Jim Ryan Racecourse Services Rated Novice Hurdle

Off time: 12:41 | Winning time: 4m 47.30s

Itswhatunitesus^h²⁹

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

5/4

Promising sort. 1 win from 2 runs this season. Evens, career best when winning 10-runner novice hurdle at Cork (16f, soft) 29 days ago. Yard in good form. Another bold show likely.

Form: 14-21

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Invictus Machin⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Mark Walsh| T: G P Cromwell

7/1

Off the mark on debut when taking 20-runner novice hurdle (12/1) at Down Royal (16.9f, soft) 44 days ago, comfortably. Likely more to come yet.

Form: 1

Carnfunnock²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: D A Jacob| T: S R B Crawford| D

1/1

Fairly useful bumper performer. 1/5, career best when winning 6-runner novice at Ayr (16f, good to soft) on hurdles bow 20 days ago, travelling strongly. This is tougher but he's a likely improver.

Form: 3/138-11

Maggie Walsh¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Cian Quirke⁽⁷⁾| T: M J Bowe| OR: 84

250/1

Modest hurdler. 50/1, ninth of 13 in novice hurdle at Tramore (21f, soft) 13 days ago. Back down in trip. Faces a stiff task.

Form: 7U3609

Non-Runners

Polo Lounge¹⁵

Weight: 11-7| Age: 5

T: W P Mullins J: Paul Townend

Forecasts

Carnfunnock (1/1), Itswhatunitesus (5/4), Polo Lounge (7/2), Invictus Machin (7/1), Maggie Walsh (250/1)

Preference is for INVICTUS MACHIN, who won with a bit in hand on his debut at Down Royal and is open to improvement. Itswhatunitesus could provide the chief threat in what could prove an informative contest.