Johnstown Novice Hurdle (Grade 2)

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 3m 40.3s

Corbetts Cross⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Donagh Meyler| T: E Mullins| OR: 143

7/4

Highly promising sort who easily landed 12-runner handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (24f, heavy) 43 days ago on his final run for Eugene M. O'Sullivan. More to offer for his new yard. Big shout.

Form: 3-51211

Dalvey^p,t¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: C P McNamara| T: J McAuley

250/1

Well held only start over hurdles in 2021. Fair 10f winner on the Flat but this looks way too tough. Cheekpieces on for 1st time in this code.

Form: 0-

Found A Fifty²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Jordan Gainford| T: G Elliott

11/10

4/1, easily won 25-runner novice hurdle at Fairyhouse (16f, soft) on his hurdles bow 29 days ago. This points scorer has lots of improvement to come. Interesting.

Form: 1-21

Lily Du Berlais^h,t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: J J Slevin| T: S R B Crawford

11/1

Useful winner in bumpers and also posted a good second of 8 to Jetara in listed bumper at Navan (16f, heavy) 70 days ago, finishing well. This is no easy introduction to hurdling but stable having good spell and not dismissed.

Form: 11-22

Walk With Paul^t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: C Brassil| T: M Brassil| OR: 118

11/1

Progressive form over hurdles and impressively opened her account in 14-runner novice at Limerick (16f, soft) 26 days ago, making all. This demands more but she shouldn't be underestimated.

Form: 241

Jackpot De Choisel^h,t²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Simon Torrens| T: J C McConnell

13/2

Successful on his sole Flat outing in France last summer (sold for €200,000) and has looked an exciting prospect over hurdles, hooded when easily landing the odds in 2m Ayr juvenile 25 days ago. Well in the mix.

Form: 31

Forecasts

Found A Fifty (11/10), Corbetts Cross (7/4), Jackpot De Choisel (13/2), Walk With Paul (11/1), Lily Du Berlais (11/1), Dalvey (250/1)

A fascinating Grade 2 in which CORBETTS CROSS is taken to emerge on top on his first run for Emmet Mullins and make it 3-4 over hurdles after easily defying a mark of 130 at Fairyhouse last month. Limerick scorer Walk With Paul also has better days ahead of her and Martin Brassil's mare is not passed over easily, while Found A Fifty and Jackpot de Choisel merit consideration too on the back of impressive recent victories.