1.50 McCann FitzGerald Spring Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m

Bunting: Impressive winner at Limerick over Christmas, travelling strongly in the heavy ground before picking up well to see off Mr Lincoln easily by eight lengths. Obvious big rise in class now but likely has more to offer.

Ethical Diamond: Well touted going into Leopardstown maiden hurdle at the Christmas Festival but never raised a challenge when 33 lengths off Intellotto. A bit to prove now.

Highwind: French recruit scored at first time of asking when too good for more experienced Pigeon House and Lark In The Morning, both of who finished in behind Intellotto here over Christmas. Big step up now and will certainly have to jump better.

Intellotto: 87-rated son of Lope De Vega was a good winner on his hurdles bow, racing greenly before pulling right away from Lucy Wang and a big field here over Christmas. More to come now and return to this course and distance is a positive for him.

Majborough: Auteuil winner in April was notably mentioned as the dark horse of his trainer’s stout team of juvenile hurdlers at the beginning of the season but this is a difficult task for him, trying to win here on seasonal/Irish debut.

Open To Question: Used race fitness to his advantage when winning on hurdles bow at Gowran back in September - beat Pigeon House by just under three lengths. Not seen since and has a lot more on his plate now.

Ose Partir: French recruit made promising start to his career in Ireland when second to Kaleosun at Galway but has since been well held at graded level so has it all to do now.

Storm Heart: Could hardly have been more impressive on hurdles/Irish debut when 22-length winner of heavy ground Punchestown maiden hurdle on New Year’s Day. That looked easily the most impressive performance of the maiden hurdle winners in this field and perhaps made Paul Townend’s decision easier to make.

Kala Conti: Sets the form standard here courtesy of two good performances at Fairyhouse and here in the Grade 2 on St Stephen’s Day, where she reversed form with Nurburgring from Fairyhouse. She possibly had the run of things in a slowly run contest but did well in the circumstances and nothing to say she won’t be as strong off a more solid pace.

Kargese: Second to Kala Conti here in Grade 2 on St Stephen’s Day on what was her first run in Ireland. That was promising, especially as she raced keenly early so there could be a lot more to come from this dual Auteuil winner.

Kimy: Useful effort on hurdles/Irish debut when fourth to Highwind at Punchestown but a lot more needed now.

Conclusion:

Storm Heart was impressive first time out but with such limited evidence for him and this entire field, short prices look unattractive. Kargese has a good chance of reversing form with Kala Conti, and if she can do that, she should go close.