Jer's Girl returns to action in Lismullen Hurdle

Jer's Girl, who finished off last season with wide-margin victories in novice hurdles at the Fairyhouse and Punchestown festivals, makes her reappearance as the only four-year-old taking on older rivals in the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle.

When she beat O O Seven by ten lengths at Punchestown she was the only one of her age group in the line-up and speaking yesterday Gavin Cromwell said: "She's in great nick. She's fit and well and ready to start her season. But it's often tough for four-year-olds stepping out of novice grade at this time of the year, so we're just hoping for a good performance."

Shaneshill, absent since running top American hurdler Rawnaq close in a Grade 1 event in the US in May, is the highest-rated in the line-up and Willie Mullins said of the versatile seven-year-old: "He's in good form and is well-treated by the conditions of the race, so we're hoping for a good run. He could mix it between hurdles and fences as he did last year."

Gordon Elliott provides five of the eight runners with the in-form De Plotting Shed, who completed a hat-trick at Naas a week ago, heading his quintet which also includes Dedigout, winner of the race three years ago.

Elliott said: "De Plotting Shed is going up in class but he's been doing everything right recently and we thought he deserved a shot at this race. We want to see more rain for Dedigout as he needs it really soft. Ucello Conti and Noble Endeavour are both coming back from long breaks and will be going back chasing while Taglietelle has lost his way a bit.

Snow Falcon represents Noel Meade who said: "He's in great form and although he's a bit wrong with a few of them at the weights, we decided to let him take his chance."

Meade's Le Martalin and the Elliott-trained Labaik, who was ridden to a 14 length win by Sheikh Fahad Al Thani in a charity race at Leopardstown last month, clash in the Grade 3 For Auction Novice Hurdle.

"Labaik is in great form and has been working very well. I hope there will be plenty of pace on," said Elliott. "We also run Mick Jazz who won an ordinary maiden hurdle at Clonmel. This will be a lot tougher for him."

"Meade said of Le Martalin, an impressive 17 length winner on his hurdling debut at Galway last month: "He's a horse we like a lot. He was very good at Galway and is in great form."

The Karl Thornton-trained Wakea, a nine length winner of a handicap at Down Royal eight days ago, is on a hurdles hat-trick while Jaime Sommers, the only four-year-old in the five runner line-up, represents Michael Bowe.