EMS Copiers Rated Novice Hurdle

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 3m 52.60s

Band of Outlaws⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| C| D

5/2

Off the mark for in form yard at the second time of asking when landing a Limerick maiden hurdle on St Stephens Day. Entries in the Supreme novices' and Triumph hurdle at the festival makes the Fast Company gelding a live player here.

Form: 31

Coko Beach⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott

5/1

Winner of a Nantes hurdle on debut in October before an Irish baptism of fire in the Grade 2 Knight Frank juvenile hurdle at Leopardstown on St Stephens day, finishing ninth of 11 beaten 21L. Market likely to be the best guide.

Form: 19

Elysian Plains¹²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott

16/1

Winner of his second start over hurdles at Killarney in August before only getting as far as the first at Gowran Park, pulling hard when last seen in October. Could go well if jumping fluently.

Form: 31U

Havingagoodtime⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 116| D

25/1

Off the mark for connections at the third time of asking in a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle in December. That was a much weaker contest and the Mount Nelson filly looks up against it here.

Form: 661

Konitho¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| CD

11/10

Winner of a maiden hurdle over C&D last month for yard who currently boast a 15% strike rate in the last 14 days. Would not have to improve much to land a blow here.

Form: 66-71

Maze Runner^p⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| D

8/1

Kept on well to assert in the final 100 yards to land a Cork maiden hurdle in December before shortcomings were exposed in a Grade 2 contest at Leopardstown on St Stephens day. Claims but liable to find one or two stronger.

Form: 17

Forecasts

Konitho (11/10), Band of Outlaws (5/2), Coko Beach (5/1), Maze Runner (8/1), Elysian Plains (16/1), Havingagoodtime (25/1)

The in form Joseph O'Brien yard can continue to govern the juvenile division by taking this contest with the potentially exciting KONITHO who will look to add to his win over C&D two weeks ago. Stablemate Band Of Outlaws can emerge as the biggest danger following on from his win in a Limerick maiden hurdle on St Stephens day, while Coko Beach is on a recovery mission following a heavy defeat in a Grade 2 contest over Christmas for a yard who boast a 41% win and place strike rate in early February at this venue in the last three seasons.