This will tell us whether to go for the Stayers' or Pertemps' - analysis and key quotes for the Grade 2 Galmoy Hurdle

For just the third time in 20 years, the Grade 2 John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle boasts a double-digit field and rates a tricky puzzle to solve but Buddy One seems the one to side with if the return to hurdles can bring a return to his best.

The eight-year-old was unlucky not to land a big one for Paul Gilligan last season, running an admirable race when fourth to Teahupoo in the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham before running a belter to finish runner-up to Strong Leader at Aintree when he ran out of steam late on having taken up the lead a long way out in a strongly run race.

He ran a similar race at Punchestown when beaten seven lengths into fourth by Teahupoo to cap off an excellent campaign. Asterion Forlonge finished three-quarters of a length ahead of him that day but Buddy One was arriving on the back of two huge efforts at Cheltenham and Aintree and his run just flattened out late on.

Chasing hasn't gone to plan this season but there's little to suggest he has regressed, especially given he's only eight. Based on his efforts at the spring festivals last season, he is the most likely winner and looks excellent value at 4-1 or bigger.

Hiddenvalley Lake was just half a length behind Buddy One in third at Aintree last season and started off his campaign with a promising second to Crambo in the Long Walk at Ascot despite the ground being livelier than he'd want.

He's going the right way for the Henry de Bromhead stable and is still quite lightly raced so is an obvious candidate who would relish any further rain.

Asterion Forlonge's form can be volatile and, while the pick of last season's form puts him in the mix, he underperformed in the Savills Hurdle at Christmas. He tends to come forward plenty for his early season outings but he found little on the front-end that day despite being well positioned on a sedate pace.

Asterion Forlonge: not a model of consistencyCredit: Caroline Norris

Sandor Clegane travelled like the winner for much of the way in that race but his finishing effort left a bit to be desired. He has claims if building on that but a better option may be Rocky's Diamond, who stayed on encouragingly to finish third, four lengths ahead of Sandor Clegane.

He  is unexposed, has form at the track and is progressing at a rate of knots in a division where no one sets an insurmountable standard.

What they say

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Maxxum and Beacon Edge
Maxxum has a high rating now so it's hard for him in handicaps off big weights. I thought he ran very well at Leopardstown over Christmas in a competitive handicap. This looked the logical place to come. Beacon Edge has been a great servant over the years and I'm sure he'll run his race again. He never lets us down in this sort of grade and just found the Grade 1 a bit hot last time at Leopardstown.

Willie Mullins, trainer of Asterion Forlonge
It's a tall order and he's hard to place. I'd be delighted if he finished in the first four.

Paul Gilligan, trainer of Buddy One
He seems good. It's an open race and on his day he's as good as any of them.

Mouse Morris, trainer of Franciscan Rock
He promised a lot as a novice and ran well in some good Graded races. He’s in a ball park now where we need to find out where to go and this race will tell us whether to go for the Pertemps or the Stayers’ Hurdle. We'll learn a lot from this.

Paul Nolan, trainer of Sandor Clegane
He ran well the last day, but it looked like he didn't quite stay. He travelled very well and you'd say there was no way he would only end up fourth when he turned in. We would have to consider dropping him back in trip if he doesn’t hit the line better here. There's always the option to go back over fences with him as well.

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