McCarthy Plant & Agri Sales Rated Novice Hurdle

Off time: 13:02 | Winning time: 4m 15.9s

Invictus Machin¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell

10/1

Winning debut in November. Last of 4 in minor event hurdle (7/1) at Punchestown (16.4f, soft) 19 days ago. Should have more to offer.

Form: 14

Ney²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: Mrs P Dobbs| OR: 117| BF| CD

10/3

Fairly useful hurdler. C&D winner. 1 win from 3 runs this season. Failed to repeat that much-improved display when ninth of 13 in handicap hurdle at Thurles (15.5f, good to soft) 20 days ago.

Form: 943-419

Desert Friend⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Donagh Meyler| T: D Hogan| OR: 116| D

6/1

Fairly useful hurdler. 15/2 and blinkered for 1st time, good third of 6 in minor event hurdle at Limerick (16f, heavy) 9 days ago.

Form: 133553

Starzov²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: P J O'Hanlon⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 116

9/2

Fairly useful hurdler. 7/1, fell in minor event hurdle at Thurles (23f, good to soft) 20 days ago too far out to suggest outcome. Significantly back down in trip.

Form: 21580F

Elusive Guy¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Peter Smithers⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Fahey| OR: 114| D

10/1

Fair hurdler. Winner in hurdle at Limerick in November. Unseated rider in minor event hurdle at Limerick (20f, heavy, 25/1) 12 days ago.

Form: 3-0481U

Viceregent³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Philip Byrnes⁽⁵⁾| T: C Byrnes| OR: 115

6/4

Fairly useful hurdler. 6/1, good third of 12 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (20.2f, soft) 35 days ago. Back down in trip. Has good chance on form.

Form: 029233

Non-Runners

Caldwell Diamond⁴⁵

Weight: 11-11| Age: 6

T: G Elliott J: Jack Kennedy

Forecasts

Viceregent (6/4), Caldwell Diamond (11/4), Ney (10/3), Starzov (9/2), Desert Friend (6/1), Invictus Machin (10/1), Elusive Guy (10/1)

A tightly-knit novice with VICEREGENT taken to gain a deserved first success over obstacles. Invictus Machin may yet have a bigger performance in him so he is a threat, along with Caldwell Diamond.