BALLYFAD

Whether Ballyfad goes for the Supreme or the Turners will depend on ground conditions. I would say it is more than likely he will go for the Turners. Ballyfad was very good the last day at Leopardstown [beaten by a nose by Talk The Talk over two miles]. He thought he won. The extra half mile of the Turners will suit him well. It is a fairly deep race this with I’ll Sort That and No Drama This End. Doctor Steinberg (Willie Mullins) showed so much speed at Leopardstown that I wouldn’t be surprised if he showed up here.

BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD

Hopefully it will be third time lucky for her at Cheltenham. She’s in good form, Gordon is happy with her and all so far, so good. If the real mare gets there, she has a big chance in the Champion Hurdle.

PREDATORS GOLD

I would say he will go for the Brown Advisory where he will be a big price. He has run twice over fences, winning well the first day from Slade Steel but the second day he was flat [when third to Kappa Jy Pyke]. We are hoping he bounced.

FAVORI DE CHAMPDOU

He was impressive at Cheltenham [won over the cross-country course there in January] but he beat a load of ordinary yokes and got 8lb for his trouble, which probably cost him this race and the Grand National! The better the ground comes, the more it will suit Conflated who is getting 15lb off him.

JALON D’OUDAIRIES

This is a high-class horse who had a setback and missed a full season having finished third in the 2024 Festival Bumper. He was very good the last day [won a Naas maiden hurdle by 27 lengths]. He might go for the Turners but I would say we are leaning towards the Albert Bartlett. He is smart. Road Exile is a fine, big horse. I am told that he will definitely get three miles, so he has a chance too. I know the favourite Doctor Steinberg was very impressive at Leopardstown but surely he shows too much speed for three miles.

OTHER RUNNERS

Croke Park is a Grade 1 winner in a handicap [entered in Ultima and Plate]. He needs a bit of better ground so hopefully that could bring about improvement in him. Storm Heart would have more chance in the Coral Cup than the County Hurdle which would probably be too fast for him.

The Irish Avatar and Keep Him Company will run in the Bumper and we will run one other, either Charismatic Kid or With Nolimit.

Barbizon goes into the Fred Winter a little under the radar and we also run Mon Creuset in the Triumph. He is about 50/1 (has since been backed into 12/1). He was running a super race until the second-last at Naas and nearly fell but still ran on to be fourth. He would have won a minute.

Last year Willie Mullins ran 11 horses in the Triumph, a few of them were making their hurdling debuts including the winner, Poniros. So the BHA changed the rule and now all runners must have had at least one previous run over hurdles. Willie has had about 10 this year having had one run and they will all run in the Triumph Hurdle!

Eddie O’Leary was speaking at a preview night at Mernagh’s Bar in Oylegate, Co Wexford, last Friday. The event was in aid of Spina Bifida Centre, Wexford and Child Vision Jack de Bromhead Centre in Drumcondra