15:10 Naas

Sunday 25 February 2018

All13:4014:1014:4015:1015:4516:1516:4517:15

Paddy Power Onside App Novice Hurdle (Grade 2)

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 4m 10.50s

Hardline^h¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 135| D

6/1

Entered in the Supreme novices and will need to repeat his win last time out at Punchestown earlier this month to be convincing in his Cheltenham goal.

Form: 211331

Impact Factor⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 132| D

6/1

Fine winner of a Punchestown maiden hurdle last time out in January when finishing 1¼L ahead of Eagle Lion. Capable of another big run.

Form: 32-221

Cartwright¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| CD

9/4

In good form and running well of late including a 16L demolition of a 19-runner maiden hurdle field here earlier in the month. Likely to be a warm order here.

Form: 21

Defi Bleu⁷⁸

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

14/1

Won his bumper in fine style at Navan in December beaten Clicojack 4L. Could be capable of having his say in this contest.

Form: 2-1

Discorama³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Kevin Sexton| T: P Nolan| OR: 136

5/1

Entries in the Albert Bartlett and Martin Pipe at the festival and will need to improve on his run last time out beaten 18L at Thurles last month to get to one of his destinations.

Form: 2-123

Makitorix^h,t²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 130| D

12/1

Couple of Cheltenham festival entries but his last of six 33L behind Getabird doesn't offer any encouragement. Others look to be progressing at a quicker rate.

Form: 1P464

Speak Easy⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: B J Geraghty| T: J P O'Brien| D

5/2

Won a Navan maiden hurdle last month beating 20 rivals by an impressive 6L before finding the step up to Grade 1 level here last month a step too far. Has work to do on that effort.

Form: 1-15

Tara Dylan⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Danny Mullins| T: T Mullins

16/1

Promising maiden hurdle debut when second of 17 at Thurles in October and his second at Fairyhouse last month was a good effort too. Not easy to discount.

Form: 2B2

Forecasts

Cartwright (9/4), Speak Easy (5/2), Discorama (5/1), Hardline (6/1), Impact Factor (6/1), Makitorix (12/1), Defi Bleu (14/1), Tara Dylan (16/1)

Plenty to like about the front-running tactics of the improving Impact Factor from the Jessica Harrington yard but will have to be at the top of his game to worry C&D winner CARTWRIGHT who sprinted away from a competitive 19-runner field earlier this month to win by 16L. Speak Easy and Hardline can battle for the minor honors.