Talbot Hotel Carlow Chase

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 5m 33.90s

Castlebrook^t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Phillip Enright| T: J J Mangan| D

8/1

Glimmers of ability in a couple of maiden hurdle starts before a taking performance on chasing debut in a Wexford beginners contest last month when eased close home to complete a facile win on heavy ground. Will look to continue progress.

Form: 223/24-1

Getabird²⁰⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 151| C| D

8/15

Dual Grade 2 winning hurdler ran a career best when running Hardline to ½L in a Grade 1 contest at Limerick last December. Better than last run at the Punchestown festival suggests and a leading contender here.

Form: 17P/12-P

Mengli Khan^p1,t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Mark Walsh| T: G Elliott| OR: 154

12/1

Winner of the Grade 1 Royal Bond at Fairyhouse over hurdles two years ago. Gallant efforts in Grade 1 novice chase company at the Leopardstown, Cheltenham and Punchestown festivals in the spring. Worthy of a place on any shortlist.

Form: 3334-94

Mortal^t²⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 147

7/1

Not disgraced in Grade 1 company in the spring but failed to build on a promising effort at Leopardstown last December finishing second of seven 8L adrift of Delta Work over 3m. Capable of a big run.

Form: 26/1265-

Paloma Blue^t1²⁰⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: D N Russell| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 147

6/1

Reverted back to hurdles at the end of the season following a disappointing appearance in the Grade 1 Arkle at the Cheltenham festival in March. May need a couple to falter.

Form: 40/416-6

Forecasts

Getabird (8/15), Paloma Blue (6/1), Mortal (7/1), Castlebrook (8/1), Mengli Khan (12/1)

GETABIRD can make a winning seasonal debut in a competitive small field. The seven-year-old is a course winner who has also won over this trip and can improve enough over fences to hold the attentions of the Gigginstown House Stud pair of Mengli Khan and Mortal at bay. The three protagonists have last time out disappointments to put behind them with the run of the Joseph O'Brien-trained Mortal in the Grade 1 RSA at the Cheltenham festival better than the 19L defeat suggests.