17:30 McGrath Limestone Works Handicap Hurdle

Race preview

ZOFFANIEN had a near-miss at Cork recently and can win. A dual French flat winner, he has done well over hurdles and having run well in the Fred Winter Hurdle at Cheltenham, was an unlucky loser at Cork, arriving from well off the pace before fluffing the final flight and failing by a short-head. He is 4lbs higher but is ground-versatile and being a 4yo, is progressing. Ujumpthelastuwin put paid to Jonathan Moore's Cheltenham prospects when falling at Naas but should provide the jockey with a good spin today. His recent chase form has been good and while he contests his first handicap, did win his last hurdle outing in March 2020, although he might ideally prefer soft ground. Stablemate Wolf Prince met trouble in-running when well beaten in the County Hurdle last time and while he has shown smart form in four career runs in Graded races, has enough on his plate under top weight. Bythesametoken has won three handicaps, including at Wexford last-time and while he now competes from a career high mark and wouldn't like the ground too fast, comes here in excellent form. Ballywilliam Boy showed improvement when winning at Naas in March and while he would prefer easy ground, the Naas runner-up won subsequently and Ballywilliam Boy is again ridden by his 7lbs claimer, as he drops slightly in trip.