Anton O'Toole Hurdle

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 4m 26.60s

Gatsby Grey^t²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Phillip Enright| T: O McKiernan| OR: 139

10/3

Best effort when fifth of 17 in handicap hurdle at this course (24f, good to soft, 20/1) 29 days ago, running on. Down in trip. Third probably the best he can hope for.

Form: 712-P75

Pale Blue Dot¹⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Daniel King⁽⁵⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 109

100/1

Winner in hurdle at Bellewstown in August. Shaped as if still in form before falling at the last in handicap hurdle at Gowran (20f, soft, 10/1) 5 months ago. Looks out of his depth in this, however.

Form: P8316F

Saint Sam^h²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 150| BF

4/7

1 win from 3 runs this season. Evens, failed to justify strong support when 10¾ lengths fifth of 8 to Blazing Khal in Boyne Hurdle at Navan (21f, good to soft) 3 weeks ago. Major claims in this small-field scenario.

Form: 13U6-15

Fils D'oudairies²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 142| BF

4/1

Long time without a win but shaped much better than the bare result after 4 months off when tenth of 12 in handicap chase (3/1) at this course (17f, good to soft) 29 days ago, bad mistake 4 out (also (found to have blood in both nostrils). Switches from chase to hurdles.

Form: 22-5520

Halsafari^p⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: M J M O'Sullivan⁽⁵⁾| T: M J Bowe| OR: 117| D

33/1

Thirty runs since last win in 2019. Ran as well as could have been expected when 19 lengths fourth of 6 to Rebel Gold in Newlands Chase (50/1) at Naas (16f, good to soft) 7 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles.

Form: 333654

Forecasts

Saint Sam (4/7), Gatsby Grey (10/3), Fils D'oudairies (4/1), Halsafari (33/1), Pale Blue Dot (100/1)

SAINT SAM was unable to justify strong support in the Boyne Hurdle at Navan 3 weeks ago, but this looks an ideal opportunity for Willie Mullins' charge to resume winning ways before heading to the Cheltenham Festival. The obvious danger is seemingly Fils d'Oudairies, whose effort over fences last month is easily excused, while Gatsby Grey can fill out third spot.