O'Neill's Bar Rated Novice Hurdle

Off time: 18:45 | Winning time: 5m 23.10s

Chead Solas^t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| D

7/2

Off the the mark on just his second bumper start at Punchestown last year before promising effort on hurdles debut at Killarney in August; continued progress and scored well at Cork latest; looks on the up and one to consider.

Form: 21/46-1

Alabaster^p¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: D Hogan| OR: 114

7/2

76-rated handicapper for Sir Mark Prescott posting a number of solid and consistent starts last spring on the Flat; has slowly warmed up to the task over hurdles with best effort last time out at Galway; still improving.

Form: 775-42

Eagle Moon^t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: R M Power| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 111

10/3

Off the mark at the third time of asking when justifying short-odds (4/5f) at Bellewstown (2m; good) in July with the minimum of fuss; found things tougher in handicap company recently at Galway; another who is improving and hard to dismiss.

Form: F2/40-15

Dedanann³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny Mullins| T: J P Ryan| OR: 105

11/1

Some promising efforts over hurdles including when placing twice in the spring of 2019; latest effort at Ballinrobe showed plenty of promise but looks vulnerable to some less exposed types.

Form: 6/623-93

Walkers Point^t¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr N McParlan⁽⁵⁾| T: S McParlan| OR: 95

28/1

Put his vast experience in handicap hurdles to score at Downpatrick on penultimate start at odds of 50/1 in a maiden hurdle; seemingly reverted to type last time at Kilbeggan; best avoided until showing more consistency.

Form: P54P-10

Insane Bolt^p⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 111

2/1

Has been running some fair races in defeat since scoring at Downpatrick in July; should run another solid race but may find a couple more progressive.

Form: 47-8132

Forecasts

Insane Bolt (2/1), Eagle Moon (10/3), Alabaster (7/2), Chead Solas (7/2), Dedanann (11/1), Walkers Point (28/1)

A tricky little affair and a slight preference goes to the improving CHEAD SOLAS who was finally rewarded for some consistent efforts when scoring well at Cork on his latest outing. There could be more to come from the six-year-old and he may have a bright future ahead of him. Eagle Moon looks to be the main danger and there was plenty to like about his victory at Bellewstown in July. He found things tougher in a handicap last time but should be capable of a bold showing. Alabaster is another improver over hurdles and his latest effort at Galway give him a squeak here.