WHILE the Dublin Racing Festival looks set to be a massive weekend for the Willie Mullins stable, it could also be one to remember for Gavin Cromwell.

Hello Neighbour may be the most exciting of 10 declared by the Co Meath trainer, as last month’s Grade 2 winner bids to extend his unbeaten record in the Grade 1 Gannon’s City Recovery & Recycling Services Juvenile Hurdle on Saturday. Previously rated 97 on the flat, the son of Harzand clashes with last month’s runner-up Lady Vega Allen and Closutton’s impressive French import Sainte Lucie.

Speaking to The Irish Field, Cromwell said he is hoping for an improved effort from Keith Donoghue’s mount on Saturday. “Since Christmas, we’ve put a hood on him, hoping that just might help him set a little bit better in the race and, hopefully, he might do things a little bit more professionally. He’s in good form and we’re hoping for a big run.”

On whether he considers Hello Neighbour his best chance of the weekend, Cromwell commented: “Probably. I suppose he is the one that has a form in the book and he is exciting. I suppose it is a Grade 1 and we’re close to the top of the market, if not at the top.”

Course form

The J.P. McManus-owned Perceval Legallois is currently strong in the market for the very next race, the Listed Race And Stay At Leopardstown Handicap Hurdle.

The eight-year-old reverts to hurdling following his seven-length win in the Paddy Power Chase last month, for which he went up 11lb. He has course form over hurdles, having won this race in 2023 under Saturday’s pilot Mark Walsh.

“He’s off a considerably lower mark over hurdles,” his trainer acknowledged. “He won this race two years ago, and he seems in good form. He is definitely a better chaser than he is a hurdler, but hopefully he can be competitive.”

On his nest best chance, Cromwell nominated Midnight It Is, who runs in the Listed Ryanair Handicap Chase. “He was third in the Dan & Joan Moore at Fairyhouse on his last start and he was probably a little bit unlucky.

“He was finishing well after getting caught a little bit far back. So, if he reproduced that run, Conor Stone-Walsh claims five off him, he’d have a good chance.”