Gibney's For Auction Novice Hurdle (Grade 3)

Off time: 13:20 | Winning time: 4m 3.09s

Plains Indian²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: D E Mullins| T: A Slattery| OR: 135| D

12/1

Useful hurdler. Career best when winning 6-runner listed hurdle (5/1) at Limerick (21f, soft) 21 days ago by 1½ lengths from The Friday Man, pushed out. Back down in trip but not ruled out.

Form: 312341

Hercule Du Seuil^h,t⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins| D

11/10

Highly promising sort. 8/15 and tongue strap on for 1st time, won 19-runner novice hurdle at Tipperary (16f, good to soft) 41 days ago, impressively. Yard in good form. Leading contender.

Form: 2/8-1

Imagine¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| D

7/2

Twice-raced winner under NH rules. 10/11, won 14-runner novice hurdle at Wexford (16.4f, heavy) on hurdles bow 13 days ago, just holding on. Likely to improve.

Form: 1-1

Kiki Badger²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: J M Moore| T: A McCann| D

14/1

Fairly useful hurdler. 2 wins from 3 runs this season. Career best when winning 16-runner novice hurdle at Limerick (16f, soft, 5/4) on hurdles bow 21 days ago, cosily. More is needed here, however.

Form: 34S-811

Three Card Brag¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: A P Heskin| T: G Elliott| D

11/4

Twice-raced winner under NH rules. 5/2, won 8-runner novice hurdle at Galway (16.4f, heavy) on hurdles bow 15 days ago, staying on well. Should progress.

Form: 1-1

Non-Runners

Flaming Moon²³

Weight: 11-1| Age: 5

T: M J Smith J: B J Cooper

Forecasts

Hercule Du Seuil (11/10), Three Card Brag (11/4), Imagine (7/2), Plains Indian (12/1), Kiki Badger (14/1), Flaming Moon (16/1)

HERCULE DU SEUIL looked destined for much better things when easily landing a novice hurdle at Tipperary last month and can take this step up in class in his stride. Gordon Elliott's winning duo Imagine and Three Card Brag also have better days ahead of them and can chase home Willie Mullins' highly promising 5-y-o in that order.