Has won his last two chases, following a Sligo success with a Class 1 win at Punchestown on 14 October, where he finished 13 lengths ahead of Sir Allen. Those efforts give him strong recent claims, and the move up a furlong and a half from Punchestown is supported by his Sligo win over two miles five furlongs. Both chase wins came on good ground, whereas today's going is yielding, though he has won over hurdles on yielding to soft. Jack Kennedy has ridden five winners from 18 mounts in the past fortnight.

Comes here on the back of chase wins at Galway in July and Gowran Park in October, form which makes him a serious contender. The Gowran Park success came in Class 1 company over today's two and a half miles, with Vicar Street three quarters of a length behind. He also finished five and a half lengths ahead of Love Me Tender at Galway, giving him direct form against two of these rivals. Daniel King knows Cork well, with nine winners from 103 rides here, and that course experience is a useful asset.

His Class 1 hurdle second at Cheltenham in March, beaten a length and a half over three miles on soft ground, gives him plenty of ability to bring to fences. He was less effective at Punchestown on 29 April, finishing fourth over three miles on yielding ground and beaten 19 lengths. After 186 days away, he returns over two and a half miles, a drop of half a mile from that latest hurdle run. Darragh O'Keeffe has ridden four winners from 21 mounts in the past fortnight, providing a positive for his return.

Won over hurdles at Punchestown in January and went close at Leopardstown in February, finishing second by a length and three quarters on heavy ground. He was third over three miles on yielding ground at Punchestown on 29 April, beaten 12 and a half lengths, so brings useful hurdle form. He tackles fences over two and a half miles after 186 days away, half a mile shorter than his latest hurdle trip. His sibling Thickthorn Tom has won four chases, offering some family encouragement for his prospects over the larger obstacles.

Won over fences at Listowel on 24 September over two miles six furlongs on good ground, giving him a positive result to build on. Today's two and a half miles presents a slightly different test, with the trip two furlongs shorter than at Listowel. He had finished fourth behind Frankie John at Galway in July, beaten five and a half lengths, so needs to turn that form around. Willie Mullins has an excellent Cork record, with 179 winners at the course, which adds encouragement as he tackles this novice chase.

Finished second to Chanceawetmorning in a Class 1 chase at Punchestown on 14 October, but was beaten 13 lengths and needs to close that gap. His Gowran Park chase win earlier in October came over today's two and a half miles, making the extra furlong and a half from Punchestown a reasonable move. The going is yielding here, compared with good to yielding for that success, while he also has a hurdle win on yielding ground. A. Slattery has had five winners from 34 runners in the past fortnight.

His second to Frankie John at Gowran Park on 3 October came over today's two and a half miles in Class 1 company. Beaten three quarters of a length on good to yielding, he has little ground to make up on that rival. He had previously won a Galway chase over two miles six and a half furlongs in July, so his recent form combines success and a narrow defeat. Willie Mullins has saddled 179 winners at Cork and brings considerable course experience to this novice event.

Won a chase over two miles four and a half furlongs at Clonmel on soft ground in March, showing ability around today's distance. She followed that with second at Fairyhouse, but her third at Punchestown on 29 April came 21 lengths behind the winner on yielding ground. She returns after 186 days away and drops half a furlong from that Punchestown trip, needing a stronger performance than she produced there. Her Class 1 chase second at Exeter in February 2025, beaten a length on good to soft, shows she can be competitive at this level.