Denostin

Cloonainra is a 7yo mare trained by John C McConnell runs off a mark of 113 with conditional Dylan Kidd 4lb claim with connections seemingly having preserved her handicap hurdles rating having had a spell chasing since finishing 5/25 in this very race last year beaten 6.25l off 119 and led at the last only to weaken in the dying stages behind Thanksforthehelp - the 2/25 Ballysax Hank 116 has since won two chases (Grade 1) and is now rated 129 some 23lb higher - the 3/25 Stay Gold has since won a maiden hurdle and the 4/25 Nouvotic has since won two chases and is now rated 14lb higher - the fact that Cloonainra now reverts to hurdles off a 6lb lower mark suggest connections may have had this race in mind for quite some time and her handicap mark makes the case even more persuasive.

Jacovec Cavern is a 7yo gelding and has an unusual profile - won twice on the flat in the UK and was highly tried as a 4yo hurdler for current yard finishing down the field in the 2024 Triumph Hurdle and the Irish equivalent - moved to Emmet Mullins and finished runner up on flat after a 459 day absence then was sent off 5-1f for the Cesarewitch at Newmarket without being disgraced - in last 9 races over hurdles he's not been sent off bigger than 9-1 and at Cork he was 6l ahead approaching last off 107 over 20f in a handicap hurdle (7lb conditional) and fell with the race at his mercy on good ground and has since placed three times on good and yielding ground so conditions suit - he retains ability winning a 17 runner beginners chase last November at Gowran - today he runs off 107 today with Richard Condon (won on him at Gowran) claiming 2lb (same mark as Cork) and I would expect he will be sent to front rank early and performs best when he races prominently so we will know our fate early - a bit of a dark horse at 40-1.

Simply Natural is a 6yo mare trained by Gavin Cromwell has shown some decent form in bumpers and maiden hurdles over the minimum distance and should relish todays step up to 19.5f being a half sister to the 128 rated Mongibello (won in April slamming a Willie Mullins 8/11 hotpot by 12.75l) who is 3/9 wins and 2/2 over 20f - whilst she has a bit to find on official ratings she receives lumps of weight from much of the field and carries just 10st 6lb and being sired by Spanish Moon she should also relish todays yielding ground (drying out all the time) with prodgeny sired by Spanish Moon being 64/410 wins on good ground.

Mister Pessimistic is a 5yo gelding trained by Henry De Bromhead made a promising start to his career winning his first two hurdles but his limitations have been exposed somewhat in two soirees in Grade 1 hurdles at Leopardstown over 16f which has proved a step.ro far however he's dropped in grade today and stepped up to 19.5f which on pedigree should suit with the dam winning over 22f at Punchestown - remains unexposed and open to some improvement and looks like a solid option against a number of rivals also dipping in grade to calmer waters.

Soir De Garde is an unexposed 8yo gelding trained by Willie Mullins is sired by the top.class sire Kapgarde (538 wins in NH sphere since 2012) is stepped up in trip today after a promising recent run at Cork where he fell last when 3l down in third behind two smart hurdlers Ndaawi 152 and stablemate Absurde 153 - previously got outpaced over 18.5f behind the top class El Fabiolo and finished 3.75l ahead of the smart 150 rated Maxxum - Sour De Garde doesn't compete against horses of that calibre today and if staying todays 19.5f which is highly likely given the mamer of his run at Leopardstown he may prove difficult to beat if getting an easy lead on ground which suits.

Love Me Tender is a 5yo gelding trained by Willie Mullins rattled up a hatrick of wins at the backend of last year's with his two best performances coming on good to yielding ground at Killbeggan and Tipperary posting RPR of 142-41 - not so good since on softer ground in deeper races and a return to better ground and up in trip may see this gelding sired by Doctor Dino in a much better light today being out of a useful dam who was a full sister to Fandango 7/25 wins and posted a career best RPR of 140 over 22f.

Dromard is a 5yo gelding trained by Willie Mullins (won this race 8/10 times in recent years) made an impressive debut to win in a canter by 21l and skipped the Festivals for a tilt at this and comes here fresher than most - he's sired by Doctor Dino who is 259/1295 wins with all runners boasting an incredible 20% win strike rate and horses sired by Doctor Dino are 65/177 wins 36.7% win strike rate for Willie Mullins - Dromard has a useful flat pedigree being out of an ordinary dam related to two smart flat horse who has bags of potential Le Miracle 117 and Loup De Mer 112 - Dromard is owned by Dr S P Fitzgerald 28/119 wins an owner who has had plenty of big race successes and another is a highly likely outcome today.

With Nolimit is a 5yo gelding trained by Gordon Elliott won his bumper on second start at Navan then finished a shd runner-up in a Grade 2 at Leopardstown on next start behind stablemate Broadway Ted with Charismatic Kid third who has won since - only beaten 5.25l at Cheltenham behind The Mourne Rambler but raced wide 7f out and the jockey switched him wildly left which took some effort and weakened in the latter stages - a flatter track today and Leopardstown form from the festival in February usually holds up well and With Nolimit may rebound today.

Al Baahy is a 7yo gelding trained by Kevin Frost is a turf winner; two AW classified wins in January; handicaps have been a struggle since but runs off a career low handicap turf mark of 52 and last and only win come off 71 on todays good ground in May 23 and he represents a yard in good form winning with 22-1 Roman Secret and 80-1 Flight Control in rwcents weeks - outside chance!

Nouvotic is a 7yo gelding trained by Henry De Bromhead and ridden by Darragh O'Keeffe is returning from a break having previously been quite progressive winning 3 of his previous 6 starts and is 2/4 wins as a chaser - he is 3/3 wins at Wexford and has some solid course form over hurdles notably at Punchestown last year where he finished 4/25 in today's opener beaten 6.25l and has since proved himself a worthy adversary over the bigger obstacles - on his last start he beat Release The Beast by 1.75l (18l clearly of the third) a horse who has since finished 2/20 at Leopardstown behind the 145 rated Addragoole then finished 4/20 beaten 5.75l in the Grand Annual Chase at the Festival to frank the form - Nouvotic is trip and ground versatile and likely to have more to offer off current mark given his progressive profile and solid form credentials he is one of the stronger candidates in this competitive handicap chase.

Where's My Jet is a 7yo gelding trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Brian Hayes was disappointing at Cheltenham on last start having shown some sort of revival at Leopardstown on previous start in February finishing 6/23 off 133 beaten 10l where he briefly went second just after the last nut weakened in the final 110yds - just 10st 6lb to shoulder today and should give Brian Hayes a good spin around today off his featherweight.

Wonderful Everyday is a 5yo mare trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Mr J L Gleeson has been slightly disappointing since her CD debut win on todays yielding ground winning well having raced towards the rear - she was looking to put a bad run on next start at Huntingdon behind her when beaten as a short priced favourite behind her at Leopardstown when sent off as short as 100-30 for a Grade 2 but was eased down very early in the race as if something was amiss - better at Fairyhouse on last start after a break and a return to Punchestown on todays yielding ground may leave Mr P W Mullins ruing his decision to abandon Wonderful Everyday for the more fancied Willie Mullins trained Glens Anthem.