Deacy Gilligan Hurdle

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 5m 24.6s

Hms Seahorse^b³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Peter Smithers⁽⁷⁾| T: P Nolan| OR: 138| BF

15/2

Useful hurdler who won conditions race at Clonmel (7/4) in June with first-time blinkers. Similar form when second on chase debut at Wexford (19.5f) the following month and took an early fall back at that venue 33 days ago. Certainly worth considering returned to smaller obstacles.

Form: 5/00-12F

Run For Oscar¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Philip Byrnes| T: C Byrnes| OR: 143| BF| D

5/2

Useful on Flat/over hurdles and possible he needed first start for 10 months when fifth of 9 in minor event at Killarney (16.8f, good) 17 days ago. That ought to have blown the cobwebs away ahead of this return to hurdling and he's high on the shortlist.

Form: 3302/12-

Brazil^t³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Aidan Kelly⁽³⁾| T: P Roche| OR: 132| C

28/1

Versatile sort who ran his most encouraging race for some time when fifth in a big field Curragh handicap (2m) back in June. However, failed to repeat that when third of 4 in minor event hurdle at Kilbeggan (25f, good to soft) 30 days ago and he's not the easiest to predict.

Form: 9P4-7P3

Busselton¹¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 137| C| D

6/1

Won 2022 Kerry National and back on scoresheet in La Touche Cup at Punchestown (33f) in May. Never better than midfield back on Flat when ninth of 15 in handicap at Killarney (16.8f, good) later that month but respected following a break/returned to hurdles.

Form: 0664P1-

Lord Erskine^b³⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-0| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H Rogers| OR: 131| D

11/4

Useful hurdler. Respectable seventh of 19 in Galway Hurdle (16f, good to soft, 20/1) 39 days ago, left on the backfoot following a bad mistake first. No surprise to see this likeable veteran thereabouts.

Form: 00401-7

Yeats Star²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 133| D

5/2

Useful hurdler. Third of 4 in minor event chase at Tramore (21.8f, good to firm, 6/4) 24 days ago, unsuited by emphasis on speed. Switches from chase to hurdles.

Form: 41FU-53

Non-Runners

Custom Taylor¹³⁹

Weight: 11-6| Age: 6

T: D Queally J: K C Sexton

Forecasts

Run For Oscar (5/2), Yeats Star (5/2), Lord Erskine (11/4), Busselton (6/1), Hms Seahorse (15/2), Custom Taylor (8/1), Brazil (28/1)

Having ended last year with several creditable displays under both codes, RUN FOR OSCAR shaped as if better for the run following 10 months off when fifth on the Flat at Killarney recently. He's entitled to be much sharper with that under his belt and shades the vote over Hms Seahorse who returns to hurdles following an early spill over fences last time. Busselton may emerge best of the rest.