Horse & Jockey Rated Novice Hurdle

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 5m 7.40s

Getaway John^p1²³

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

9/2

Winner of two of his five bumper starts and off the mark over hurdles at the third time of asking last month. Another bold show looks likely. First-time cheekpieces sure to assist.

Form: 110-331

Karl Der Grosse¹⁰²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| BF

11/4

Ran with promise on sole start for Emmanuel Clayeux in France. Holds three entries for the Festival in March and impressive on debut for this yard at Tramore. Should improve on disappointing novice hurdle run at Galway in October.

Form: 3-13

Moratorium¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| D

11/2

Good ground bumper winner last spring and stepped forward from hurdles debut when third at Tramore before a gutsy win at Navan last month. That form looks solid and should be a leading contender in this company.

Form: 82-1431

Aforementioned^t⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 120

12/1

Comfortable 5½L winner of a Limerick maiden on his third start in November before a disappointing defeat stepping in to novice company at Leopardstown. Capable of bouncing back given yard form.

Form: 30-19

Be My Dream²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: D J Mullins| T: J R Finn

100/1

Brought down at the fourth in a Tramore maiden hurdle before a heavy defeat at Clonmel last month. Impossible to fancy against these rivals.

Form: 3-325B0

Petit Tartare⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 127

6/4

Winner on hurdles debut when making good headway in the final stages to land a Listowel maiden in September. Beaten but not disgraced since and he is one to consider here.

Form: 7-1424

Devil's Glen⁶⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Donagh Meyler| T: A Fleming| OR: 120

33/1

Needs to bounce back from heavy defeats at Galway and more recently at Fairyhouse if the Jeremy gelding is to take up either of his two Cheltenham festival entries.

Form: 8-158

Forecasts

Petit Tartare (6/4), Karl Der Grosse (11/4), Getaway John (9/2), Moratorium (11/2), Aforementioned (12/1), Devil's Glen (33/1), Be My Dream (100/1)

Entered in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, Ballymore Novices' Hurdle and the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the festival, KARL DE GROSSE needs to be getting back to winning ways here if he is to confidently fill any of those engagements in March. Navan winner over this trip last month, Moratorium and stablemate, Getaway John can prove to be the biggest threat to the winner.