For Auction Novice Hurdle (Grade 3)

Off time: 12:35 | Winning time: 4m 6.0s

Fast Buck²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 145| D

3/1

Winner of a Listed contest at the Galway festival before a defeat in a similar contest last month. Never a big target for the yard running just seven in the contest since 1998, winning on two occasions including last seasons renewal with Aramon.

Form: 23-112

Pakens Rock¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Phillip Enright| T: B T Murphy| OR: 130

25/1

Off the mark at the fourth time of asking in a Galway maiden over a similar trip in September before winning on handicap debut over the same C&D last month. Well held over 2m4½f last time, drops back in trip here. May need a couple to falter.

Form: 257113

Abacadabras³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: R M Power| T: G Elliott| D

9/10

Won his maiden on hurdling debut in facile fashion at Gowran Park last month. Yard have landed the spoils in this contest in two of the last three years with Labaik and Mengli Khan.

Form: 1R4-21

Latest Exhibition¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: P Nolan| D

7/2

Has done very little wrong in three career starts so far, posting a bumper win in January and a maiden win late last month on hurdling debut over a similar trip at Galway on soft ground beating 19 rivals 4½L. Another bold bid expected.

Form: 21-1

Foreign Secretary¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: R P Treacy| T: J Halley| OR: 121| D

66/1

Off the mark over hurdles at the third attempt in a Limerick 2m hurdle in March. Well held in a couple of handicap hurdles on return to action last month. More needed.

Form: 0813-85

Uisce Solas^h¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: D Queally| D

14/1

Dual bumper winner, second of five beaten over 4L on hurdling debut in a Wexford contest over a similar trip late last month. Appears to have a bit to prove in a race of this nature.

Form: 4/521-12

Forecasts

Abacadabras (9/10), Fast Buck (3/1), Latest Exhibition (7/2), Uisce Solas (14/1), Pakens Rock (25/1), Foreign Secretary (66/1)

With trainer Willie Mullins not treating this contest as a high priority in recent years, the Gordon Elliott-trained ABACADABRAS looks to have an ideal opportunity to add to his easy victory on hurdling debut at Gowran Park last month. The five-year-old finished fourth of 14 in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham festival in March and can hold off the attentions of Fast Buck who is likely to emerge as the biggest danger. The Paul Nolan-trained Latest Exhibition has done little wrong in three career starts so far and should not be taken lightly.