3.50 IRISH STALLION FARMS EBF MARES CHAMPION HURDLE (GRADE 1) 2M 2F

Aurore D’Estruval: Very useful sort at her best as evidenced by a career high rating of 147 and two listed triumphs. Also took second in last season’s Fighting Fifth Hurdle but has struggled this term and recent efforts leave her well short of the required standard.

Jennies Jewel: Thoroughly likeable mare who was second to Annie Power in this race in 2014 and placed efforts behind the likes of Diamond King and Vroum Vroum Mag this season indicate that she is as good as ever. In the Champion Stayers’ Hurdle here on Thursday, her jumping was uneven early on, but she had every chance between the final two flights and only just lost out to One Track Mind.

Keppols Queen: Lines up as the winner of a pair of Grade 3 contests in mares only company and followed a dominant triumph at Leopardstown at Christmas with a fine sixth to Vroum Vroum Mag at Cheltenham where she was perhaps entitled to finish a little closer. Those last two runs entitle her to respect.

Legacy Gold: High class bumper mare who has posted two commendable efforts since returning from a near two-year absence this season. Chased home Annie Power in a three-runner affair here in February and did better again when finishing an excellent third to Vroum Vroum Mag at Cheltenham. She makes a quick return to the fray following her eighth to One Track Mind on Thursday.

Limini: High-class novie hurdler who made short work of her opponents in a mares’ Grade 2 at Cheltenham last month. Possibly wasn’t at her best against geldings when third to Buveur D’Air in an Aintree Grade 1 last time but she still looks one of the foremost contenders for this prize and expect her to mount a strong challenge for victory.

Pass The Time: Useful nine times winner with a rating of 139 but has often come up short at graded level. Did post a fine effort to take fourth behind Vroum Vroum Mag at Cheltenham but even so another step forward is required for her to get involved here.

Rock On The Moor: Had made up into quite a decent mare over the course of the last 18 months but moved her form on to another level entirely with her 66/1 second to Vroum Vroum Mag at Cheltenham. Dual course winner who comes here in much better form that was the case last year and warrants the utmost respect.

Whiteout: Won a listed contest over this course and distance in November while her second to Identity Thief in a Down Royal Grade 2 and a fifth in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham are other good efforts. A pulled up effort at Aintree last time is best forgotten but her best form still leaves her with a bit to find.

Slowmotion: Promising recruit from France and showed that she had made good progress from her Irish debut to dominate a Fairyhouse Grade 2 over Easter.

This represents another step up the ladder but she looks every inch a filly that can hold her own at the highest level and, with a useful weight for age allowance to aid her cause, a strong challenge should be forthcoming.

VERDICT

Slowmotion looked a potential Grade 1 class mare when running out an impressive winner of a useful contest at Fairyhouse over Easter. She is unquestionably capable of better still and she might be able to upstage the Cheltenham heroine Limini who didn’t look to run up to her best when beaten by the geldings at Aintree earlier in the month. Rock On The Moor’s stable couldn’t be in better form and she could complete the placings.