Paul Nolan has had two winners from ten runners in the past fortnight, giving Factor Five some encouragement from the stable for this maiden hurdle. Eoin Staples has also ridden a winner during that period and brings winning experience at Fairyhouse to the saddle. The three-year-old is by Vekoma out of Striking Bella and faces a two-mile test on good ground.

Finished fourth over hurdles at Punchestown on 13 October, but a 16-length deficit means the placing needs treating with caution when assessing his chance here. That race was over two miles on good ground, matching today's trip and going, so he needs to improve his performance under similar conditions. Padraig Roche's 14 Fairyhouse winners from 80 runners offer some encouragement, and Mahzuz returns just 21 days after gaining that relevant experience over hurdles.

A close fourth at Tramore on 15 August, beaten a length and three quarters over a mile and four furlongs, gives him a sound Flat performance to build on. He had also finished second over a mile and four furlongs and 65 yards at Limerick in July, four lengths behind the winner on good ground. Those efforts offer encouragement for two miles over hurdles, although the extra distance still asks more of his stamina after an 80-day absence. Henry de Bromhead and Darragh O'Keeffe have combined for four winners from 16 runners in the past fortnight, adding a positive from the partnership.

Won over a mile and two furlongs on heavy ground at Navan in March, giving him a clear piece of winning Flat form to bring to hurdles. His latest effort was less persuasive, finishing 11th at Galway on 27 July, beaten ten and three quarter lengths over a mile and four and a half furlongs. Today's two miles extends him by three and a half furlongs from that run, with a 99-day absence adding another question to this different test. Gavin Cromwell and Keith Donoghue have combined for four winners from 15 runners in the past fortnight, lending encouragement from the partnership's recent form.

No positives or concerns have been published for this runner.

Finished ninth at Dundalk on 15 August, beaten 12 lengths over a mile and two and a half furlongs on the Flat, leaving substantial improvement required. His July defeat at Bellewstown on good ground was also well short of a competitive effort, so today's going alone offers no obvious solution. He returns after 80 days away for a two-mile hurdle, a significantly longer test than his August assignment and one that asks more of his stamina. Zoustar has sired hurdle winners on good ground, providing a little encouragement for the discipline despite the doubts raised by his own recent performances.

Finished sixth at Dundalk on 25 September, beaten eight and a half lengths over six furlongs on the Flat, leaving improvement necessary here. His fourth at Down Royal in June 2025, a length and a quarter behind the winner over five furlongs, showed some ability at sprint distances. Two miles over hurdles presents a very different test, and his fifth over a mile at Bellewstown in August offers limited reassurance about stamina. Ben Kennedy has ridden a winner from three mounts in the past fortnight, providing a modest positive from a small sample.

Her fourth at Galway on 31 July, beaten three and a quarter lengths over a mile and half a furlong, showed some ability on the Flat. Two September ninths were less encouraging, including a defeat of 14 and a half lengths over a mile and two furlongs at the Curragh on heavy ground. Today's two miles over hurdles demands more stamina than those runs established, so she needs to find something extra for the change of discipline. Paul Nolan has had two winners from ten runners in the past fortnight, providing some encouragement from the stable's recent results.

Has shown some ability on the Flat, finishing half a length second at Leopardstown in June and fourth over a mile on good ground at Navan in August. Her latest outing brought sixth at Roscommon on 12 October, beaten seven and a quarter lengths over seven and a half furlongs on soft ground. Today's two-mile hurdle test places a much greater emphasis on stamina than that recent Flat assignment. Galileo Gold has sired hurdle winners on good ground, offering some qualified encouragement for her prospects in these conditions.

Her fifth at Naas on 11 October, beaten four and three quarter lengths over a mile and two and a half furlongs, was a respectable Flat effort. She also finished second over a mile and six furlongs at Galway in July, although the 12-length margin tempers the strength of that placing. That experience over longer Flat trips gives her something to draw on for this two-mile hurdle, rather than making stamina an entirely open question. Gavin Cromwell has sent out six winners from 44 runners in the past fortnight, offering a further positive as she tackles this different assignment.

Finished tenth over hurdles at Listowel on 20 September, beaten 43 and a half lengths over the same two-mile trip and on good ground, which leaves her with plenty to find here. Her subsequent seventh on the Flat at Thurles over a mile and four and a half furlongs offered little encouragement, finishing 12 and three quarters of a length behind. She had also finished well behind on the Flat at Roscommon in August. Daniel King has gone without a winner from 24 rides during the past fortnight.

Finished 14th at Thurles on 8 October, beaten 45 and a half lengths over a mile and four and a half furlongs on the Flat. That leaves her with plenty to prove over hurdles, with today's two miles asking a different question from the shorter distances of her recent Flat races. Paul Nolan's two winners from ten runners in the past fortnight offer some encouragement that the yard is in reasonable shape. Her sire Kodi Bear has produced hurdle winners on good ground, giving qualified encouragement for this assignment despite her disappointing October effort.

Finished second in a Class 5 Flat race at Southwell on 5 July, beaten five and a half lengths over a mile and six furlongs and 21 yards. Her March third at Kempton, a length and a half behind the winner in Class 3 company, also gives her some ability to bring to hurdles. She returns after 121 days away, with that longer-distance Flat experience offering encouragement for the demands of this two-mile test over hurdles. Padraig Roche and Peter Smithers have combined for three Fairyhouse winners from ten runners, a positive course record from relatively few opportunities.

Her fifth at Navan on 16 May came with a deficit of 47 and a half lengths over a mile and five furlongs on the Flat. She returns after 171 days away to tackle two miles over hurdles, needing a substantial step forward from that disappointing effort on yielding ground. Poet's Word has sired hurdle winners on good ground, which offers some encouragement for today's conditions without resolving the doubts raised by her own form. Phillip Enright brings considerable Fairyhouse experience to the saddle, although translating that assistance into a competitive performance remains a demanding task for this filly.