f); those improved efforts were on good or good to soft, but he showed worryingly little when a flop on soft ground 19 days ago after 12 weeks off; relatively early days.
Won three in a row last spring and the second of those was over C&D; good third back at Cheltenham (again 3m on good) in October and back to form at Huntingdon (soft) latest, but he now needs to hit a new level.
Well beaten when refusing in November but followed that with a tidy win at Kelso (extended 2m6f, good to soft) in December; last three of his four wins have been at that track; good, staying-on fourth in the Musselburgh qualifier (3m, good to soft) latest outing and may have something more in the tank.
Sometimes front-runs; won in a big field over 2m5f here in November 2023; none too consistent since, taking a four-runner race at Newbury (3m, good; 4lb higher today) in November this term but there are safer options.
1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3,4,5,6
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
