Can Joseph O'Brien land another valuable handicap hurdle with an unexposed four-year-old?

Joseph O'Brien has already won the richest handicap hurdle in Ireland this year with a four-year-old thanks to Nurburgring's runaway Galway Hurdle success and now the trainer has his eyes on another big prize with one of his smart juveniles from last season.

Intellotto has won two of his four outings over hurdles and was considered good enough to have a crack at Sir Gino and Kargese in a Grade 1 at Aintree's Grand National meeting.

He proved no match for Sir Gino there, but these are much shallower waters and this will be his first handicap hurdle on the back of some really solid efforts in Flat handicaps over the summer. The best of those was when he was beaten only three-quarters of a length in a blanket finish to a premier handicap on Irish Derby day at the Curragh. He has a touch of class for a trainer who has won this race twice since 2018.

The problem for Intellotto is the fact he has to concede lumps of weight away to most of his rivals and having to give an in-form filly like Kimy 25lb might be beyond him.

Kimy never let the 108-rated Picture Of You, sent off 30-100 favourite, land a glove on her in a maiden hurdle at Tramore eight days ago and she shaped as though she was still improving. She has three lengths to find with the consistent Pigeon House from their recent Ballinrobe clash, but she had to do all the donkey work and may be able to reverse the form.

Pinot Gris, a smart 82-rated middle-distance handicapper on the Flat, scored snugly in a maiden hurdle at Bellewstown in April and a hurdles mark of 117 looks fair. Add in Conor Stone-Walsh's 5lb claim and it is hard to rule him out of the equation.

Rauzan is on a roll and chasing a five-timer. His mark has soared from 93 to 127 in less than four months and the way in which he won at Tramore would suggest his winning sequence might not be coming to an end any time soon. The handicapper has shovelled on another 9lb since then and this is a much hotter heat, however.

Others to note are St Faz and Eagles Reign, who was runner-up in the Boodles at Cheltenham at 80-1 but seems best on heavy ground. Both could have something to offer off their marks if things fall right for them.

What they say

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Intellotto and Jeaniemacaroney
Intellotto comes back over hurdles after a below-par effort last time on the Flat. He's fit and well. Jeaniemacaroney has been running consistently well and she's been good since she ran the other day at Laytown.

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Pigeon House
He would ideally prefer a bit further, but hopefully the rain will get into the ground and turn it into a bit of a test. He handles soft ground, so that's no problem, and they should go quick up front, which will play into his hands. He's a good, consistent horse who should be in the frame.

Ross O'Sullivan, trainer of Eagles Reign
He needs as much rain as we can possibly get. All his best form is on deep ground and I wouldn't be confident at all unless it was at least soft.

Tom Mullins, trainer of Kimy
She seems well and it's a big four-year-old handicap hurdle so we said we'd give it a go. She jumps well and she's got a nice low weight so we're hopeful.

Andy Slattery, trainer of Struck By Churchill
She's in great form and we always thought she'd like some cut in the ground so we'll give it a shot. The ground could get heavy, though, so it will be interesting to see how she copes with that.

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