Tote Always SP Or Better Handicap Hurdle

4YO plus | 3m | Yielding | 9 Runners | Turf

Age: 7| Weight: 12-1| J: Paddy Cleary⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 133| C| D

Course winner. 16/1, ninth of 16 in novice chase at Galway (22.5f, good to soft) on debut over fences in Augusto. Switches from chase to hurdles. Top stable continues in good form but Jack Kennedy seemingly prefers Find A Fortune.

Form: 123F0/9

Noble Birth^p,t¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 125| C

33/1, twenty fifth of 28 in handicap chase at Leopardstown (24.4f, good) 14 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles. Cheekpieces back on. Not easy to make a case for.

Form: 10/6P40

Bal Kauto^h,t⁶⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr D L Queally| T: D Queally| OR: 120| BF

3 wins from 7 runs this season. 9/2, bit below form sixth of 13 in handicap chase at Cork (28f, good to soft) 69 days ago, left with too much to do. Switches from chase to hurdles.

Form: 711136

Find A Fortune³²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 118| C

Course winner last January. 14/1, fourteenth of 20 in handicap hurdle at Gowran (19.8f, heavy) when last seen in February but returns with yard in excellent form and he's the mount of Jack Kennedy from the stable pair.

Form: 232310/

Verdant Place^p1²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Simon Torrens| T: P T Foley| OR: 116| D

Eighth of 12 in handicap chase at Navan (24f, heavy, 12/1) 27 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Looks competitive on form.

Form: 1314/P8

Found A Diamond^p²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Shane Markey⁽⁷⁾| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 114

2 wins from 5 runs this season. 11/2 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, career best when winning 13-runner handicap hurdle at Navan (25f, heavy) 27 days ago, driven clear. Should remain very competitive off 8 lb higher.

Form: 2/62151

Dippedinmoonlight¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Danny Mullins| T: E Mullins| OR: 113| D

Bumper/Flat winner. Fair form back hurdling in recent months and appeals as a likely improver now handicapping for the first time in this sphere. Leading claims.

Form: 213/845

From The Ashes^p¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: Philip Byrnes| T: C Byrnes| OR: 110

One win from 31 NH runs. Seventeen runs since last win in 2023. 8/1, creditable fourth of 16 in handicap hurdle at Limerick (24f, heavy) 13 days ago. Stable in good form. Should go well again.

Form: 3/334-64

Your Honor^b¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Danny Gilligan| T: J Nash| OR: 110

Twelve runs since last win in 2023. Unseated rider in handicap chase (50/1) at Limerick (22.6f, heavy) 12 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles. Blinkers back on.

Form: 35/568U

Forecasts

Found A Diamond (13/8), Dippedinmoonlight (4/1), From The Ashes (5/1), Bal Kauto (6/1), Find A Fortune (8/1), Minella Sixo (12/1), Verdant Place (12/1), Noble Birth (12/1), Your Honor (25/1)

DIPPEDINMOONLIGHT rates a likely improver now handicapping for the first time over hurdles and gets the nod for Emmet Mullins. From The Ashes showed he can be very competitive from his lower hurdle mark when fourth in a big field at Limerick over Christmas and is second choice ahead of last month's Navan scorer Found A Diamond.