Many with solid claims but a chance is taken on KINGDOM CALLING to take another step forward upped in trip from a falling mark. The biggest danger is likely to be Bite That who races from a much lower hurdles mark, while Oakley and Sharetheknowledge shouldn't be far away judged on recent efforts. A market watch is advised for The Border Boy. [Adrian Wall]
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Dual Flat winner is yet to score over hurdles but two fine runs in defeat when third at Leopardstown and Fairyhouse of late over 2m; should stay this far; contender raised 1lb in weights.
Maiden is 0-7 but finished second in Thurles maiden last season (2m, soft) and returned from 230-day absence with clear second here (18.5f, good) under top weight, having forced pace; mark unchanged; tongue-tied.
0-18 under rules; went close in a couple of bumpers a few years ago; form of Fairyhouse fourth in January offers hope but needs to bounce back from tame Flat effort on latest.
Shock 250-1 maiden hurdle winner at Listowel (2m, soft) last September; fair way below that level since but step back in right direction when remote third of six at Limerick last month; could be dangerous off tumbling mark upped in trip.
Never a factor in five starts late last year; well-backed into favourite when well beaten at Fairyhouse in November; first start for new yard after leaving Charles Byrnes; best watched.
Maiden after 24 starts but running well enough at times mixing hurdles and fences, notably when runner-up at Ballinrobe over timber (21.5f, good) last month; disappointing favourite on latest at Down Royal.
Fair bumper form; wasn't disgraced in first two hurdle starts but took a backward step at Fairyhouse in October; absence to overcome but monitor the betting on handicap debut.
Not much promise in trio of maiden hurdles at 2m on testing ground; never a factor on handicap debut at Bellewstown; her half-brother is the talented Adagio so still not discounted in first-time cheekpieces.
Improved sharply to land a gamble at Sedgefield (2m1f, good) on British debut after five runs in Ireland; rounded off that spell with solid fourth of 17 at Doncaster (16.5f, good); market will guide on return from 473-day absence on first start for new Irish stable.
1-27 over hurdles, that win coming for Peter Fahey at Punchestown (2m, good to yielding) last May off 92; no impact first two runs for this yard but well-backed last time at Limerick when reluctant to race and slowly away; headgear combination tried now.
Achieved a sequence of four seconds in handicap chases last autumn; went one better with emphatic 8l win at Wexford in March; good effort upped in trip here on latest; can race from 16lb lower hurdles mark here; player.
Poor form first four rules starts before win and runner-up in point-to-points; never a factor here over 2m1f on handicap debut four weeks ago; risky proposition.
Well beaten in maidens at long odds; never involved in three handicaps to date; only positive is the booking of champion conditional Tiernan Power Roche.
Came back from break to win handicap chase at Downpatrick (2m3f, good) in August 2023 for Shark Hanlon; 595-day absence to overcome here on first start for Pat Foley; tongue-tied.
First reserve; ended last season with a runner-up finish at Limerick (2m, heavy) off 2lb higher; long way below his best this term; headgear combination now; first start for new stable.
