Connolly's RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle

Knocking on the door in novice/maiden company over the winter. Back to form following (10-week break) when fifth of 19 on handicap bow at Cork (19f) 5 days ago and a similar performance may be enough to take this.

Unpromising in points but best effort under Rules when well backed third at Thurles on final start for William O'Doherty in February. Needs considering on first run for capable new yard.

€16,500 Poet's Word gelding, half-brother to modest hurdler Luminaries (2½m-3m winner). Shaped like a stayer when midfield in a Naas bumper last December and should at least benefit from switch to hurdles/longer trips.

€10,000 3-y-o, Vadamos gelding. Brother to fairly useful 2m hurdle winner Race To Base. Pulled up sole start in points last December and hard to be confident ahead of this Rules debut.

Berkshire gelding, half-brother to fair 2¾m hurdle winner He Knows Better. Justified support to make winning bumper debut at Thurles but well below that form at Leopardstown in December. One to consider if market expects a bounce back over longer trip on hurdles bow.

Point/bumper runner-up didn't build on an encouraging stable debut (behind Ifallgoeswell) when fourth of 7 at Fairyhouse in February but could be worth another chance upped in trip following a short a break.

Split a fairly useful pair at Downpatrick and ran to a similar level when third in Naas novice in early-February. May do better now upped in trip by top yard.

Inexpensive mare made more impact than previously when (4/1) fourth of 8 in a Tramore novice last October but will need to improve for the longer trip.