Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Hurdle

Off time: 15:07 | Winning time: 5m 16.50s

Kalypso'chance¹⁰⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Josh Williamson⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| BF| C

9/4

Belatedly matched his useful bumper form when winning Monksfield Novices' Hurdle at this course in November. Let down by jumping when upped to 3m last time and, whilst this return to calmer waters will suit, he faces no easy task conceding 3 lb to stablemate Santo Sospir.

Form: 106-214

Santo Sospir⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 132

2/1

Won a big-field maiden hurdle over 19.5f at Punchestown in November and followed up in 17f conditions hurdle at Clonmel (heavy) in January. Disappointed behind Doctor Steinberg when upped in grade and trip last time, but this represents a good opportunity to bounce back.

Form: 1-4116

Shabby Hill⁶⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Philip Byrnes| T: C Byrnes

11/2

Point winner who confirmed promise of hurdling debut when winning 14-runner maiden by ¾-length from Lyreen Og at Punchestown in January. Step up in trip will suit and open to improvement, but this represents a much tougher assignment.

Form: 1/51

Timesareachanging³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Philip Donovan⁽³⁾| T: A Slattery| C

2/1

Won maiden hurdle over C&D in January before shaping better than the distance beaten suggests when 12½ lengths third of 5 to Lord Rouge in Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novices' Hurdle at Gowran last month. He remains open to improvement.

Form: F71/313

Astley^p1¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Alex Harvey| T: Paul Traynor

200/1

Showed fairly useful form when runner-up in a bumper at Clonmel last April, but hasn't gone with any encouragement on either hurdling start and looks firmly up against it in this company. Wears first-time Cheekpieces.

Form: 8720-07

Forecasts

Timesareachanging (2/1), Santo Sospir (2/1), Kalypso'chance (9/4), Shabby Hill (11/2), Astley (200/1)

SANTO SOSPIR and Kalypso'chance both arrive on retrieval missions after disappointing efforts last time, but the former had looked a very useful hurdler in the making prior and is taken to get back on track in receipt of 3 lb from his stablemate. Timesareachanging was better than the result last time and appeals as the one to benefit should the aforementioned duo fail to fire.