Guinness Novice Hurdle (Grade 2)

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 6m 38.4s

Fabulous Saga^t¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| D

8/13

Winner of three of his five starts over hurdles, including on latest outing when thrashing Burren Life at Cork. Stays this trip well and has to go on the short list.

Form: 211231

Burren Life¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott| OR: 130

16/1

Beaten a long way by Fabulous Saga at Cork last time, but had previously won well in a Thurles novices hurdle. Hard to see him making the necessary improvement to take this.

Form: 25-1312

Minella Fair^t³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: J M Moore| T: N Meade| C

5/1

Won the last of his three starts in bumpers and made a wining debut over timber, following an 11-month absence, at Punchestown. The bare form of that win gives him plenty to find, but he is undeniably promising and could take another leap forward.

Form: 2/221-1

Delta Work^h,t³³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: B J Cooper| T: G Elliott

8/1

Stable companion of Burren Life who had no chance behind the hugely-impressive Samcro at Navan last time, but looked a horse of potential when winning at Punchestown in May. First try at this trip and needs to improve for it.

Form: 41-2133

Ainsi Va La Vie³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| C

5/1

Won all three starts in bumpers before finishing third on her hurdling debut at Galway. Step up in trip suited when she won a Thurles maiden hurdle last time and, with few miles on the clock, can be expected to keep on improving.

Form: 11131

Forecasts

Fabulous Saga (8/13), Ainsi Va La Vie (5/1), Minella Fair (5/1), Delta Work (8/1), Burren Life (16/1)

Burren Life and Delta Work represent top connections, but both look to have their limitations. Minella Fair is lightly raced and could develop into a smart horse, but the stable companions Ainsi Va La Vie and FABULOUS SAGA may fight out the finish. The selection has solid form in the book, stays this trip well and can concede weight all round.