'Any rain that falls won't inconvenience her and it's a race we like' - analysis and quotes for competitive handicap

Top of the pack on ratings is Paddy Twomey’s Purple Lily, who was third in last year’s Irish Oaks before filling the same place in the Blandford Stakes. She has won twice in six starts, but has yet to break through at stakes level. 

Although this is her reappearance, she has won following breaks before so should be up to the task if she can finish a little more powerfully than she was doing in her races last year. 

There is strong opposition headed by the Willie Mullins-trained Hipop De Loire, who was formerly trained in Germany where he was a winner at Listed level. He's had two runs for his new stable, when he was second in a Galway maiden hurdle last August before going on to finish a fine fifth in the Ebor. He didn't get a clear run that day and would have finished a lot closer with better luck. Often seen staying on well in his races, this trip may be his minimum, albeit he has won over this distance and shorter. 

Triumph Hurdle sixth Hello Neighbour is two from two on the Flat and he returns to the scene of his last win when he comfortably beat Cheeky Wink over 1m2½f last October. Gavin Cromwell’s gelding has since won twice over hurdles at Grade 1 and 2 level as well as finishing third in the Champion Four Year Old Hurdle at Punchestown. It will be interesting to see how he fares back on the Flat.

Going latest

The going was good on Monday following a dry and warm Sunday, but there was the possibility of up to 20mm of rain during the day. It is expected to be mainly dry on raceday with highs of 18C.

What say they

Ross O'Sullivan, trainer of Chally Chute
Hopefully we get a bit of rain because he weren't able to run him a few times due to the ground. It looks a competitive race.

Gavin Cromwell, trainer of Hello Neighbour
He has a bit to find on ratings with a few of them, but he's in good form following a break and hopefully he can run a nice race.

Emmet Mullins, trainer of This Songisforyou
The rain won't help if it comes because he's a good-ground horse. He's entitled to improve from his first run but our main worry is the rain.

Paddy Twomey, trainer of Purple Lily
She's trained well all spring. Any rain that falls won't inconvenience her and it's a race we like because we have won it two out of the last three years so hopefully we can win it again.

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