Irish Racing Writers Kingsfurze Novice Hurdle (Listed)

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 3m 56.0s

Gallant John Joe^p1³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: B Browne| T: O McKiernan| OR: 136

4/1

Punchestown maiden winner over 2m6f in November, good effort at Leopardstown in 2m4f handicap over Christmas (second) and since finished third (33-1) in Grade 1 contest won by Commander Of Fleet over 2m6½f back there. Drops right down in trip.

Form: 6-42123

Advantage Point²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Robbie Colgan| T: E P Harty| CD

4/1

Showed good resolve to win 25-runner maiden over C&D last month, though was allowed to dictate in front and made his fair share of jumping errors along the way. Will surely have brush up in that department to land the spoils now.

Form: 6-1431

Mister Blue Sky¹³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| D

4/1

Won 1m2f handicaps at Windsor and Sandown last year for Sylvester Kirk before joining current yard for 130,000 gns. Decisive scorer in Wexford maiden hurdle (2m½f, yielding to soft) in October and off since. Likely improver for champion trainer.

Form: 1

Retribution¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott

20/1

Flat-bred son of Iffraaj, defied any stamina worries when winning maiden hurdle at Clonmel (2m3f, good, good to yielding) last month. One of three for trainer, must improve against better opposition now.

Form: 41

Hearts Are Trumps³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Mark Walsh| T: D McDonogh| OR: 137| D

13/8

Three-time hurdles winner, including handicaps at Galway and Punchestown this season already. Entitled to maximum respect on these terms and sets the benchmark.

Form: 212140

Thunder Down Under⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| D

12/1

Fame And Glory gelding, stayed on well to land Fairyhouse bumper (2m, good) on rules debut in January. Goes jumping and has a future, albeit experience counts against him here.

Form: U31

Non-Runners

Chosen Mate¹⁴

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: G Elliott J: D N Russell

Filon D'Oudairies⁷⁴

Weight: 10-4| Age: 4

T: J P O'Brien J: J J Slevin

Forecasts

Hearts Are Trumps (13/8), Gallant John Joe (4/1), Mister Blue Sky (4/1), Advantage Point (4/1), Chosen Mate (6/1), Filon D'Oudairies (7/1), Thunder Down Under (12/1), Retribution (20/1)

Tough to draw a line through any of these and it should prove competitive. Hardened handicapper Hearts Are Trumps needs plenty respect on these terms and will surely run a big race, while recent C&D Grade 2 scorer Chosen Mate is on the upgrade and merits consideration, despite giving away weight. Both may give best to the promising Flat recruit MISTER BLUE SKY, an easy winner on hurdles bow at Wexford in the autumn for Willie Mullins and seemingly capable of a good deal more. Likewise, it is noted that Gordon Elliott fires once-race bumper winner Thunder Down Under into Listed company on his hurdles introduction.