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Off time: 14:17 | Winning time: 5m 4.20s

Andy Dufresne^v1⁴³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Danny Gilligan⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 141| C

25/1

Course winner. 11/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, 37¼ lengths last of 5 to Bob Olinger in Lismullen Hurdle at Navan (20f, heavy) 43 days ago. Visored for 1st time.

Form: 8U-U535

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Ashdale Bob²⁰⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Jack Kennedy| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 150| BF

4/1

Smart hurdler. Fourteen runs since last win in 2021. 35/10, 13½ lengths fifth of 8 to La Cheneviere in Group 2 Prix La Barka at Auteuil (21.4f, soft). Off 6 months. This a drop in class and should make a bold bid under Jack Kennedy.

Form: 342P5-5

Aspire Tower³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 159| C

11/1

Useful hurdler. Course winner. 6/1, third of 10 in novice chase at Thurles (18.4f, good to soft) on debut over fences 31 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles.

Form: 1248/33

Jeff Kidder²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 138| C

33/1

Useful hurdler. Course winner. 33/1, creditable seventh of 19 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (16f, soft) 28 days ago. Has a bit to find with a couple of these.

Form: 3/7-U647

Sir Gerhard⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 155

10/11

Leading novice hurdler of 2021/22 campaign and a smart novice chaser last term. Closing in second when falling heavily 2 out in Naas Grade 3 chase on reappearance. The one to beat back hurdling assuming he's over that nasty experience.

Form: 3/192P-F

Thedevilscoachman⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Mark Walsh| T: N Meade| OR: 153| C

3/1

Smart hurdler. Course winner. 9/2, bit below form seventh of 20 in handicap chase at Navan (24f, heavy) on reappearance 42 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles. Down in trip.

Form: 1F11P-7

Vanillier^t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 148| C| D

20/1

Smart chaser (second in Grand National in April) . 22¾ lengths fifth of 6 to El Fabiolo in Hilly Way Chase (50/1) at Cork (16.7f, heavy) on reappearance 21 days ago, inadequate test. Switches from chase to hurdles. Others more persuasive.

Form: 36F22-5

Forecasts

Sir Gerhard (10/11), Thedevilscoachman (3/1), Ashdale Bob (4/1), Aspire Tower (11/1), Vanillier (20/1), Andy Dufresne (25/1), Jeff Kidder (33/1)

Willie Mullins has dominated this race in recent years and SIR GERHARD, a dual Grade 1 novice hurdle winner in spring 2022, can make a successful return to hurdles assuming he's none the worse for his heavy fall over fences at Naas last month. Ashdale Bob is really smart on his day and can give the selection most to do under Jack Kennedy.