FBD Insurance Hurdle

Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 3m 49.10s

Dr Mikey³¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: Phillip Enright| T: Ms M Flynn| OR: 138| CD

8/1

Dual hurdles scorer caused an upset on chasing bow when winning at Gowran Park in November (beat Cheltenham Festival winner A Plus Tard). Good second over C&D last month back hurdling and should be in the mix looking to retain this prize.

Form: 661F42

Campeador^h⁷⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott| OR: 147| D

3/1

Smart hurdler at best, has won over fences this season at Fairyhouse (2m, good to yielding), held over hurdles in valuable Leopardstown handicap (2m, good to yielding) at Dublin Racing Festival in February, claims if running to this rating.

Form: F3-F120

Lac Kivu^t1⁶²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| BF

8/1

Winner on the level in France and easily justified favouritism to take Punchestown maiden hurdle on debut for Willie Mullins in May 2017. Flopped at Galway Festival that summer and now absent 626 days. Pay attention to market vibes.

Form: 14-

Swamp Fox^b³⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: M A Enright| T: J G Murphy| OR: 147| D

10/1

Useful handicap hurdler with four wins, came up short in graded races early last season and ended term with no-show in Punchestown Festival handicap (2m4f, yielding to soft). Must defy a year off, but well capable of big effort fresh.

Form: 124370-

Tigris River^p,t⁷⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: J S McGarvey| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 137| CD

11/1

Rattled off a hat-trick back in 2017 and also a former C&D winner. A while since he's been at his best but ran well in first-time blinkers (discarded) at Leopardstown (3m, good) during Dublin Racing Festival in February. Drops in trip; noted runner.

Form: 6-50909

Whiskey Sour³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr A McMahon⁽⁷⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 144| BF| D

9/10

Grade 1 winner over hurdles last season and in excellent form through the remainder of that campaign. Mixed hurdles/Flat since, but fine effort in last month's County Hurdle may leave him primed for this mission.

Form: 4342-74

Forecasts

Whiskey Sour (9/10), Campeador (3/1), Lac Kivu (8/1), Dr Mikey (8/1), Swamp Fox (10/1), Tigris River (11/1)

Last year's winner Dr Mikey arrives back in good form after a dress rehearsal second here but faces a tough task seemingly. The McManus pair of Campeador and Tigris River may go well in this company but champion trainer Willie Mullins has a strong hand. The long-absent Lac Kivu will be scrutinised in the betting but WHISKEY SOUR ran a fine race in the County Hurdle last month and with a handy 7lb taken off his back, he looks a major player now.