Limestone Lad Hurdle (Grade 3)

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 3m 51.4s

Big Blue³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: C & D Eustace| D

40/1

Successful in three of his four starts over hurdles in Australia. Pulled up in the Grade 1 Christmas hurdle at Kempton last month. Will need to raise overall profile to play a role here.

Form: 112-1P

Franco De Port²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| D

7/1

Failed to build on a promising win in a Gowran Park novice hurdle in November when disappointing in a Limerick Grade 3 contest over Christmas. Trainer has won two of the last four renewals.

Form: 1-17

Jetez³³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 135| D

33/1

Winner of two of his 13 starts over timber and finished a fine second of six to Felix Desjy in a Punchestown Grade 2 contest 12 months ago. Not seen since a fall at this venue in February last year.

Form: 42120F-

Mengli Khan^p,t⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: L P Dempsey| T: G Elliott| OR: 147| D

14/1

Early promise of his novice season over fences appears to have leveled out in a couple of below-par efforts at Down Royal and Gowran Park. Disappointed on return over hurdles at Naas last month and may need a few to falter here.

Form: 34-9446

Off You Go³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: B J Geraghty| T: C Byrnes| OR: 151| D

9/1

Intended chasing campaign appears to be on hold following a number of dismal efforts over the larger obstacles since November. Winner of four of his 11 starts over hurdles and merits plenty of respect in this company.

Form: 123-8F4

Stormy Ireland²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 148| D

3/10

Competent winner of a Listed and Grade 3 mares' contests towards the end of the year. One of two in the race representing leading yard who won this contest in 2018 with Sandsend.

Form: 22-2611

Sutton Place^t⁷²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Mark Walsh| T: G Elliott| OR: 151| BF| CD

14/1

Lightly raced in the last couple of years, the gelding landed the spoils in this contest in 2017 beating five rivals 7½L coming off an absence of 306 days. Not seen since February 2018 but hard to dismiss on return to action.

Form: 111P1P/

Forecasts

Stormy Ireland (3/10), Franco De Port (7/1), Off You Go (9/1), Mengli Khan (14/1), Sutton Place (14/1), Jetez (33/1), Big Blue (40/1)

This contest was run over 2m3f prior to 2017 and produced winners in Mikael D'haguenet and Sempre Medici for trainer Willie Mullins the only four-year-olds to taste success in the race since 2009. The six-year-old STORMY IRELAND will possibly try to make all to add to the trainers tally in this contest. The daughter of Motivator can land the spoils ahead of the returning Sutton Place who won this contest in 2017 for trainer Gordon Elliott. Off You Go the mount of jockey Barry Geraghty will relish a return to hurdling following a disappointing number of starts over the larger obstacles since November.