2m1½f (2m1f156y) Irish Stallion Farms EBF Paddy Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) (4yo+)
This race has become a breeding ground for Cheltenham Festival winners, particularly for the Coral Cup (for older horses) and Mares’ Novice Hurdle (for novices). Party Central, the fav, fits the bill of the young improving novice that can win or place in this en route to Festival success, but she’s well found in the market and there are others with similar profiles. I like her stablemate GLAN‘s chances as she motored home from a poor position last time out and looked at home on decent ground. I think she has improved past Sit Down Lucy on that evidence and will appreciate the extra furlong here. LUNAR DISPLAY is another novice with classy form amongst many of the Festival’s Grade 1 novice hurdle protagonists, and her consistent and improving profile gives her a shout here. She conceded 7lb and was beaten 6l by Allegory De Vassy last time out and that’s looking like the best of the form on offer for the Mares’ Novice in March.
1pt win Glan @11/2, 12:45 Leopardstown, Sunday
1pt win Lunar Display @8/1, 12:45 Leopardstown, Sunday