15:00 Leopardstown

Sunday 12 February 2017

All13:3014:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:00

Deloitte Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 4m 32.8s

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Selected odds by:

Bacardys⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins

12/1

Very smart bumper performer last season and, after an accident on jumping debut, opened his account at Christmas over two-miles at this venue. No surprise should there be more to come.

Form: 1-3F11P

Blood Crazed Tiger^h,t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: D J Mullins| T: G Elliott| OR: 140

12/1

Fell at this venue a fortnight ago, has some decent form over longer trips and shouldn't be discounted now dropping back to 2m2f, though this is tough.

Form: 52-1111

Bravissimo⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Ms K Walsh| T: W P Mullins

16/1

Returned from two-years off to score at Limerick over Christmas, did that well enough considering layoff but this is a lot more taxing.

Form: 3/1700

Gunnery Sergeant²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 136

28/1

Improving this season, Punchestown win came at two-miles and will have plenty on his plate to see off a field like this stepping up in trip.

Form: 1/1F3-7

Saturnas⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 146

5/4

Grade One winner over two-miles at this venue last time, sets the standard and gets the vote of champion jockey from the Mullins battalion in this line-up.

Form: 12

Brelade⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: B J Geraghty| T: G Elliott| OR: 142

8/1

Chased home Saturnas in the Future Champions over two-miles here at Christmas, that looks a strong piece of form and entitled to come on again now stepping up in trip.

Form: 2-42112

Bunk Off Early⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins

11/2

Hurdles debut over two-miles here at Christmas saw him string out a big field in ready fashion, likely improver going up in trip though this race is clearly much tougher.

Form: /-120

Chateau Conti³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: M P Fogarty| T: W P Mullins

12/1

Easy maiden hurdle winner on debut over two-miles at Cork last month, runner-up Canelie runs earlier on this card (14:00), hard to quantify that win but clearly talented.

Form: 1116PP-

Riven Light⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 137

14/1

Thurles maiden winner was no match for Saturnas and Brelade over two-miles here last time. Jockey plumps for the winner of that race this time and all to do to turn around the form.

Form: 148442-

Barra²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 128

7/1

Twice-placed over hurdles and got off the mark over this trip at Fairyhouse in mares' maiden last time, wide margin winner but this calls for much more.

Form: 215236

Forecasts

Saturnas (5/4), Bunk Off Early (11/2), Barra (7/1), Brelade (8/1), Bacardys (12/1), Blood Crazed Tiger (12/1), Chateau Conti (12/1), Riven Light (14/1), Bravissimo (16/1), Gunnery Sergeant (28/1)

Willie Mullins has won the last four renewals of this contest and the champion trainer looks primed to add to that tally with six of the ten-runner entry. Separating them is an unenviable task so it seems best to go with Grade One-winning form in SATURNAS, who also gets the nod from the stable jockey. He was good over two-miles here at Christmas and should see out this extra distance no problem. It will be no surprise should runner-up that day Brelade threaten to scupper the Mullins' domination while Barra is also entitled to respect after her Fairyhouse success. Of the remaining Closutton contenders the once-raced winner Bunk Off Early should improve and could have a lot more to offer while Chateau Conti is also capable of having a say. Bacardys could be overlooked amongst his flurry of stable companions but remains a horse with serious potential. 1. Saturnas 2. Bunk Off Early 3. Brelade