A ferociously competitive handicap to kick things off and a chance is taken on Harry Derham's TURN AND FINISH to come out on top. The British challenger could be well ahead of the assessor judged on his Cork second to subsequent Fred Winter winner Puturhandstogether. Fellow British raider Kap Ouest is worth monitoring in the betting, while the home team's best chance could be top weight The Other Mozzie who runs off a much lower hurdles mark. Putapoundinthejar is another to consider. [Adrian Wall]
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Weakened up the hill when seventh in 2m4f Jack Richards at Cheltenham Festival; made it 3-5 over fences with easy win in Ayr premier handicap chase (16.5f, good to soft) off 138 last month; lurking off dangerous mark back hurdling.
Won Bellewstown bumper (good to yielding) last April; faded into fourth here on hurdling debut; weakened late on again at Naas and Navan; fair opening mark on handicap debut; market will be informative.
Made all to win bumper/maiden hurdle on decent ground in early autumn, including over C&D; some solid efforts in defeat in handicaps subsequently, fading late on when strong in the betting at Wexford on latest; not out of things.
Runner-up in Listed bumper at four; off the mark on second start over hurdles when landing Down Royal maiden (2m1f, good to yielding) in January; tongue-tied when big price and never involved in Grade 2 novice at Kelso; handicap debut; monitor the market.
Four-time winner is a course victor; last win was at Listowel (2m4f, yielding to soft) last September off 118; now 2lb lower but didn't show much in last three outings and he's shoving on in years.
Dual Flat winner at 1m7f-2m1f on good ground; plenty of encouragement from three runs over timber for this yard since leaving Henry de Bromhead, including a runner-up finish over 2m1f at Limerick on latest; might need a stiffer test on handicap bow.
Off the mark in Exeter maiden hurdle (2m1f, good to soft) in December; blundered his rider away mid-race on handicap debut at Newbury; didn't stay 2m5f at Warwick in March; stable 6-27 at Punchestown so he commands respect.
Three-time Flat winner over 1m5f-2m, including when winning at Listowel when last seen 333 days ago; finished no better than midfield in this race last year and looks up against it on his return to action.
Point-to-point runner-up ran with credit in four maiden hurdles before getting off the mark on handicap debut off 108 at Kilbeggan (19.5f, yielding) six days ago, getting on top close home; contender turned out quickly under a penalty.
Had Magic Day behind in third when winning Thurles maiden hurdle (2m, good) in December; didn't seem to stay when raised in trip and class when falling at the last in a course novice in January; could be competitive off this mark.
Failed to complete in four point-to-points; tailed off in bumper here last summer but headgear combination worked when springing 150-1 shock in Tramore maiden hurdle in August; ran far too freely there on handicap bow; opposable on first start for new yard.
0-15 on the Flat but built on encouraging runs in maiden hurdles around here when comfortably winning at Thurles (15.5f, good) in March; conditions will be ideal on his handicap hurdle debut; on the shortlist.
AQPS winner in France; disappointing since winning a juvenile maiden hurdle for Gordon Elliott at Galway in October 2023; absent since being pulled up on stable debut at Clonmel in October.
Placed six times over hurdles before finally getting off the mark narrowly at Wexford (2m, good to yielding) off 100; followed up in style off 106 at Limerick (2m, good) although this is a much deeper field; will need to pull out more.
Came up short in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham (wore cheekpieces and tongue-tie) but had previously been second to Fred Winter winner Puturhandstogether in big-field Cork maiden on final start for Joseph O'Brien; big eyecatcher when second at Newcastle on latest when weak in the betting; big showing anticipated for yard that had impressive handicap winner at the meeting on Tuesday.
Ran well in defeat several times in Flat maidens for Johnny Murtagh; bled on hurdles debut in December but much better since, getting off the mark in Clonmel maiden (2m1f, good to yielding) two weeks ago; his jumping will need to improve on handicap debut but respected.
Scored on final run for Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero at Huntingdon in late 2023 and continued progress after 14-month absence for current yard, bagging 2m handicaps at Limerick and Clonmel; pulled up at Ayr off 16lb higher; might have preference for soft.
Leopardstown maiden hurdle (2m, yielding) winner was creditable third behind Mercury Mission on handicap debut at Wexford and the first two have won since; should be competitive off this mark; each-way possibilities.
Ran out two from home in two consecutive races late last year; ran too freely on handicap debut at Ascot (23.5f) in February; travelled strongly when winning Fontwell maiden hurdle (17.5f, good) on latest but this is a much bigger ask.
Tramore maiden hurdle (16.5f, good) winner last August; dual Flat winner was only caught late when third at Leopardstown (1m) in March but poor there on latest; one of the likely pace angles but struggled on sole handicap start in this sphere last October.
All three wins have been on soft ground; impressive winner of 20-runner Gowran handicap hurdle off 98 in March but was pulled up at Fairyhouse off this mark 11 days ago; uphill task.
In good form over both hurdles and fences last summer on good ground, winning over hurdles here over 2m3f off 102; runner-up over fences at Limerick in March but below best when midfield in Naas handicap hurdle four weeks ago; others preferred.
Maiden hurdle winner over C&D early last season but has struggled in handicap company since; no signs of a revival at Limerick in March, for all he was heavily supported in the betting late on.
Still a maiden after six starts; beaten 2l into second off 105 on her handicap debut at Fairyhouse on return from a break in February; disappointing runner-up when long odds-on for Limerick fillies' maiden hurdle three weeks ago; lightly raced; can give a good account.
Dual-purpose performer was placed twice in juvenile maiden hurdles last year; pulled up at Fairyhouse on testing ground on handicap debut in February; appreciated better ground when landing 2m1f Bellewstown maiden 19 days ago; contender.
