BAR 1 Betting "Proud Sponsor Of Irish Racing" Handicap Hurdle

Won a novice handicap at the 2023 Christmas fixture at Leopardstown; kept good company over fences last season; made a pleasing return to hurdling on seasonal return at Galway when a close third (2m6f, yielding); well backed in a Fairyhouse Listed handicap when last seen in November; fell at the final flight when 1l ahead; up 3lb for that but considered.

Fairyhouse debut bumper winner (2m, soft to heavy) and followed up at Cork over hurdles (2m, yielding); good effort when a 7.5l runner-up behind Supreme candidate Talk The Talk in a Grade 3 in November; must rebound from poor showing at Punchestown last time when last of five despite being the 7-4 favourite; makes handicap debut.

French Flat and hurdles winner; showed little in 2024 runs for this yard; returned from 421-day absence at Fairyhouse last month when tailed off; can only be watched.

Dual-winning chaser has been attempting to take advantage of his lower hurdles mark this season; beaten just a nose by The Nagger Reidy at Leopardstown in December (2m5f, good to yielding); 1l behind Zanoosh last time at Navan (2m4f, soft to heavy) and that rival bolted up in Listed company next time; creeping up the weights for not winning all the same.

Tow wins, notably the Lartigue at Listowel in 2024; only once near his best in eight starts since then, namely when second in 2m6f Fairyhouse handicap last April; badly out of form in three handicap hurdle outings between October and December.