Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 18:00 | Winning time: 4m 48.8s

Deploy The Getaway^t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins| OR: 134

100/1

Useful hurdler. Tongue strap on for 1st time, 18¾ lengths fifth of 8 to Flame Bearer in Hardy Eustace Novices' Hurdle (8/1) at Fairyhouse (16f, good to soft) 26 days ago. Yard saddles far stronger candidates in Kilcruit and State Man.

Form: 231255

Flame Bearer^t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: J J Doyle| T: P M J Doyle| OR: 147

8/1

Promising sort. 5/4, career best when winning 8-runner Hardy Eustace Novices' Hurdle at Fairyhouse (16f, good to soft) 26 days ago by neck from Ha D'or. Remains open to improvement and he's a key player.

Form: 1-53111

Kilcruit^t⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 145| C

16/5

Useful hurdler. Two wins from 5 runs last season. 6/1, creditable 24½ lengths third of 9 to Constitution Hill in Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham (16.4f, good) 45 days ago. Paul Townend prefers State Man.

Form: 21-2313

State Man⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 151

11/10

Promising type. Two wins from 3 runs last season. Won 26-runner handicap hurdle at Cheltenham (16.8f, good to soft, 11/4) 42 days ago, driven out. Further progress likely and he's the one to beat.

Form: 2-F11

Three Stripe Life²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 148| D

11/4

Smart hurdler. Career best when winning 12-runner Mersey Novices' Hurdle (5/2) at Aintree (20f, good to soft) 20 days ago by 4¾ lengths from Might I, travelling strongly. Solid candidate.

Form: 4-12221

Non-Runners

Highland Charge⁴⁷

Weight: 11-10| Age: 7

T: N Meade J: Sean Flanagan

Forecasts

State Man (11/10), Three Stripe Life (11/4), Kilcruit (16/5), Flame Bearer (8/1), Highland Charge (16/1), Deploy The Getaway (100/1)

It's no surprise to see STATE MAN now dining at the top table following his victory in the ultra-competitive County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Indeed, to win that big-field handicap in the manner that he did on just his fourth start over hurdles was impressive and the sky could be the limit for this 5-y-o. Stablemate Kilcruit is not discounted, but bigger threats are likely to be posed by the progressive Flame Bearer and Three Stripe Life, who landed a Grade 1 at Aintree last time.