There is a case for seeing this as a match between the Brown Advisory winner Lecky Watson and four-time course winner Ballyburn, an odds-on failure in the Cheltenham race. However, it could pay to side with the pair's stablemate, Aintree Grade 1 winner IMPAIRE ET PASSE, whose jumping let him down when he took on Ballyburn over a shorter trip at the DRF. Slade Steel is perhaps the most likely to intrude on a possible Mullins benefit. [Alan Sweetman]
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Top novice hurdler last season, signing off at this meeting with a third Grade 1 win; 2-4 over fences, no match for Sir Gino at Kempton after course 2m3f beginners' win; won Grade 1 at the DRF quite readily despite having raced keenly; flopped in the Brown Advisory won by stablemate Lecky Waston, pulled hard, and jumping technique deserted him.
Smart novice hurdler two seasons ago; off for 21 months before jumping well to win a beginners' chase at Fairyhouse on New Year's Day; led to two out when outsider of stable's three in DRF Grade 1 won by Ballyburn; not seriously challenged in landing the odds in a 2m Grade 3 event at Navan; jumped left and faded at Fairyhouse last week.
Won a 2m4f Grade 3 event on good ground at Cork in November; close fourth of five in 2m4f Grade 1 Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse in early December; outpaced from two out in the Brown Advisory, well held by Lecky Watson and Stellar Story.
Limitations exposed at Grade 1 level during last season's novice hurdling campaign; much more like it on his first two starts over fences; backed up Navan beginners' win when landing 2m Grade 2 at Naas in January; very disappointing in Arkle at Leopardstown, labouring by halfway; unseated at third at Fairyhouse nine days ago.
Top-class hurdler and now 3-4 over fences; won 2m3f Grade 1 at Limerick in yielding to soft in December; jumping let him down when well held in third behind Ballyburn at the DRF; restored to form when landing 2m4f Aintree Grade 1 in first-time cheekpieces; unbeaten in two 2023 hurdle starts at this venue, a Grade 1 and a Grade 2.
Just short of top class in novice hurdles last season; has matured into a leading novice chaser, unbeaten in three races; beat Slade Steel in a 2m4f beginners' event at Naas in December; dominated in a weak Grade 3 here in January; took advantage of Ballyburn's failure when beating Stellar Story convincingly at Cheltenham; stays and jumps well.
Top novice hurdler last season; beat Lecky Watson in 2m4f Grade 2 at Navan; second to Ballyburn at DRF; beat Mystical Power in the Supreme Novices', failed to uphold form with the second on much better ground at this venue; has run only twice over fences, beaten 4l by Better Days Ahead at Navan, outpointed by Lecky Watson at Naas in December.
Won last season's Albert Bartlett; has shown a similarly high standard level of form over fences, apart from when tailed off at Leopardstown in December; beaten a neck by a short-priced stablemate in a Grade 2 at Navan and chased home Lecky Watson in a steadily run Brown Advisory at Cheltenham.
Fair hurdler; a latecomer to chasing this season and prospered in winning her first three races, notably Listed events for mares at Newbury and Exeter; slowly away and unable to get into contention in 3m1f Grade 1 at Aintree, rider called it a day after the eighth.
1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
