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Willie Mullins has won this race for the last three years and Invitation Only, a close third in a Grade One at Leopardstown, could easily make it four. His form stands close scrutiny but TERREFORT has the profile of a rapidly improving horse. He is unbeaten since arriving from France and showed battling qualities to win the Grade One Scilly Isles at Sandown. has the form and ability to win this but has had issues with his jumping. He comes here after a wind operation and cheekpieces are fitted which could bring about the required improvement. has won four of her five chase starts and, though she faces a much stiffer test, is crucially in receipt of weight from her rivals. Barry Geraghty has chosen
of the four JP McManus-owned runners and that is no surprise after his eye-catching third to
and at Leopardstown in December. He has a pull at the weights with the front two and is likely to make his presence felt. However, another McManus runner, SORT IT OUT, also has strong claims. He finished runner-up in the County Hurdle in 2015 and tried his luck over this trip for the first time at Punchestown last month, finishing strongly to dead-heat for third with
He clearly relished it and remains thoroughly unexposed over the distance. Soft ground and this trip brings out the best in who has posted two very good seconds since scoring at Ffos Las in November. Despite creeping up the weights for not winning, he is of interest with conditions in his favour. Last year’s winner UN DE SCEAUX is the one to beat. Despite the small field this is more competitive than 12 months ago but the selection has shown he retains all his ability and class. He has put in two rounds of flawless jumping in winning at Cork and Ascot and he could again dictate matters, which he did for most of the race last year.
chased him home and is likely to make another bold bid but he tends to get found out at this level and is still looking for his first Grade One success. Unlike who won this race in 2013. Despite reaching the veteran stage he ran a cracker behind the progressive chaser Waiting Patiently at Ascot.
won the Galway Plate last August and defied his 66-1 starting price when second in a Grade One at Leopardstown in December. If he can back that effort up then he has to be thereabouts.
has made great strides since stepped up in trip and a switch to front-running tactics. He had and behind when taking the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot and that level of form makes him a leading player.
has been campaigned over fences this season but remains a threat over the smaller obstacles; he finished last term with a Grade One victory at Aintree. SUPASUNDAE chased him home that day but has every chance of taking his revenge. He is very versatile regarding trip, winning last year’s Coral Cup and this season has tackled Grade One company from two to three miles. He has proven stamina over this trip but yet showed enough speed to win the Irish Champion Hurdle. tries this trip for the first time and would be a popular winner, while may prove best of the Willie Mullins quartet. A very tough race to unravel but David Pipe has won this race three times in the last eight years and
was an eye-catcher on his debut for the yard at Kempton. He should be on the short list but MOVEWITHTHETIMES may have got in here on a decent mark on his chasing handicap bow judged on his hurdle rating. He has had just three starts over fences and needs to brush up his jumping but does possess a touch of class. won at the Festival last year and will appreciate the step back up in trip after finishing strongly over an inadequate distance at Leopardstown last month.
was not beaten far in a better race at Leopardstown and will welcome this slight drop in grade. was unfortunate to unseat last time after he had won over course and distance and is worth another chance. Willie Mullins has won both runnings of this event and a hat-trick looks on the cards with LAURINA. She arrived from France after a placed effort over hurdles but has been unbeaten in two starts for Mullins – winning both very easily. She is clearly on the upgrade. She will face strong opposition from another progressive mare,
who has won her last five outings. She has improved with each run and her slick hurdling and front-running style has seen her graduate from handicaps to success in Grade Two company. Of the others, makes her debut for Mullins after arriving from France and the market may reflect her chance. Jamie Codd is the leading rider in this race having won it four times and he has strong claims to make it five with He started favourite for this race 12 months ago and was a tad unlucky to unseat three out when making smooth progress and clearly in with every chance. He could make amends but SUGAR BARON, who finished sixth last year, gets the vote. He has finished strongly in both his starts this season, failing narrowly, and is due a change of luck. He is up 2lb but remains well treated. won the Pertemps Final in 2016 and finished fifth in this last year. It does look as if his season has been aimed for another crack at this race and the booking of Patrick Mullins takes the eye. Of the others, has threatened to win a race of this calibre but tends to find one too good, though he has had a recent wind operation, and has not been seen since finishing second 12 months ago.