Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Hurdle

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 4m 3.1s

Awayinthewest¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: E Walsh⁽⁷⁾| T: P A Fahy| OR: 124| D

16/1

Only won twice over hurdles in 28 starts and comes here on the back of finishing 5/5 at Punchestown last time out; has ability but others preferred here.

Form: 462335

Elfile²¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 140| D

2/5

Ran some fine races in defeat last season at Cheltenham and Fairyhouse before landing a Listed contest at Punchestown in May; looks one of the classiest mares in the contest and will rate a danger to all.

Form: 21/162-1

My Sister Sarah²¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 137| D

5/2

Some solid performances in defeat were rewarded when landing a valuable and competitive handicap on her final start of last season at Punchestown; no reason why she will not progress again and has every chance.

Form: 12106-1

Blanketontheground¹¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Phillip Enright| T: J J Walsh

50/1

Yet to win but has put in some promising efforts most notably at Cork in August; improvement needed to get serious here but should run her race.

Form: 4R-534

Bonarc²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: J P Ryan

33/1

Has shown plenty of promise in bumpers and over hurdles but looks likely to find one or two too good at this stage in her career.

Form: 0-23433

Mystery Stowaway¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: H Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Ryan| D

40/1

Useful and consistent form in bumpers and has generally followed that through in her runs over hurdles; hard not to think she is a little bit out of her depth here.

Form: 310274

Forecasts

Elfile (2/5), My Sister Sarah (5/2), Awayinthewest (16/1), Bonarc (33/1), Mystery Stowaway (40/1), Blanketontheground (50/1)

This looks to be a contest between the two Willie Mullins' runners with preference going to ELFILE based on her performances last season at Cheltenham and her subsequent victory in a decent race at Punchestown in May. There is high hopes for this mare and a victory in this type of contest will be expected before she moves on to more valuable contests. Also a winner at Punchestown, stablemate My Sister Sarah looks the main danger given her overall profile and consistency. It is hard to see beyond there front two with perhaps Blanketontheground being the best of the rest.