Stick with Luska Lad
The six-year-old is the winner of four bumpers, but has not threatened to hit any great heights over flights.
He won moderate enough contests at Galway and Gowran Park, but was found badly wanting in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown at Christmas. The selection ran prominently for much of the trip, but was outclassed in the straight, finishing just under nine lengths fourth behind Hollo Ladies.
This represents a sizeable drop in class, however, and Luska Lad has plenty going for him against these six rivals.
On Saturday the Grade 2 Woodlands Park 100 Club Novice Chase was set to attract six runners, but that has now been reduced to four.
The main protagonists have stood their ground, however, and Alpha Ridge, in the hope he puts his best foot forward, again gets the vote.
He is the most talented in the contest and his second to Pandorama in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse is easily the best form any of them carry into the race.
The worry, though, is that Alpha Ridge performed dismally behind Pandorama at Leopardstown in the meantime, notwithstanding the fact he did blunder six out.
De Valira had Muirhead half a length behind when fourth and fifth respectively behind Solwhit in the Grade 1 December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown and they meeet again on the same terms in the Limestone Lad Hurdle.
That was a below-par effort on the part of Muirhead and he is readily preferred. Noel Meade’s gelding performed much better previously when runner-up behind Solwhit in another Grade 1 at Punchestown.
