I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 5m 57.04s

Dr Eggman³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins

2/5

Useful bumper winner who improved on hurdles debut form when second of 12 in novice hurdle (9/2) at Navan (20f, heavy) 32 days ago, staying on. The one to beat with prospect of more to come.

Form: 3/3-132

Big Stage²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott

16/1

Successful sole start in points and shaped much better than distance beaten suggests when fifth of 12 in bumper at Naas (18.5f) 24 days ago, dropping away from 2f out. Better expected now hurdling.

Form: 15

Don Chalant^h1⁶⁶³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: M J M O'Sullivan| T: P T Foley| BF

40/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 9/4, respectable fourth of 21 in bumper at this course (18f, good to soft). Off 22 months. Makes hurdles debut. First run for yard after leaving W. P. Mullins.

Form: 3224/

Practice Run^t1³⁰⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: M F Morris

12/1

€105,000 3-y-o, Walk In The Park gelding. Dam (b84), placed in bumpers, sister to useful hurdler/fair chase winner (stayed 2½m) Shadow Eile. Won sole start in points (April 2023) and he's one to note in the betting for clues on Rules/hurdles bow. Wears tongue strap.

Form: 1-

Surf Club^t²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins

33/1

Thrice-raced maiden under NH rules. Fifth of 14 in novice hurdle (14/1) at Limerick (16f, heavy) 22 days ago, not knocked about. Up in trip now but handicaps likely to be more his bag.

Form: 355

Majestic Force⁸¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead

7/2

£120,000 buy after running out a wide-margin winner on point debut (Dec 2). Interesting contender, particularly if backed.

Form: 1

Non-Runners

Notkeepinyagoing⁵¹

Weight: 11-5| Age: 7

T: J C McConnell J: B W Harvey

Forecasts

Dr Eggman (2/5), Majestic Force (7/2), Practice Run (12/1), Notkeepinyagoing (12/1), Big Stage (16/1), Surf Club (33/1), Don Chalant (40/1)

A useful sort in bumpers, DR EGGMAN took a step forward from his hurdles debut effort when runner-up over this trip at Navan 32 days ago and with further progress likely, he can make it third time lucky in this sphere. Majestic Force, a winner of her only start in points is worth a look on her respective Rules debut. Big Stage and Practice Run complete the shortlist.