THE two mile handicap hurdle is the least prestigious of the four races from Leopardstown this afternoon covered live on RTÉ, but it might prove the best race to target when trying to find a decent-priced winner. When Joshua Lane finished third - beaten just over three lengths - in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, connections would have been forgiven for dreaming of big days ahead over hurdles with the son of Gamut.

Five runs in maiden hurdles without success paints a very disappointing picture, but he might be able to put things right in just his second handicap run today. His first was a perfectly acceptable fourth at Naas, so much so that he was raised 2lbs for the effort. That should have left him spot on for a race of this nature and when you consider that he is rated some 25lbs plus below two of his immediate victims at Cheltenham over hurdles, namely Black Hercules and Killultagh Vic, he could be very well treated here. Owner J.P. McManus is chasing his third successive win in todays’ race whilst trainer Eddie Harty is seeking a double following his win in the race with Sort It Out last year.