3.10 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final (Grade 1) 2m 4f 55yds

Braganza: Returned from almost four years away from the track to win a Thurles maiden in November.

Came up short in better company before posting a monster effort at 125/1 to finish fifth in the mares’ novice hurdle at Cheltenham. Respected and an improved round of jumping would make her interesting.

Brandy Love: Very talented mare but her tendency to jump markedly left in a Grade 3 at this track in January played its part in her being beaten 3½l into second by Allegorie De Vassy.

In terms of ability and talent, she is one of the foremost contenders for this prize, but the manner in which she jumped left here last time is a concern.

Derrylinda: Has run to a very solid level in two of her three runs over hurdles and certainly has more to offer in this sphere but she is going to have to progress on her efforts to date.

Dinoblue: Looked a top-notch mare when winning a Clonmel maiden by 15l in January.

Went off a worthy favourite for the Mares’ Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham but weakened out of contention before the last and had to settle for ninth. She is surely better than that and could easily bounce back.

Grangee: Decent mare who did best of the Irish contingent when third to Love Envoi at Cheltenham last month (beaten less than 3l).

Can easily progress further over hurdles and the step up in trip could really suit one of the strongest contenders in the line up.

Hors Piste: Showed reasonable form over similar trips to this on her first two runs and then probably ran better than her final position would suggest when eighth to Love Envoi at Cheltenham.

Isn’t one to rule out especially with the step up to this trip likely to work in her favour.

Impervious: Ran a creditable sixth to Love Envoi at Cheltenham on her first start for well over three months.

Could easily do better again when one considers her first two victories were achieved over 2m 3f and 2m 4f and she is one of the few graded race winners in the line up. Leading contender.

Kilbarry Chloe: Useful mare who ran to a very solid level in bumpers and hurdles. Won a maiden at Wexford on her first outing over timber and then landed a 2m 6f Grade 3 at Limerick last time. She might want slower ground.

Love Envoi: Unbeaten in six starts on the track, culminating in that fine success at Cheltenham last month. Returns to a trip that is likely to suit her better than the extended 2m of Cheltenham and represents a yard that won this race seven years ago. The one to beat.

Lunar Display: Dependable mare who won a listed race at Thurles in December having beaten Queens Brook at Wexford earlier in the season, while she looked unlucky not to add to her haul when second in a listed event at Navan in February. Each-way prospects.

Mi Lighthouse: Took advantage of La Prima Donna’s exit to register an easy win at Limerick and followed that with a Grade 3 second back there last month. Could easily progress again but others in the line make more appeal.

My Design: Gained a deserved success here in January and reached the frame in a Navan listed event but was since well held in a Grade 3 at Limerick and must do better here.

Night And Day: Half-sister to Supasundae from a terrific family and showed promise to reach the frame in three of her four flat starts in France. Hasn’t run for close to two years but that isn’t a concern and fascinating that she is starting off at this level.

Reine Machine: Bounced back to form to defeat subsequent winner Hollymount in a Leopardstown maiden over this trip last month. This is much tougher and others make more appeal.

Say Goodbye: Has just a Bellewstown maiden hurdle win to her name but has held her own in some decent races since. A creditable second to Party Central in a valuable mares’ handicap hurdle at Leopardstown two months ago. Will enjoy this trip but needs a career best to feature.

Statuaire: Progressed from her smart summer form to win the Grade 1 Royal Bond in late November but hasn’t been able to sustain that progress and was beaten just under 18l into 10th by Love Envoi at Cheltenham.

Conclusion

Love Envoi bested a powerful Irish contingent at Cheltenham and now steps up to a trip that should suit her even better than that extended 2m.

She looks the one to beat and she is preferred to Grangee who is marginally preferred to Brandy Love and Dinoblue as the pick of the eight Willie Mullins runners. Impervious and Lunar Display are others that can run well.