2:55 Cork – Cayd Boy
All eyes will be on the unbeaten Gibraltar in this race given his connections, but whilst he was impressive at Roscommon last summer on his only hurdles start, he has been off since and the form is nothing out of the ordinary. CAYD BOY has run very well over fences this season and was last seen finishing 3rd to Blue Lord and El Barra, who both placed at the festival last week. He was beaten less than 6-lengths in that Fairyhouse Beginners chase and if he can translate that form back over hurdles, he could easily win a race of this nature. In October 2020 he won a competitive Grade B handicap hurdle at Down Royal and reached a rating of 143 over hurdles following that win, which would leave him very well treated at the weights in this contest. After just 10 starts under rules, he remains unexposed and Liz Doyles 7-year-old could be good value to cause an upset.
2:30 Chepstow – Last of a Legend
When she finished 2nd on debut in an Aintree bumper in October, Harry Fry must have been very excited by the prospect of LAST OF A LEGEND going over hurdles. She was sent off a short price to make a winning debut at Ffos Las a month later but was far too keen to do herself justice and eventually trailed in 13th. Given time off to mature and recover from that effort, she makes her return in a very winnable maiden hurdle and should find this a lot easier than that Ffos Las race. If she can settle better under Bryan Carver, who was also onboard for the Aintree run, then she should find conditions to suit and she may prove to have too much speed for her rivals.
