British raider Keep Running will be dangerous if allowed to dictate things from the front. Tullyhill is a classy horse on his day but he has been a disappointment overall and will need a top performance off top weight. Spinning Web can't be discounted bidding for a hat-trick, but Henry de Bromhead could hold the aces. It would be no surprise to see The Folkes Tiara run a huge race but JASKO DES DAMES is a C&D winner who would have finished closer at Cheltenham last time but for a late blunder. He's fancied to make amends. [Adrian Wall]
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Sent off favourite for last season's Supreme Novices'; second to Majborough at Fairyhouse in December; reeled in late by Mistergif at that venue next time; pulled up in Thurles beginners' when last seen; talented and hails from top yard but comes with risks attached on handicap debut.
Dual Grade 2 hurdles winner in his pomp back in 2020/21; missed two full seasons before returning in October 2023 and hasn't looked the same horse, though he has won twice this season, including 2m beginners' chase at Wexford last month; handicap chase debut; others preferred.
Returned from 11-month absence to win Navan handicap chase (2m, yielding) off 120 in December; creditable efforts in defeat since, third at Fairyhouse before below best when sent off favourite at the DRF (coughing post-race); great effort when third in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham on latest; on the shortlist.
Grade 2-winning hurdler got off the mark over fences at the fourth time of asking when landing standard Cork beginners' (2m1f, yielding) 11 days ago, doing it from the front; won't be allowed to dictate things here but opening mark is fair and is another worthy of respect for the Mullins stable.
Lost his way at the end of last season but returned with a win at Fairyhouse (2m1f, yielding) off 126 in November before being beaten a short head by An Peann Dearg (won at the DRF since) at Leopardstown on St Stephen's Day; nothing went his way at Aintree four weeks ago but he could go well here.
Now 0-6 chasing but good second to surprise 150-1 winner at Leopardstown in December before a third in Thurles beginners' in February; brought down in Grade 2 Cheltenham Novices' Handicap; remote third behind Aspire Tower at Wexford; plenty to prove at present.
Has found hidden depths since dropped to 2m1f over fences at Leopardstown, winning back-to-back handicaps off 116 and 122 (DRF); struggled off 12lb higher mark in the Plate at Cheltenham but respected dropping back in trip and conditions will suit.
2-12 over fences; last won at Fairyhouse (16.5f, heavy) over a year ago off 122; has generally struggled off revised mark since and handicapper has been slow to relent, although ran well when sixth to An Peann Dearg at the DRF on penultimate outing.
Maiden hurdler who won his first two chases (including over C&D) under positive rides and returned to those tactics when a highly respectable fifth in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham, his first handicap in this discipline; would have been a lot closer without a late mistake; part of a strong hand for Henry de Bromhead.
Two-time chase winner; last win in this sphere came at Kilbeggan (20.5f, good) last May off 123; went close at Galway off 130 last August; veteran took heavy defeats at Navan and Wexford on last two starts; may need more respite from the handicapper.
120-rated hurdler has quickly established himself as a useful chaser; put in a good round of jumping when an emphatic winner of Clonmel novice handicap (18.5f, yielding) in December; jumping was less proficient at Naas and Gowran; won't get away with errors in this contest.
1-16 over fences; ran well at Gowran in November (2m, good) but badly out of sorts in four starts since, including when finishing last of eight in Fairyhouse novice 11 days ago; ground will be more suitable here but he's hard to fancy.
Had wind op prior to Carlisle in October, when pulled up and found to have a wound on his right hind; major improvement when easily making all at Ludlow (2m, good to soft) and Ffos Las (2m, soft), the latter effort marked up as he jumped to the right; couldn't dominate upped to 20.5f at Kempton but is on the shortlist back in trip.
Capable of better form than he showed at Aintree four weeks ago and refitting of cheekpieces seemed to help when winning at Doncaster (2m, good) in January; brought down there on his penultimate outing; capable of running well but is a risky proposition all the same.
Quite highly tried over fences to date, notably finishing second in a Grade 3 at Roscommon last September; didn't jump well and hampered when pulled up on handicap debut at Leopardstown; won a 2m2f Thurles beginners' under positive tactics on latest but this will be much tougher.
Both career victories have come at Gowran on soft or heavy ground, including a dominant 2m handicap chase victory there in March when seeing off a next time out winner; now 11lb higher and deserves to be at the head of the betting but drying ground has to be a concern.
Third runner for the yard; two chase wins at up to 19.5f; last success came at Killarney (2m1f, yielding) last August off 123; respectable second behind well-backed winner in 2m4f Fairyhouse novice 11 days ago; possibilities if he can build on that.
Won with a bit up his sleeve at Doncaster (good) off 122 in January 2024; 2lb out of the weights and absent for 399 days when fifth of nine over the same C&D in March; stable 3-12 at Punchestown in the last five seasons so would be no surprise to see him run a big race.
Already looking a better chaser than hurdler and seeks a hat-trick after back-to-back wins over 2m5f at Thurles, the latest a handicap off 9lb lower; had plenty in hand that day and drying ground is a plus, while he went close over this trip in January; leading contender.
Won novice chase here (15.5f, soft) last season but hasn't shown enough in five starts since to suggest he can defy this mark; the choice of Rachael Blackmore but would probably need softer conditions than this over this trip; others preferred on this occasion.
Two-time chase winner off 108 and 118 at Navan (2m1f) and Down Royal (16.5f) respectively, both on soft; remains 4lb above last winning mark but battled well to the line when runner-up at Wexford (19.5f, yielding) last month; each-way possibilities.
Doesn't hang about on the front end; defied an absence to win at Kilbeggan (2m4f, good) last August off 117 but was pulled up at Naas in January and finished tailed off at Limerick in March; difficult to recommend on that evidence.
Off the mark over fences at Down Royal (16.5f, good to yielding) in November off 10lb lower mark; only beaten 1l into fifth in a bunched finish at Leopardstown on St Stephen's Day behind An Peann Dearg and The Folkes Tiara; disappointed from 14lb lower mark back over hurdles when last seen; 6lb wrong.
1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3,4,5
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
