Irish Racing / Timeform / 30 October 2008 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet

A Cheltenham winner goes at Down Royal tomorrow, find out what Timeform make of him and the other runners here.

A small but select field of second-season hurdlers are declared for this Grade 3 over two miles, and no doubt that all eyes will be on the J P McManus-owned Jered, a most progressive novice last season who is currently trading at [13.0] for the Champion Hurdle in March.

His improvement accelerated if anything in the spring, starting in a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Fairyhouse where he comfortably beat another progressive rival in Made In Taipan, showing a breathtaking turn of foot to quicken clear after two out. Jered then appeared at Punchestown where he created a fine impression in beating Salford City by eight lengths, merely pushed out with ears pricked after jumping the last. He shapes a lot better than the bare form figures so far imply and would appear to be one of Ireland's most exciting hurdling prospects this season.

Already a winner at Cheltenham is Cork All Star, who took the Champion Bumper in 2007. He failed to progress as expected last season over hurdles, winning a maiden event easily but failing to get his head in front thereafter, though he did twice finish second in Grade 1 company. He was a rival of Jered's at Punchestown, though unseated Barry Geraghty three out before the winner had really made his move. The pair also met in the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse in December, where Cork All Star was second and Jered fifth.

Having opposed one another at level weights on both previous occasions, this time Cork All Star receives 11 lbs, meaning that Jered may well have to show some of his expected improvement in order to shake off Jessica Harrington's charge.

On form, Megan's Joy isn't too far removed from her more illustrious rivals. She has been in the form of her life of late, taking the Grade 2 Tipperary Hurdle on her latest start, albeit against far lesser opposition to what she faces here. That win came on heavy ground, as did her fourth in last year's Royal Bond, so the soft surface forecast should pose no problems and Megan's Joy is the only member of the quartet lining up who has proven her fitness already this term.

Though a useful sort who beat both Forpadydeplasterer and Cork All Star when winning a Grade 2 at Leopardstown in December, Whatuthink has a lot to prove on form. From a tactical point of view, however, he will likely get an uncontested lead through this race which will offer the best possible chance of him giving a good account.