Lyons Of Limerick Jaguar Land Rover Novice Hurdle (Grade 2)

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 135

Made winning hurdling debut at Punchestown in October and progressed from that when 6 lengths third of 5 to Fury Road in Celebration Hurdle there (21.6f, heavy) 6 weeks ago. Shortlist material.

Form: 1/55-13

Costalotmore²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: M P Fogarty| T: R P O'Keeffe| OR: 135| C

Bumper winner who relished conditions when winning 13-runner novice hurdle at this course (21f, heavy, 5/2) on hurdles bow 26 days ago, pushed out. Should have more to offer with this trip no issue.

Form: 112/161

Farouk D'Alene³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott| BF

Successful in 3 bumpers/maiden hurdle but proved a let-down when 5½ lengths fourth of 7 to Fakiera in Monksfield Novices' Hurdle at Navan (20f, heavy) 35 days ago. Worth a chance to bounce back.

Form: 1/11-14

Ragnar Lodbrok²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: C J Orr| T: G Elliott

Lightly-raced winner under NH rules. Very good 8 lengths second of 6 to Sayce Gold in Kerry Group Stayers Novices' Hurdle at Cork (24f, heavy, 11/2) 21 days ago. Trainer going well. Ought to go close.

Form: 34-122

Vanillier^t³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell

Twice-raced winner over hurdles. Won 20-runner novice hurdle (10/3) at Naas (19f, heavy) 36 days ago, staying on well. Up in trip. Yard in good form. Likely to improve.

Form: P/1-21

Young Ted⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: N P Madden| T: N Meade| OR: 128

Fairly useful hurdler. 3/1, ran respectably when 10½ lengths fourth of 7 to Darrens Hope in listed hurdle at Cork (24f, heavy) 56 days ago, unsuited by way race developed. Trainer going well.

Form: 4/243-14

Carrolls Cottage²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Brian Hayes| T: P Fenton| C

Twice-raced winner over hurdles. 5/6, confirmed debut promise when won 18-runner novice hurdle at this course (19f, heavy) 26 days ago. Up in trip. Should improve but this is a difficult ask.

Form: 4-121

Darrens Hope²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Unknown| T: R Murphy| OR: 127| BF

Fairly useful hurdler. Possibly amiss when pulled up in Kerry Group Stayers Novices' Hurdle at Cork (24f, heavy, 11/8) 21 days ago won by Sayce Gold. Must bounce back to feature.

Form: 33-211P

Pepite De Belle^t²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Phillip Enright| T: S Curling

Fair hurdler. 40/1, took a huge step forward from debut when winning 12-runner novice hurdle at Clonmel (19f, heavy) 24 days ago. Up in trip. Likely to improve but faces an uphill task here.

Form: 7-37401

Forecasts

Farouk D'Alene (2/1), Baptism Of Fire (11/4), Costalotmore (5/1), Ragnar Lodbrok (7/1), Vanillier (8/1), Darrens Hope (12/1), Young Ted (12/1), Carrolls Cottage (16/1), Pepite De Belle (33/1)

BAPTISM OF FIRE progressed from his winning debut when finishing third (behind last year's winner of this contest) at Punchestown 6 weeks ago. This slight step up in trip holds no fears and he can make it 2 wins from 3 starts in this sphere. Farouk d'Alene proved a let-down at Navan 5 weeks ago but is feared most judged on previous efforts, ahead of Vanillier.