Annual Membership Available Rated Novice Hurdle

Off time: 12:47 | Winning time: 4m 6.9s

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Selected odds by:

Flamborough³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: T Gibney| OR: 122| CD

1/1

C&D maiden winner in November. Fourteenth of 19 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (16f, soft, 8/1) since.

Form: 6-63410

Striking¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Jack Kennedy| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 121| D

5/1

Fairly useful hurdler. Below form fifteenth of 23 in handicap hurdle (16/1) at Leopardstown (16f, good to soft) 11 days ago. This less competitive and has Jack Kennedy doing the steering.

Form: 52-2130

El Champo¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: P J O'Hanlon⁽³⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 120| D

6/1

Fairly useful hurdler. 3 wins from 9 runs this season. 6/1, fourth of 6 in novice chase at Limerick (17.7f, heavy) on debut over fences 11 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles. Player for last season's winning yard.

Form: 161194

Doctor Brown Bear⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: J J Slevin| T: Eamon Courtney| OR: 118| D

16/1

Fairly useful hurdler. First run since leaving Martin Brassil when last of 12 in handicap hurdle (50/1) at Punchestown (24.4f, soft) 41 days ago. Significantly back down in trip.

Form: 40/56-10

Morning Soldier^t⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: J B Foley| T: T Mullins| OR: 118

17/2

Tongue strap on for 1st time, bit below form sixth of 10 in handicap hurdle at Limerick (16f, heavy, 16/1) 8 days ago, not knocked about. Claims if back to his best.

Form: 35P406

Starman^h⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽³⁾| T: A McCann| OR: 113| D

6/1

14/1, career best when winning 6-runner novice hurdle at Limerick (16f, heavy) 8 days ago. Can give a good account.

Form: 522601

The Shantou King^p,h⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: M M McDonagh⁽³⁾| T: Aengus King| OR: 115| D

28/1

Fair hurdler. Winner in hurdle at Listowel in September. 25/1, 15¼ lengths fourth of 6 to Starman in novice hurdle at Limerick (16f, heavy) 8 days ago. Hood back on. Has a bit to find on these terms.

Form: 5271P4

Forecasts

Flamborough (1/1), Striking (5/1), El Champo (6/1), Starman (6/1), Morning Soldier (17/2), Doctor Brown Bear (16/1), The Shantou King (28/1)

A tight affair. EL CHAMPO shaped as if still in good form when fourth on his Limerick chase debut over Christmas and might be able to provide Philip Rothwell with a second successive win in this contest. Striking didn't figure at Leopardstown over Christmas but had run well at Punchestown prior to that and is respected with Jack Kennedy stepping in for the ride. Last week's Limerick scorer Starman is another who should have a say.