Ballygarry House Hotel Novice Hurdle

Off time: 16:55 | Winning time: 5m 12.2s

Easy Game⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| D

8/11

Easy winner on hurdles bow over this trip at Killarney in July, got the job done again since at Galway dropped back in trip. Back up in distance and big player for champion handler.

Form: 4-11

Getareason²⁴

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

5/2

Bumper winner, took 2m5f Tramore maiden hurdle last time on second start over timber. One of two leading players for Closutton in this event.

Form: 2/13-321

Air Supremacy¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien

7/2

Solid performer on the Flat for Aiden O'Brien winning his maiden over 12-months ago. Gelded, made winning start over timber for new trainer at Killarney last month and likely will step up on the form.

Form: 1

Captain Leo⁹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: A E Lynch| T: R P Rath

100/1

Moderate record in point-to-points (did win one) and walked home on rules bow at Clonmel in June. Hard to see him upsetting the likely principles here.

Form: P/UP1P-0

Dare To Endeavour²⁵⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-0| J: A W Short⁽⁵⁾| T: P Griffin| OR: 106| D

66/1

Veteran performer who registered his first placed effort in some time when finishing third at Limerick (heavy) last December over fences. Since left Eric McNamara for this trainer. Vulnerable to younger legs.

Form: 0P/PP53-

Non-Runners

Go Another One²⁰

Weight: 11-10| Age: 6

T: J C McConnell J: M J Bolger

Forecasts

Easy Game (8/11), Getareason (5/2), Air Supremacy (7/2), Go Another One (8/1), Dare To Endeavour (66/1), Captain Leo (100/1)

Willie Mullins took this last year and has a strong hand once more with both EASY GAME and Getareason in the mix. The latter may need to brush up his jumping but Paul Townend's mount has been slick at his flights and will relish the step back up in distance now. He gets the vote, though only narrowly from Air Supremacy, a former Ballydoyle inmate that made a pleasing start to his hurdling career at Killarney.