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

Fil Dor: Very likeable type who started his season with a series of assured wins before having to settle for second behind Vauban at both Leopardstown and Cheltenham.

On both occasions he ran with huge credit and he is one of the best juveniles around, but Vauban looks to hold the aces once more.

Hms Seahorse: Capable flat maiden who has taken well to hurdles. Followed two good maiden runs with a win at Fairyhouse a couple of months ago and then ran a fine fourth to Brazil at Cheltenham.

Can do better again over timber but has to find plenty for this level of competition.

Il Etait Temps: Was a huge eyecatcher on his Irish debut when finishing third to Vauban and Fil Dor in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown over two months ago. Didn’t quite match that form in the Triumph and now has a bit to find with his aforementioned opponents.

Man O Work: Very likeable type who has won two of his four starts over hurdles and defeated a subsequent listed runner-up (Instit) when scoring on heavy ground at Limerick last month. Very capable sort with the potential to do better again.

Vauban: Comes here looking for a Grade 1 hat-trick and is unquestionably the best juvenile of the season.

Has beaten Fil Dor at Leopardstown and Cheltenham (scoring with something to spare on both occasions) and that rival is once again his foremost threat but another top-level victory should be in the offing.

Innatendue: Has run well on both her starts for her connections, notably when second to Iberique Du Seuil in a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse over Easter, but this will require a good deal more and she could find a few of these too strong.

Conclusion

Vauban is the star juvenile hurdler of the season and it will be a surprise if he meets with defeat even though Fil Dor is a classy and respected opponent would be a deserving Grade 1 winner in his own right. Il Etait Temps looks the other one to focus on.