Freedom a high-class recruit to jumping
He has some cracking runs on the flat to his credit, including a latest effort when beaten about two and a half lengths into fourth in the Listed event won by Zanughan at Galway.
This is a gentle introduction for Jessica Harrington’s five-year-old, who will surely go off at cramped odds.
Accordingly, the nap vote falls on another of Harrington’s inmates, Takeyourcapoff, in the Solheim Cup Raceday Hurdle.
Rather remarkably the ground is set to ride on the quick side and that is ideal for the daughter of King’s Theatre, who was far too good for subsequent winner, Royal Choice, at Tramore last time.
Dessie Hughes’ Mackeys Forge is the one for the future, rounding off last season with a career-best effort when beaten a short head by Lambro in a Grade 2 on this track in April over two and a half miles.
But this will be first outing of the campaign and, as he shapes like a thorough stayer, two miles round here may be on the sharp side.
Only six are set to face the starter in the Irish Stallion Owners’ EBF Novice Hurdle, but it is still a very tricky contest.
Only Rockofinspiration, one hopes, can be safely dismissed as a possible winner, with the final nod falling on Willie Mullins’ Pickapocketortwo.
The bare form of his success over Share Wood at Sligo is modest, but he did travel and jump quite beautifully that day.
Pickapocketortwo has been given plenty of time to mature and dropping down half a mile in trip now may well work in his favour.
