2.30 Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle 2m 3f 130y

Ashdale Bob: Consistent type who finished third in strongly run Lismullen Hurdle on his comeback at Navan. He has the scope to kick on from that but might just be caught for a bit of class here, with three miles his likely best avenue for a Grade 1 breakthrough.

Darver Star: Champion Hurdle placer is back to winning ways again having lost his way over hurdles and fences. That said he has done his winning at a much lower level to this and substantially more is required now, for all that the track, ground and trip will suit.

Klassical Dream: Multiple Grade 1 winner over three miles but is intriguing now dropping back in trip, having won at the top level over two miles as a novice. This is probably the best time to get him, given how well he has performed off long breaks for the last two seasons and he has also been the subject of positive reports from the Mullins yard this week.

Saldier: Looks a little short of Grade 1 level these days and no real reason why he should improve on his well-held fifth placing in this race last season.

Sire Du Berlais: Brilliant servant but usually does his best work in the spring and over three miles. He should strip fitter now for his comeback run (20-length fifth in Lismullen Hurdle) but later targets are likely to hold more weight.

Teahupoo: Emerged as Champion Hurdle contender when running out emphatic winner of Grade 3 Red Mills at Gowran last February. However he was well found out at Cheltenham. Still a young horse who has the scope to improve but heavy or soft ground is probably important to him.

Echoes In Rain: Got closer than any horse did to Honeysuckle last season when only beaten three lengths at Punchestown. She has since improved her rating 20lb on the flat, winning the Connacht Hotel Handicap at Galway before finishing third in the Irish Cesarewitch. With that experience, she may settle better over this trip, which has been her undoing before, and that makes her an interesting proposition.

Honeysuckle: Consistently top class last season when bringing her unbeaten record to 16, and often giving the impression she was just doing what she had to once hitting the front. She will be nine next month, so it’s hard to imagine she is getting any better but even a level below her standard last season can see her land this for a record-breaking fourth time.

Conclusion

It’s hard to see past Honeysuckle, though there is always a doubt with top class horses returning for their seasonal debut, A Plus Tard being a prime example. Klassical Dream could run very well while Echoes In Rain is interesting over this trip, especially if she can settle better for Patrick Mullins. She can give the history-seeker the most to do.