| No. |
|
Selection |
Form |
|
Guide |
|
|
|
- Asterion Forlonge
- P Townend / W P Mullins
|
|
155
|
22/1 |
Asterion Forlonge
Now at the veteran stage and possibly not quite the force he was when a fine second to Teahupoo in this race last season; ran respectably in the Grade 2 Galmoy Hurdle in January and finished 5l second to Hewick at Thurles; unseated two out when bidding to repeat last year's win in a Grade 2 chase at Cork.
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- Colonel Mustard
- K M Donoghue / L Fowler
|
|
152
|
14/1 |
Colonel Mustard
Has a poor strike-rate over hurdles (1-20) but placed on 14 occasions, and has often held his own in demanding company; fifth in the Coral Cup and fourth in a Grade 2 event over 2m4f at Fairyhouse ten days ago; goes beyond 2m5f for the first time now.
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|
|
|
- Crambo
- J J Burke / F O'Brien
|
|
160
|
7/1 |
Crambo
Made it back-to-back wins in the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle (3m, good/good to soft) at Ascot in December; soundly beaten in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham in January after making a bad mistake five out; fell at the sixth when 40-1 chance for the Stayers'; first time cheekpieces added to the usual tongue-tie.
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- Franciscan Rock
- G Brouder / M F Morris
|
|
152
|
33/1 |
Franciscan Rock
Fifth in last year's Coral Cup here; won a C&D handicap in November before following up in a conditions hurdle at Clonmel; respectable third to Rocky's Diamond in Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran; not by any means disgraced as 80-1 chance when sixth in the Stayers, though well held by Teahupoo and Rocky's Diamond.
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|
|
|
- Hiddenvalley Lake
- D J O'Keeffe / H De Bromhead
|
|
164
|
11/2 |
Hiddenvalley Lake
Grade 2 winner at Navan, and Grade 1-placed at Aintree in the first half of 2024; second to Crambo in the Long Walk at Ascot in December; struggled badly in Galmoy won by Rocky's Diamond; restored to form when beating Strong Leader in Aintree Grade 1 in which Home By The Lee flopped.
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|
|
|
- Home By The Lee
- J J Slevin / J P O'Brien
|
|
164
|
9/1 |
Home By The Lee
Third behind Teahupoo in this race last year, and previously took same place in the Stayer's at Cheltenham; beat Bob Olinger in Graded races last November/December, prior to having no luck (hampered by faller and unseated rider mid-race) in the Stayers' Hurdle; flopped in Aintree race won by Hiddenvalley Lake, so prospects should be treated with caution.
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|
|
|
- Meet And Greet
- P T Enright / O McKiernan
|
|
147
|
150/1 |
Meet And Greet
2-15 over hurdles, capable of smart form, such as when third behind Home By The Lee in a 3m Grade 1 at Leopardstown in December 2022; gained first win for almost three years at Limerick three starts back, up against it in this company.
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|
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- Rocky's Diamond
- S Fitzgerald / D Queally
|
|
160
|
9/1 |
Rocky's Diamond
Highly progressive in three starts since 3m handicap win at Gowran last autumn; 66-1 third behind Home By The Lee and Bob Olinger in Grade 1 at Leopardstown (2m7f, yielding) in December and won the Grade 2 Galmoy at Gowran Park (3m, soft to heavy) in January; maintained upward curve with Stayers' Hurdle fourth; may get closer to Teahupoo now.
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- Teahupoo
- Sam Ewing / G Elliott
|
|
170
|
11/8 |
Teahupoo
Leading stayer whose success in the 2024 Stayers' Hurdle (soft) was the middle leg of a Grade 1 hat-trick completed with an emphatic defeat of Asterion Forlonge in this race; no match for Lossiemouth over 2m4f in the Hattons's Grace on return; beaten by Bob Olinger at Cheltenham but showed enough to suggest he can repeat last year's victory.
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|
- Winter Fog
- B Hayes / W P Mullins
|
|
158
|
28/1 |
Winter Fog
Veteran who recorded his biggest success in a 2m Grade 3 contest at Tipperary last July before finishing fourth in the Galway Hurdle; his last four races have been in 2m Grade 1 events, profiting from mishaps to take third place in the Champion Hurdle on latest; won over 3m at Cork in July 2023 but would be a shock winner here.
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|
- Jetara
- J Bowen / Mrs J Harrington
|
|
158
|
9/1 |
Jetara
Won 3m Doncaster Grade 2 mares' win in January and ran respectably in the 2m4f Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham; confirmed her stamina with a pleasing display to take third behind Hiddenvalley Lake at Aintree; deserves another shot at the geldings.
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