Noel O'Brien Memorial Novice Hurdle

Off time: 18:50 | Winning time: 4m 49.6s

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Selected odds by:

Galilean^p²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: J S McGarvey| T: J P O'Brien

11/4

Off the mark at just the third time of asking when landing a 23-runner maiden hurdle at the Fairyhouse Easter festival last month. Leading player with this trip likely to bring out some improvement.

Form: 521-

The Red Menace^t²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 123

11/2

Gradual improvement came to a head when the Mountain High gelding got off the mark at the fourth time of asking for connections over hurdles winning a Leopardstown maiden in March. Never in contention in novice company last month.

Form: 16631P-

Judgement Day^p¹³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: H Morgan| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 118| C

9/4

Course winner that has also won over this trip. Solid 139-rated chaser but without success as yet in six starts over hurdles. Goes well over this trip and a leading player on first appearance since December.

Form: 211115-

Flindt²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: P E Corbett| T: Mrs D A Love| C

8/1

Modest 68-rated handicapper on the Flat. Off the mark over hurdles on debut here over 2m beating 12 rivals 3½L last month. Likely to improve and worthy of consideration.

Form: 1-

Lethal Steps¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 124

11/4

Ex-Andrew Balding-trained Flat winner, rated 102 on the level. Has hit the frame in a number of starts last month before getting off the mark at the eighth time of asking over hurdles over 2m1½f at Sligo. Open to significant improvement.

Form: 30323-1

Maine Danger⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: C J Orr⁽⁵⁾| T: N Slevin

100/1

By Whitemore's Conn and a half-sister to dual winner The Mulcare Rover. Modest form in the point-to-point ranks and on a couple of dismal bumper starts. Others preferred.

Form: 5P32F-P

Forecasts

Judgement Day (9/4), Galilean (11/4), Lethal Steps (11/4), The Red Menace (11/2), Flindt (8/1), Maine Danger (100/1)

The progressive Galileo gelding, GALILEAN could take some stopping following a facile victory at the third time of asking at the Fairyhouse Easter festival last month. The five-year-old, trained by Joseph O'Brien can take the prize at the expense of the Henry De Bromhead-trained Judgement Day on first start for five months. Lethal Steps in the colours of Cheveley Park Stud and Flindt can battle for the minors.