4.50 Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m

Blue Lemons: Blue Point gelding was pulled up in the Triumph but otherwise blemish-free over hurdles, winning a Gowran maiden and Fairyhouse Grade 2 only 12 days ago. Needs to raise his form another level to win this, though at least is coming here with confidence high.

Ephesus: Should appreciate the dry forecast, on the basis of his Limerick win two starts ago, but work to do after being beaten 12 lengths by Blue Lemons last time.

Hello Neighbour: Two from two on the flat and held the same record over hurdles before being turned over in the Triumph (SP 7/2). Not disgraced at Cheltenham, beaten five and a half lengths in sixth after travelling strongly, but didn’t finish out overly strongly after not meeting the last ideally. Same connections only just touched off in this race last year with Bottler’secret, who hadn’t achieved as much as this candidate.

Larzac: Beaten a short-head by Aintree Grade 1 runner-up Live Conti on his French debut in October before thrown in at the deep end on stable debut in Triumph, where the last of 13 finishers. More of a long-term prospect.

Legionnaire Forez: Runner-up on debut in a French bumper in November and sent off 4/9 favourite for a fairly low-key Fairyhouse maiden hurdle in January when fading badly, beaten 27 lengths in sixth. Hard to make a case for him.

Lulamba: Best of the British-trained juvenile hurdlers this season. It had the feeling of Nicky Henderson’s challenger having his pocket picked in the Triumph when winning the battle with East India Dock only to lose the war to Poniros, beaten a neck in the closing stages when having no real time to fight back. Possible that his Cheltenham conqueror is open to further improvement, given it was only his hurdling debut, but this 148-rated performer has a very solid CV.

Poniros: At the centre of a training performance for the ages when defying a 167-day absence and the fact he’d never previously run over hurdles before to land the Triumph on his stable debut. Talented flat performer obviously capable of naturally improving from that and looks an excellent recruit to this sphere. He won’t have the surprise factor about him this time, however.

Sony Bill: Could only finish mid-field off joint top weight in the Fred Winter, though stablemate Murcia couldn’t cope with the same type of challenge only to win a Grade 1 at Aintree on her next start. Still, this requires a clear career-best.

Too Bossy For Us: Useful flat performer emerged with credit from finishing seventh (beaten 14 and a half lengths) in the Triumph when trying to pull off a ‘Poniros’ on his stable/hurdling debut for Willie Mullins. Capable of raising his game again, so could have place claims at an each-way price.

Lumiere Du Large: French flat winner and hurdles runner-up finished 10th, beaten 37 lengths, in the Triumph. Likely one to watch with a view to next season.

Murcia: Doctor Dino filly was a listed winner over hurdles in France before joining champion trainer but didn’t catch fire immediately on these shores, down the field over Christmas, a better second at Naas behind Bacchanalian before finishing eighth off joint top weight in the Triumph. However, brought form to new level when winning Aintree Grade 1 by six lengths last time. That wasn’t the strongest race for the grade and Paul Townend has hopped off her to ride Poniros but she does follow a similar path to last year’s winner and arrives here at the top of her game.

Sainte Lucie: Looked an exciting juvenile when winning a maiden hurdle here on New Year’s Eve but keenness her undoing at the Dublin Racing Festival when the wheels came off. Beaten 15 lengths when eighth in the Triumph and dropped away off 12st in juvenile fillies’ handicap hurdle at Cheltenham 16 days ago. Others have more convincing profiles.

Conclusion:

The Triumph form from Cheltenham will be strongly examined again, and Lulamba gets the nod to turn the tables on Poniros, being the more experienced challenger who could be seen to better effect in a differently-run race to last time. He got drawn into a scrap earlier than possibly ideal at Cheltenham, and Nicky Henderson has a fine record in this race, seeking a fifth win in it. Watch out for Hello Neighbour possibly being delivered very late, while Murcia is the mare with real momentum behind her.