Irish Injured Jockeys Rated Novice Hurdle

Off time: 17:28 | Winning time: 6m 32.10s

Long Branch²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Tiernan Power Roche| T: S Neville| OR: 119| D

6/1

Showed improved form and deep reserves of stamina to get off the mark at Thurles (2¾m) in December. Showed better form in defeat back there the following month and was in the process of running creditably when departing at Down Royal on most recent outing. Solid claims back up in trip.

Form: 45413U

Walks The Talk^h⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Alex Harvey| T: J C McConnell| OR: 118| D

9/2

Won first 2 starts over hurdles prior to shaping better then the distance beaten suggests in better company at Haydock. Solid effort again when runner-up at Musselburgh in January but was a tad disappointing at Gowran on latest start and won't get an easy lead with Rocky's Howya in the line-up.

Form: 411525

Rocky's Howya^v²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Michael Kenneally⁽⁵⁾| T: D Queally| OR: 117| D

3/1

Resurgent down in grade equipped with a visor, landing back-to-back claiming hurdles in dominant fashion in recent months. Completed the hat-trick back over fences at Limerick on most recent outing and must be taken seriously for all that he's unlikely to get an easy lead.

Form: U73111

Agameoftwohalves⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 115

5/2

Showed improved form to get off the mark in 7-runner novice hurdle at Punchestown (19.1f, heavy, 15/8) in February, finding extra. Step up to 3m promises to suit and open to further improvement.

Form: 6641

Jisco Du Brem^t³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Danny Mullins| T: Jonathan Sweeney| OR: 105

3/1

Fair bumper winner who shaped with more encouragement than previously over hurdles contesting his first handicap when third in 13-runner event at Thurles (22.9f, heavy) on most recent outing, left with lot to do. Must enter calculations back in novice company.

Form: 784853

Forecasts

Agameoftwohalves (5/2), Jisco Du Brem (3/1), Rocky's Howya (3/1), Walks The Talk (9/2), Long Branch (6/1)

LONG BRANCH is undoubtedly a chaser of the future but his profile over hurdles is a positive one and he's taken to register a second win with the step back up in trip promising to suit. Agameoftwohalves should progress again now that his stamina is drawn out further, while the thriving Rocky's Howya can't be taken lightly, for all that he's unlikely to get such an easy lead this time.