If the forecast rain arrives it may not suit the likes of Jolie Jewel and Tell Nobody Nothin. Westernersunrise won't mind an ease but the locally trained TOMAS O MAILLE may be the safest option. He won over a furlong shorter here last time, is ground versatile and he may be able to defy a 5lb rise. Tannery Park could also go well if it turns soft and if the rain misses, Evans Secret should be thereabouts. [Dave Stephens]
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Handicap debutant; improved to beat well fancied rival in third maiden hurdle (2m4f, good) at Down Royal; unseated at the start on latest; could resume progress but may not want too much rain.
Won a Cork maiden hurdle just over a year ago (2m3f, good); improved back there in a handicap on penultimate when beaten 2.5l off 108; two more solid second place efforts here on last two starts; can go well again if turning out and there isn't too much rain.
In excellent form at Thurles in March, winning back to back chases at around this trip; pulled up dropped back to 16.5f at Punchestown latest; reverts to hurdles off 14lb lower than chase rating and steps back up in trip; wouldn't want to see much rain.
Downpatrick maiden hurdle winner at 2m2f; has run with credit all three handicap hurdle starts on good ground, beaten just 2.75l at Cork latest; chance off the same mark but rain a concern.
Local challenger shed the maiden tag over 21.5f (good) here last month; should go well again upped slightly in trip off 5lb higher and he is ground versatile; claims.
Veteran is a four-time winner over hurdles; scored off 98 at Kilbeggan (18.5f, gd-yld) last August; beaten off revised mark twice since and has been off since October; may need this run.
Point-to-point winner is 0-4 over timber; mild promise in maidens; beaten 15l when fourth of 15 at Cork latest (3m, good), weakening late on; drops back in trip for handicap debut; worth a market check.
Got off the mark at the seventh attempt over hurdles in Fairyhouse handicap in February (2m4f, soft); raised 6lb for that and has been off since; rain would be a plus and she should go well again if she returns in similar form.
Nine-race maiden produced his best handicap run on penultimate start at Limerick (21.5f, good) when a 2.75l third of 8 off 97; didn't back that up at Cork on latest; place chance if reproducing that Limerick run off 1lb lower.
Handicap debutant has shown just minor promise in a trio of maidens at 2m-20.5f; doesn't look obviously well-treated but he's well-related (half-brother to Benefficient) and could be capable of better; check the market.
Dual-purpose maiden; 0-9 over hurdles; didn't get the clearest of runs when a 7.25l third of 15 at Sligo last time out; ran well over this C&D a year ago when a 1l second of 16 off 5lb lower; rain would be a worry, chance if it misses.
Point-to-point winner is 0-6 over hurdles; best effort a head second on heavy ground at Fairyhouse in February (2m4f); beaten 11l off 3lb higher on latest at Gowran (2m4f, soft); won't mind if it rains but needs a bit more stepped up in trip.
Won a Sligo maiden in 2022 but winless since; hasn't shown a lot since return from a long layoff in October; beaten 17l here latest and now tries a tongue tie; mark sliding but others appeal more.
Dual-purpose maiden; yet to hit the frame in six starts over hurdles but didn't run too badly at Cork (2m4f, good) on his return from a 254-day break; has run well here on the Flat on soft and stays 2m in that sphere; looks well worth a go at this trip; interesting.
Chase winner is 0-13 over hurdles; has been mixing both codes recently; couldn't take advantage of lower hurdles mark at Punchestown on penultimate; ground versatile and has run respectably here before; could outrun odds.
Dual-purpose maiden is 0-5 over timber; hasn't shown enough in two handicap hurdles to be of interest here, though could improve if the ground turns soft (has run well on soft on the Flat).
First reserve; 1-13 over hurdles, the win coming in November 2023 at Tramore (2m5f, soft); remains 3lb above that last success and has been off since last April; probably best watched on return.
Second reserve; 0-16 over hurdles; ran well over 2m1f here last August on easy ground; steps up in trip after a couple of modest efforts at Clonmel and Sligo and wears cheekpieces now; others preferred.
Third reserve; 0-7 over hurdles; has shown a glimmer of promise and should strip fitter for her comeback run at Down Royal on latest; this trip is an unknown so probably best watched; 1lb wrong.
1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3,4
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
