3.35 Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m

Colonel Mustard: Very useful sort who was Grade 1-placed last season and also showed good form to chase home Jonbon at Ascot in December. Fully deserves to take his place in the line-up and has solid each way claims.

El Fabiolo: Shaped up nicely on his only start in France and made a very taking start to his career in Ireland when bolting up in a 2m maiden hurdle at Tramore on New Year’s Day.

He is taking a huge step up in class for this, but that Tramore effort suggested he was a novice with graded potential at the very least. A strong showing looks entirely likely.

Farout: Turned in a disappointing effort at Listowel but has since bounced back with two solid Grade 1 efforts, the later of which yielded a third to Mighty Potter and Three Stripe Life here at Christmas, and another solid showing in defeat looks entirely possible.

Gatsby Grey: Looked a nice type when winning a Navan bumper on his debut in March and returned with a victory in a Limerick maiden hurdle over Christmas when he again won in the style of a decent sort.

Still looks open to any amount of progress and interesting that he is pitched in at this level but others boast more obvious claims.

My Mate Mozzie: Started off the season in fine style with his efforts yielding a maiden win at Punchestown and a Grade 3 triumph at Navan before he was beaten by just a short-head in the Royal Bond.

He commands due consideration on his return from a mid-season break, but further progress is required for his stiffest test to date.

Sir Gerhard: Outstanding horse in bumpers last season when his form was headed by a victory over Kilcruit at Cheltenham. Returned to the fray with a commanding maiden hurdle success over this course and distance at Christmas and appeals as one of the most exciting novices in training this season. Furthermore, he could improve any amount from his comeback and he is hard to look past.

Three Stripe Life: Nice type who was fourth to Sir Gerhard at Cheltenham and looks like being just as good as a hurdler on the evidence of his second to Mighty Potter in a Grade 1 here at Christmas when he possibly didn’t get the run of the race.

Should be sharper as a result of that effort and has the capacity to run a big race.

Watch House Cross: Looked a nice type in point-to-points and confirmed that impression with a successful racecourse debut at Christmas when he landed a useful looking four-year-old maiden hurdle.

This is an altogether different challenge though and there appear to be more obvious contenders in the line-up.

Statuaire: Looked good when winning a couple of times during the summer and then showed herself to be a mare of real quality when edging out My Mate Mozzie to win the Royal Bond on her most recent start. This is a better race, but further progress can’t be ruled out.

Sir Gerhard was an outstanding bumper horse last season and his first run over hurdles was full of potential. He could improve any amount from that comeback effort and can cement his position as one of the most exciting novice hurdlers around.

Three Stripe showed up well here at Christmas while leaving the impression that he could progress again and he might give the selection most to do along with the impressive Tramore winner El Fabiolo.