W.T. O'Grady Memorial Irish EBF Novice Hurdle

Off time: 13:35 | Winning time: 5m 37.2s

Alpine Cobra²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: K J Brouder⁽³⁾| T: C Byrnes| D

25/1

Off the mark at the fourth time of asking over hurdles when landing a Punchestown maiden over 2m6f on soft ground in November. Not disgraced since in a couple of starts and a return to this trip should suit.

Form: F-43125

Monkfish³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins

5/4

Point-to-point winner last year after which he was bought for £235,000. Off the mark at the third time of asking for connections when landing a Fairyhouse 2m5f maiden hurdle last month. More than capable of a bold bid.

Form: P/1-221

Run Wild Fred³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott

14/1

£225,000 purchase. Off the mark for connections at the second time of asking over hurdles winning a Navan 2m4f maiden on soft ground last month beating 13 rivals ½L. Likely to improve.

Form: 3161-31

Vis Ta Loi²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 136

9/2

Promising hurdling success in a Clonmel 2m3½f 13-runner maiden on soft/heavy ground last month before a couple of set-backs at Cork and Limerick last month. Can be a major player if returning to previous effort.

Form: 3/133

Festival D'ex⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott

7/4

Yet to do anything wrong, winning a Punchestown bumper last April before landing a Navan maiden hurdle over 2m on soft ground last month. Progressing rapidly and capable of another bold bid.

Form: 11

Celine Soprano^t¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: P A Gallagher⁽⁵⁾| T: Patrick Cronin

200/1

Plenty of experience in bumper company before weakening five out on hurdling debut at Cork over 2m4f earlier this month. Will need to improve significantly to pay a role here.

Form: 220240

Non-Runners

French Dynamite¹⁴

Weight: 11-2| Age: 5

T: M F Morris J: R M Power

Forecasts

Monkfish (5/4), Festival D'ex (7/4), Vis Ta Loi (9/2), French Dynamite (12/1), Run Wild Fred (14/1), Alpine Cobra (25/1), Celine Soprano (200/1)

The Gordon Elliott-trained FESTIVAL D'EX can add to his impressive win on debut over hurdles at Navan last month. The five-year-old is progressing well and can see off the attentions of the Willie Mullins-trained Monkfish and the Gigginstown House Stud-owned Run Wild Fred in a battle of high-profile buys. Vis Ta Loi in the colours of Hurricane Fly should not be underestimated.