QuinnBet Hurdle

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 4m 54.90s

Maxxum^p1²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Carl Millar⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 150| C

4/1

Winner of 2025 Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle who turned in his best of the season when third in this year's renewal. First-time cheekpieces should have a positive effect, and he can be very competitive (despite giving weight away) if back to peak form.

Form: 1P1-433

El Fabiolo²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 154| C

2/7

Top-class chaser at best, though still capable of smart form over hurdles as he showed when successful at Punchestown on New Year's Eve, and this looks a good opportunity, having been flying too high in the Irish Champion Hurdle at this track last month.

Form: F2FF/15

Soir De Garde^h³²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins

16/1

Half-brother to State Man who posted a couple of solid efforts in bumpers prior to winning readily on hurdle debut at Tramore in April, and though the apparent stable second string, he's very much open to improvement on return.

Form: 231/

Linden Arden⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Brian Hayes| T: D H Kelly| OR: 127

16/1

Has made excellent start for new yard, winning a pair of Punchestown handicaps and shaping though still in form when second at Fairyhouse 9 days ago, but this looks a tough ask at the weights.

Form: 9P1012

No Looking Back^b1,t⁶¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Phillip Enright| T: O McKiernan| OR: 119

50/1

May have still needed the run at Punchestown in December but it's long time since he's shown anything like his best form and hard to be confident that more severe headgear will spark a revival.

Form: 4000/P0

Forecasts

El Fabiolo (2/7), Maxxum (4/1), Soir De Garde (16/1), Linden Arden (16/1), No Looking Back (50/1)

EL FABIOLO is the one to beat if recapturing the smart hurdle form he showed at Punchestown in December, with Maxxum a credible danger in first-time headgear, following a solid effort in defence of his Boyne Hurdle crown last time. Soir De Garde is unlikely to be the main Mullins' hope but remains unexposed.