Botanica International Rated Novice Hurdle

Off time: 17:02 | Winning time: 3m 58.5s

Gaelic Arc¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: N T Prendergast⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Ryan| D

14/1

25/1, left previous efforts over hurdles a long way behind when winning 17-runner maiden at Down Royal (16.4f, good to soft) 10 days ago by 1½ lengths from Flaming Moon. Open to further progress so one to consider.

Form: 31367-1

Flaming Moon¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Keith Donoghue| T: M J Smith| OR: 122| BF

4/1

Useful Flat winner. Thrice-raced maiden over hurdles. 1½ lengths second of 17 to Gaelic Arc in maiden hurdle at Down Royal (16.4f, good to soft, 5/4) 10 days ago. 2 lb better off with that rival here.

Form: 32-2

Plains Indian²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Cian Quirke⁽⁷⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 121| BF| CD

5/2

C&D winner on penultimate start but fell a long way short of that effort when sixth of 14 in handicap hurdle (3/1) at Cork (19f, heavy) 25 days ago. Others make more appeal.

Form: 722F16-

Dartington³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 120| D

8/1

Fairly useful Flat winner who opened his account over hurdles at Navan in March. Found things too competitive in Grade 2 at Fairyhouse last time and other look to have stronger claims.

Form: 417-

Ideal Pal^t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Jordan Gainford| T: M Mulvany| OR: 117| D

12/1

Opened his account over hurdles at Fairyhouse last month but anchored by an 8 lb rise when sixteenth of 25 in handicap hurdle (12/1) at Punchestown (16.2f, good to soft) 2 weeks ago. Weighted to go well.

Form: 56/710-

Prairie Dancer^p²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 123| D

6/4

4/11, made the most of a good opportunity when easily winning 16-runner maiden hurdle at Cork (16f, heavy) 25 days ago. Back in better company here and every chance he can follow up.

Form: 263281-

Non-Runners

Sizing Mauritius²¹

Weight: 11-7| Age: 5

T: Mrs J Harrington J: Sean O'Keeffe

Forecasts

Prairie Dancer (6/4), Plains Indian (5/2), Flaming Moon (4/1), Sizing Mauritius (4/1), Dartington (8/1), Ideal Pal (12/1), Gaelic Arc (14/1)

Impossible to rule any of the septet out but the vote goes to sole 4-y-o PRAIRIE DANCER. Joseph O'Brien's charge made the most of a good opportunity to open his account over hurdles at Cork last month and he can take a step forward and follow up in this better company. Sizing Mauritius shades the vote for the forecast spot over Gaelic Arc.