BoyleSports Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle (Grade 3)

Off time: 15:23 | Winning time: 5m 33.8s

What Path^t1³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 134

14/1

Useful hurdler who wasted no getting back to form when third of 4 in minor event hurdle at this course (22.5f, heavy) 32 days ago. Stable in good form. Tongue strap on for 1st time.

Form: 126243

Cloudy Tuesday¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr Turlough O'connor| T: T O'Connor| C

200/1

Landed a hunter chase at Thurles in March 2021. Fit from points but faces a mighty task on hurdle debut.

Form: 51-5424

Largy Hill⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins

10/3

Confirmed promise of his hurdling debut when winning 10-runner maiden at Cork (24f, heavy) 47 days ago, comfortably. Yard in good form. Remains open to improvement.

Form: 5/173-21

Mahon's Way^h⁷⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead

7/1

Thrice-raced winner under NH rules who didn't get home hiked in distance when 25¼ lengths last of 5 to Search For Glory in Gr 3 hurdle at Cork (24f, heavy) 74 days ago, folding. Back down in trip and remains with potential.

Form: 13-15

Staffordshire Knot³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott

8/11

Fairly useful bumper winner who looked a useful prospect when following up back over hurdles in 11-runner maiden at Down Royal (17.2f, heavy, 8/15) 30 days ago, easily. Up in trip and open to further improvement.

Form: 311

Stoke The Fire⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins

7/1

Fairly useful maiden on the Flat and got off the mark over hurdles at the first attempt in 8-runner maiden (5/6) at Tramore (21.6f, heavy) 52 days ago, easily. Open to improvement.

Form: 1

Forecasts

Staffordshire Knot (8/11), Largy Hill (10/3), Stoke The Fire (7/1), Mahon's Way (7/1), What Path (14/1), Cloudy Tuesday (200/1)

STAFFORDSHIRE KNOT beat a largely ordinary lot at Down Royal last month but did so in emphatic fashion and looks up to making his mark at this level. Largy Hill and Stoke The Fire look promising also, and they rate the main threats.