Neville Hotels Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 3m 45.2s

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Selected odds by:

Fils D'oudairies³⁶⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: J C Gainford| T: G Elliott| OR: 144| C| D

200/1

Smart hurdler. Course winner. Latest win in hurdle at Tipperary in October 2023. 22¼ lengths last of 4 to State Man in this race 12 months ago. Off since.

Form: 110134-

King Of Kingsfield⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny Gilligan| T: G Elliott| OR: 144| BF| CD

28/1

Useful hurdler. Similar form when second on Navan chase debut 43 days ago, travelling strongly. Difficult ask back hurdling.

Form: 1304-22

Mystical Power²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 154| BF| D

12/1

Smart hurdler novice hurdler, including Grade 1 wins at Aintree and Punchestown in the spring. Can't have been right when 33 lengths sixth of 7 to Sir Gino in Fighting Fifth at Newcastle (2m, good) on reappearance 29 days ago. Not the type to stay down for long.

Form: 11211-6

State Man³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 169| BF| CD

4/9

Last season's Champion Hurdle hero who is chasing a hat-trick of wins in this Grade 1. Went down by ¾ length to a race-fit Brighterdaysahead in Morgiana on reappearance but taken to turn the tables on Gordon Elliott's mare now.

Form: 11111-2

Winter Fog³⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 150| CD

66/1

Smart C&D winner. Creditable 13¾ lengths third of 7 to Brighterdaysahead and State Man in Morgiana but no reason why he'll get much closer to that pair.

Form: 1-41433

Brighterdaysahead³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott| OR: 155| D

5/2

Beaten at odds on in the Dawn Run at Cheltenham in March but that's her only defeat, taking the scalp of the reappearing State Man in the Morgiana at Punchestown last month. That rival could be sharper now but unlikely to go down without a fight.

Form: 1121-11

Non-Runners

Daddy Long Legs³⁶

Weight: 11-12| Age: 5

T: W P Mullins J: D E Mullins

Forecasts

State Man (4/9), Brighterdaysahead (5/2), Mystical Power (12/1), King Of Kingsfield (28/1), Daddy Long Legs (50/1), Winter Fog (66/1), Fils D'oudairies (200/1)

With an outing under his belt STATE MAN is taken to reverse Morgiana form with Brighterdaysahead and land this Grade 1 prize for the third year in succession.