Voler La Vedette Mares Novice Hurdle (Listed)

Off time: 12:55 | Winning time: 5m 11.5s

Ard Abhainn³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| C| D

4/1

Bumper winner at this track in May and shaped well on seasonal reappearance before making winning debut over hurdles at Clonmel (2m4f) in October. This trip should be her optimum and is one of the leading contenders.

Form: 1-141

Minella Melody³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: R M Power| T: H De Bromhead| D

4/9

An above-average bumper horse, finishing second in an Aintree Grade 2 and confirmed promise with comfortable victory on hurdles debut at Cork (2m4f) last month. Remains an exciting prospect and is on the shortlist.

Form: 112-31

Mount Ida^t⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott

9/2

Made a promising hurdles debut when finding one too good in February but returned over obstacles with a clear-cut 7L success at Galway (2m, soft) at the end of October. Improving sort who could be anything. Considered.

Form: 4121-1

My Midnight^p,t¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Sean Flanagan| T: A Slattery| OR: 106

33/1

Frustrating sort who keeps finding one to good and continued her run of placed efforts when 2L second at Thurles (2m7f) last month. Vulnerable to more classier prospects in the field.

Form: B23222

Sunrise Lady⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: N P Madden| T: C O'Dwyer| OR: 109

66/1

Modest handicap hurdler who has been mixing it chasing recently to no effect, including heavy defeat here (2m6f) last time out. Has it all to do on paper and makes limited appeal.

Form: 146P68

Forecasts

Minella Melody (4/9), Ard Abhainn (4/1), Mount Ida (9/2), My Midnight (33/1), Sunrise Lady (66/1)

MINELLA MELODY sets the form standard based on graded form and showed likeable signs of class when not fully wound-up for her hurdles debut at Cork. At this level she may have enough to outclass her rivals. Ard Abhainn looks to be the closest danger on form and was crying out for a step up in trip for her hurdles debut but races over a furlong less in this, while Mount Ida looked a different prospect when bolting up at Galway last time and still has the scope for further improvement.