Kerry Group Irish EBF Mares Hurdle

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 4m 45.90s

Blanketontheground¹¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Gary Noonan⁽⁷⁾| T: E McCarthy| OR: 118

16/1

Fairly useful hurdler. 5/1, creditable third of 7 in handicap hurdle at Ballinrobe (18.5f, good to soft) 111 days ago. Likely vulnerable to less-exposed types here.

Form: 121/R-43

Delante^h²¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: B J Cooper| T: T Cooper

50/1

Fair hurdler. First run since leaving Hugo Merienne when possibly amiss when pulled up in juvenile hurdle at Naas (15.6f, soft, 16/1) on IRE NH debut, pulled up before 2 out. Off 7 months. Up in trip.

Form: 1P-

Hollymount^h³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 117| BF| D

7/2

Fairly useful hurdler. Below that level when beaten favourite on Tramore chase debut last month and quickly returns to hurdles. Hood back on. Likely to be thereabouts.

Form: 421-122

Shannon Glory²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: Paul Power| D

11/4

Promising individual. Won a Kilbeggan maiden in July and followed up in a 5-runner conditions event at Bellewstown (20f, good to firm) 26 days ago. Should have more to offer.

Form: P2-3211

Nikini⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins

5/6

Useful bumper winner. 4/7, successful hurdle debut at Kilbeggan (16f, good, 4/7) 43 days ago, shaken up to assert. Up in trip. Sure to improve and leading claims.

Form: 1634-1

Athagabhain⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: G P Brouder⁽⁵⁾| T: A Sexton| OR: 80

400/1

Poor form at best in varied events. Booked for another struggle.

Form: P-0060P

Non-Runners

Finsceal Na Mara²

Weight: 10-3| Age: 4

T: Gearoid Brouder J: Tom Kelly

Forecasts

Nikini (5/6), Shannon Glory (11/4), Hollymount (7/2), Blanketontheground (16/1), Delante (50/1), Finsceal Na Mara (66/1), Athagabhain (400/1)

NIKINI had a fair bit in hand when landing short odds on her hurdle hurdle debut last month and can take the next step up the ladder in her stride. The hat-trick seeking Shannon Glory may give her most to do ahead of Hollymount.