Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle (Grade 3)

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 7m 12.20s

Burren Life³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 133

3/1

Led to 2 out when lost shoe and eventually finished third in Limerick Grade 2 hurdle in December over this trip. Appeared unsuited by shorter in handicap last time and better at this trip. Sure to be in the mix .

Form: 131235

Monkshood⁷²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 136| BF| C

9/4

Rattled off a hattrick (bumper,two hurdles) but very disappointing stepped up in class to Grade 3 latest when tailed off after weakening quickly 4 out. That looked too bad to be true and rates contender on previous progressive profile.

Form: 431-114

Chris's Dream⁸¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Mark Walsh| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 128| D

5/1

Bought for £175,000 after winning Limerick 2m 3f maiden hurdle in good style in early-December. First start for new connections and thought of by former trainer as out-and-out three miler in the making. Lots of potential and looks interesting.

Form: 010-621

Last Man Standing¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: J J Slevin| T: M F Morris| D

6/1

Flemensfirsth gelding made 75,000 euros as an unraced 3-y-o. Progressive form in four runs so far culminating with pleasing win at Thurles last time. This is much tougher, but stays and handles ground so cannot be ruled out of it.

Form: 4421

Moonshine Bay⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| C| D

7/2

Made £120,000 after wining point-to-point last spring. Bit disappointing in first two starts over hurdles (at 2m), but much better when landing Clonmel 2m3f maiden hurdle. Takes a steep rise in trip and class so has to improve again.

Form: 4-1861

Carrigeen Acebo^p,h²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: Miss E A Lalor| T: R H Lalor| OR: 99| D

25/1

Prolific winning point-to-pointer but struggled under Rules until popping up at 50/1 in Thurles novice chase 12 months ago. Patchy form since over fences and hurdles and looks out of her depth at this level.

Form: 049438

Forecasts

Monkshood (9/4), Burren Life (3/1), Moonshine Bay (7/2), Chris's Dream (5/1), Last Man Standing (6/1), Carrigeen Acebo (25/1)

CHRIS'S DREAM did it well when winning over timber last time and was sold for a lot of money soon after. He has reportedly been crying out for this trip so is fancied to get the better of the Gordon Elliot-trained pair of Burren Life and Monkshood. Burren Life ran well in a similar event on his penultimate start and a reproduction of that effort will see him go close, and Monkshood ran too bad to be true last time and is better judged on his previous hattrick. Last Man Standing and Moonshine Bay both have ability and are not ruled out by any means in a good race.