Armstrong Surfacing Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 16:25 | Winning time: 5m 34.2s

Blue Empyrean³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott| BF| C

8/1

Valid excuse for what appeared to be a poor effort last time out and no surprise if this fellow has more to offer. Gone well at this course in the past (won his bumper here last June), so well worth a check in the betting.

Form: 1424-46

Mountain Rock^p1³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D N Russell| T: A Keatley| BF

8/11

Back over hurdles after a gallant second on the Flat at Galway last week, the gelding has plenty of scope for improvement and will be a potent threat if responding positively to the first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 1358-72

Mischievious Max¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: J J Slevin⁽³⁾| T: J P O'Brien

5/2

A bold show from lolani in the first race would bolster this fellow's claims as he ran a blinder to finish in front of that rival at Limerick last month. Going the right way and should find a race before too long.

Form: 531342

Scotch Beg^p³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: A E Lynch| T: A Oliver| C

8/1

Won a bumper here before posting a solid round of jumping over C&D last month, she holds Blue Empyrean on that effort and is certainly going the right way. Her proven stamina is a big bonus and she does her bit to make this a good test.

Form: 06-7513

Rail Park Lad^t1³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: C A Landers⁽⁷⁾| T: K Purcell

66/1

Only poor form in a bumper and two starts over hurdles so far. Very hard to see the gelding being a factor this time around either.

Form: P-0P

Out Of Africa²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: C Bowe

25/1

Won a point-to-point over 3m earlier in the year but nothing special about her form under rules so far. Not to difficult to overlook again.

Form: 71-607

Forecasts

Mountain Rock (8/11), Mischievious Max (5/2), Blue Empyrean (8/1), Scotch Beg (8/1), Out Of Africa (25/1), Rail Park Lad (66/1)

It could pay to stick with the proven stamina of SCOTCH BEG, who has already won a bumper at this course and she gets the nod as a value option in a tricky little race. Mischievious Max has his best days ahead of him and is respected as a live danger, while Mountain Rock is also on an upwards curve and it would be no surprise to see him involved in the shake-up.