Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Hurdle

Off time: 17:35 | Winning time: 5m 54.30s

Doctor Duffy²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: R M Power| T: C Byrnes| BF| C

4/6

Should be hard to beat but does have something to prove after disappointing when sent off 6-5f at Galway (2m4f; good) in a small-field affair. That was the only below-par effort of his career so has to be worth another chance.

Form: 21-1124

Everybreathyoutake²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 134| BF

11/4

Got off to the perfect start to life over hurdles with a pair of easy wins in novice company, but was denied the hat-trick at Limerick (3m; good) last month. Holds Stacks Mountain on that evidence as he drops back in trip.

Form: 28-4112

Stacks Mountain^p1²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 124

9/2

Followed up maiden hurdle success with a win in handicap company at Punchestown (3m; yielding). Could only manage fourth at Limerick (3m; good) recently, and was four-and-a-half length behind Everybreathyoutake then, so has a bit to prove.

Form: 232-114

Summer Hill¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: H Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 106

20/1

Broke maiden duck over hurdles at the 11th attempt in some style when posting a bloodless success to score by 17-lengths at Downpatrick (2m5f; good to yielding). Needs to step up on the form of that win, but is going the right way.

Form: 5762P1

Mystic Traveller^h1⁶⁹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: K H Clarke

50/1

Seven-race maiden on the flat who makes hurdles debut after 695-day absence. Did show a fair level of ability on the level and the form of his most recent effort reads very well. Can only be taken seriously on return if market speaks in his favour.

Form:

Forecasts

Doctor Duffy (4/6), Everybreathyoutake (11/4), Stacks Mountain (9/2), Summer Hill (20/1), Mystic Traveller (50/1)

Without doubt, the one to beat in this contest is DOCTOR DUFFY. Despite producing a below-par effort at the Galway Festival when last seen, the form he showed prior to that disappointment, including when a narrow second to the talented Peregrine Run, is much stronger than that of his rivals. If anything is to give him a race, it is likely to be Everybreathyoutake who was bidding to take his record over hurdles to 3-3 when just denied at Limerick last time. On the basis of that run, he should hold Stacks Mountain comfortably after that horse was over four-length behind him then.