Horse & Jockey Hotel Hurdle (Grade 3)

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 3m 44.09s

Winter Fog³³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 152| CD

9/4

Smart hurdler. C&D winner. Creditable second of 11 in maiden at Gowran (14f, good to soft, 11/10) 33 days ago, no match for winner. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Paul Townend prefers Daddy Long Legs but he's greatly respected all the same.

Form: 141-414

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Daddy Long Legs⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 150| BF| D

1/1

Smart hurdler. Latest win in hurdle at Punchestown in April. 5/1, last of 19 in handicap hurdle at Galway (16f, good to soft) 66 days ago. That run is best overlooked (facing sideways when the race started and never involved) and he will have every chance if back to his best.

Form: P611-50

Smooth Tom²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Cian Quirke| T: A Slattery| OR: 129| D

12/1

Lightly-raced winner over hurdles. Useful winner at 12f on the Flat. Sixteenth of 22 in handicap at Leopardstown (13f, good, 25/1) 22 days ago, left poorly placed. Switches from Flat to hurdles.

Form: 1150-

Mighty Tom⁴⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Jordan Gainford| T: C Collins| OR: 140| D

9/2

Useful hurdler. 15/2, creditable second of 10 in handicap hurdle at Killarney (17f, soft) 45 days ago, running on. Entitled to considerable respect.

Form: 347-252

Senecia¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Phillip Enright| T: V Halley| OR: 135

22/1

Useful chaser. Latest win in hurdle at Killarney in May. Unseated rider in handicap chase at Listowel (17.7f, good, 7/1) 14 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles. Opposable.

Form: 1244PU

Forecasts

Daddy Long Legs (1/1), Winter Fog (9/4), Mighty Tom (9/2), Smooth Tom (12/1), Senecia (22/1)

Paul Townend keeps the faith with DADDY LONG LEGS and his decision may well be vindicated. Indeed, the 5-y-o will prove hard to beat if returning to the level he showed when landing a big-field handicap at the Punchestown Festival in April. Stablemate Winter Fog was a wide-margin C&D winner during the summer and, having performed with credit on the Flat the last twice, he rates the main danger ahead of Mighty Tom.