'She was in season at Navan and is back in great form now' - can Jetara repeat the feat in red-hot Grade 3?

Let's Dance won back-to-back runnings of this Grade 3 in 2016 and 2017 and Jetara is out to do likewise, after running out a wide-margin winner 12 months ago under Jack Kennedy. 

This time Donagh Meyler takes over in the saddle and he was on board when she landed a Listed race at Limerick in October. Her official rating of 145 is at least 5lb clear of everything else, she has three cracking runs to her name at the track, and even receives weight from Kala Conti, so what's not to like?

Her recent effort against the geldings in the Lismullen Hurdle is the problem. She was beaten on the home turn that day at Navan and finished almost 26 lengths back in fifth despite being a well-backed 2-1 second favourite. Jessica Harrington has revealed her mare was in season that day, so she can be forgiven. 

Willie Mullins has farmed this race in the last decade, winning it six times since 2016 and is triple-handed this year with Lot Of Joy, Risk Belle and Got Glory. 

Paul Townend has picked Lot Of Joy ahead of Got Glory, hardly surprising since she is on a hat-trick and was visually very impressive when making all to land a Listed event at Punchestown last month. She is now up to a mark of 135, but that still leaves her 10lb short of Jetara and receives only 3lb. 

The Henry de Bromhead duo are very interesting. July Flower is back with him, having been blossoming in France. Her latest effort there for Mickael Seror was a close-up third behind Losange Bleu and Hewick in the French Champion Hurdle in May. That is arguably the best piece of form on offer. 

Stablemate Hispanic Moon would have solid claims, too, if returning to the form of her Grade 3 win at Punchestown in February, but she would surely prefer more testing conditions. 

World Of Fortunes might be only a novice, but she has come a long way in a very short space of time and it would be foolish to underestimate her, given she has her optimum conditions. 

Jetara is probably the percentage call, but July Flower is extremely dangerous and could be a cut above this lot if bringing her French Champion Hurdle form to the table on this quicker surface. 

What they say 

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Kala Conti
I'd say she bumped into a very good horse at Fairyhouse. She has a bit to find on ratings and has to give weight away to the field, but she's a lovely filly, who is very consistent and always runs her race. I'm expecting another good run.

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Jetara
She's back in great form again now. She was completely flat at Navan, but she was in season that day, so we had an excuse for it. I'm delighted with her again and she won the race last year, so we're looking forward to seeing how she gets on.

Liam Kenny, trainer of World Of Fortunes
She's a novice stepping into open company, and she doesn't even have a novice allowance, but she likes good ground and the only place she's going to get that at this time of the year is Leopardstown. She seems to be in great form and this will tell us where we stand with her.

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