I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Novice Hurdle

Off time: 14:37 | Winning time: 6m 14.00s

Battle Of Midway¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: M J Stenson⁽⁷⁾| T: N Meade

9/10

Kept on well to win on his hurdles debut at Galway earlier this month; can be expected to be even fitter here and open to improvement; certainly one to note.

Form: P3315-1

Think Positive^h¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins

10/1

Another who won on his hurdling debut doing so at Tramore in August; has failed to follow up on two subsequent runs and while hard to easily dismiss, looks the stable second string in this contest.

Form: 0/29154

Glamorgan Duke^t¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr L P Gilligan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Gilligan

7/1

Finished fourth behind Battle of Midway at Galway in October and no real reason why he should be turning around that form on slightly inferior terms.

Form: 3FP-4

Zola⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| D

15/8

Easily won on her hurdles debut following up a classy performance in a bumper; getting weight all round from her serious rivals she looks the most likely winner of this fascinating contest.

Form: 4211

Little Saint¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny Mullins| T: D Hogan| OR: 91

66/1

Seven-race maiden generally well beaten in five starts since July; pulled up last time out; looks the outsider of the five runners.

Form: 4-0075P

Forecasts

Battle Of Midway (9/10), Zola (15/8), Glamorgan Duke (7/1), Think Positive (10/1), Little Saint (66/1)

ZOLA has the ability to land this before progressing to better things. There was plenty to like about the way she won her bumper and followed that up with a facile win on her hurdles debut at Listowel in September. If she gets her own may from the front, she may be very hard to peg back. Her main danger looks to be Battle Of Midway who stayed on well to win on his hurdles debut at Galway recently. He will do well to give weight away to his likely market rival. Think Positive needs to bounce back from a couple of poor runs but is well regarded and strong market support should be noted.