Easter Festival April 4th - 6th Rated Novice Hurdle

Off time: 12:58 | Winning time: 5m 27.80s

Coyote Spirit^p¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 117

11/4

Fairly useful bumper winner who improved on his maiden hurdle form sent handicapping in first-time cheekpieces (retained), third of 9 in handicap hurdle at Leopardstown (20.5f, good to soft) 17 days ago. Jumped right that day and could progress again switched to a right-handed track.

Form: 31/6443

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Nelson Muntz²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Cian Quirke| T: D H Kelly| OR: 117

7/1

Fairly useful hurdler was consistent in maiden/novices and shaped well coming from behind in a muddling race when fourth of 18 in handicap hurdle (25/1) at Leopardstown (16f, good) 20 days ago. One to be interested with step back up in distance expected to suit.

Form: 3/13434

Heron's Butler⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Liam McKenna⁽⁵⁾| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 115

8/1

Lightly-raced and improving, second past the post but subsequently promoted to get off the mark at Thurles (22.7f) and progressed again when well-backed runner-up in a novice at the same track (22.5f) last time, clear of remainder. Makes plenty of appeal.

Form: 085U12

Sticwiththeprocess^p⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Mark Walsh| T: T M Walsh| OR: 114| BF| C

6/4

Narrowly denied by useful sort over C&D on final start last season and off the mark in 16-runner novice hurdle here (2m) on return. Ran creditably back in a handicap in first-time cheekpieces when third at Punchestown (19.4f, soft) latest and ought to give a good account with headgear retained.

Form: 5832/13

Welluknow²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Daniel King| T: M A Molloy| OR: 112

18/5

Strong-travelling sort showed improved form to get off the mark in 10-runner handicap hurdle at Gowran (16.1f, heavy) and shaped as if still in good form at Leopardstown last time, finding little having taken a strong hold. Will need to settle better faced with longer trip/smaller field, however.

Form: 66/3310

Forecasts

Sticwiththeprocess (6/4), Coyote Spirit (11/4), Welluknow (18/5), Nelson Muntz (7/1), Heron's Butler (8/1)

A trappy 5-runner affair may go the way of the improving HERON'S BUTLER. who pulled clear of the remainder when a well-backed runner-up in a Thurles novice last time. He's narrowly preferred to Nelson Muntz, who shaped well in a muddling race at Leopardstown and could be dangerous if this proves more of a stamina test, while Sticwiththeprocess has a good record here and ought to be in the mix again.