Joe Mac Novice Hurdle (Grade 3)

Off time: 16:01 | Winning time: 4m 5.0s

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Selected odds by:

Morgan^h¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 139| D

2/1

Won well last time out, coping with similar underfoot conditions to today's predicted going; so likely to find the ground to his liking. Tough test giving weight away to a progressive bunch of rivals, however.

Form: 24-2121

Housesofparliament^t⁶¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: B J Geraghty| T: J P O'Brien| D

6/1

Classy recruit from the Flat (third in the St Leger last year). Got the better of Morgan when they met at Gowran in August - the ground will be more testing this time but favoured by the weights, so ought to uphold that form at least. Big Chance.

Form: 27-1

Sayar³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| D

1/1

Two modest starts on the Flat banished to memory when he made an effortless transition to the Jumping game when getting off the mark at the first time of asking at Kilbeggan. Yard won the last two renewals; highly respected in the hat-tick bid.

Form: 1

Classic Theatre²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: A E Lynch| T: H De Bromhead| D

12/1

Made good progress in Bumpers and got off the mark on hurdling debut at Listowel without too much fuss. Open to further improvement and one to keep tabs on whatever happens today.

Form: 241-1

Law Girl¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 125

16/1

Looks the lesser light of her stable's options on the form already in the book and will need to run way beyond what she showed in her last couple of outings to figure here.

Form: 4139

Non-Runners

Special Diamond¹⁰²

Weight: 10-8| Age: 6

T: H De Bromhead J: P T Enright

Forecasts

Sayar (1/1), Morgan (2/1), Housesofparliament (6/1), Special Diamond (7/1), Classic Theatre (12/1), Law Girl (16/1)

This will be a good reference point for future races and HOUSESOFPARLIAMENT, who was placed in last year's St Leger, could prove to be an apt winner of what has the makings of an informative little contest. Sayar would have plenty to find on Flat-race form but looked another useful recruit to the Willie Mullins camp when getting off the mark on hurdling debut. The yard has won the last two renewals, so the portents are positive for a bold attempt at three on the bounce. Morgan already has a bit to find with the selection, but has decent enough form to suggest he may be the best of the rest at this stage.