KPMG Hurdle

Off time: 17:30 | Winning time: 4m 1.00s

In The Minus¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Shane Fitzgerald| T: B Cawley| OR: 112| D

40/1

Big improvement to win maiden hurdle at Galway in October. Not in same form both outings on heavy ground subsequently and ran to only a modest level back on the level on latest start. Has plenty on at the weights.

Form: 434155/

Kai Lung^h,t1²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 127| D

11/8

Has looked a handful over hurdles, refusing to settle all 3 outings in better company since his Naas maiden win in January. Tongue strap on for 1st time and this does represent a drop in grade at least.

Form: 1PU9/

Madness D'elle²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 123| D

6/1

Off the mark in 2m Gowran maiden in February. Found the Fred Winter too competitive at the Cheltenham Festival the following month prior to facing an even stiffer task at Punchestown last time. This far more suitable.

Form: 32100/

Porcupine Bank¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott| D

5/1

Built on hurdling debut promise when winning 8-runner juvenile (11/2) at Punchestown (2m, good to soft) 13 days ago, impressing with his attitude. Open to further improvement.

Form: 3/1

Munsif^h⁵⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Philip Byrnes| T: C Byrnes| OR: 121| BF

7/4

Useful winner on Flat for Roger Varian and has shaped well over hurdles for new connections, including when third in 2m Navan maiden in March. Not seen to best effect on handicap debut at Ascot last and remains capable of better, though probably won't get this run to suit.

Form: 35338/

Non-Runners

Immediate Effect²⁶

Weight: 11-7| Age: 4

T: G Elliott J: Danny Gilligan

Forecasts

Kai Lung (11/8), Munsif (7/4), Immediate Effect (11/4), Porcupine Bank (5/1), Madness D'elle (6/1), In The Minus (40/1)

IMMEDIATE EFFECT benefited from the drop in grade when runner-up in a warm novice at Punchestown last month and a reproduction of that form may well suffice here. Madness d'Elle should find this easier than on his last 2 starts, while Porcupine Bank's attitude ought to stand him in good stead now tackling better company.