Connolly's RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Novice Hurdle (IRE Incentive Race)

Showed ability in bumpers last year and on October return chased home a clear winner in 2m4f Gowran maiden hurdle (yielding); dropped out quickly and pulled up on heavy in much stronger Punchestown maiden two months later and returns from a short break here with a bit to prove.

Point-to-point winner built on promise in bumpers and maiden hurdles to win ordinary 2m Thurles maiden in December (yielding); didn't land a meaningful blow in handicap over same C&D following month; tongue-tie now fitted and needs to improve.

Well held at big odds on Punchestown bumper debut last May but reappeared two months later much improved (well-backed) to land 2m Roscommon maiden hurdle, hitting the line strongly on good ground; tongue-tie fitted here and encounters much different ground conditions.

Punchestown festival bumper (yielding) winner last term has coped with softer conditions on latest two runs in 2m5f maiden hurdles, hampered by winner run-in when clear second at same venue and at Thurles last month only tired late on when third (conceding 8lb to first two); much better suited at the weights here an drops in trip.

Useful placed form in bumpers and improvement on each of four attempts hurdling, notably making all then idling in closing stages in 2m Cork maiden and in 2m3f Naas auction novice last month clear with winner when just outstayed late on in testing conditions; prominent racer drops in trip; big player.