Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 4m 57.1s

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Selected odds by:

Conflated^h²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott

33/1

Winner of a Fairyhouse maiden in November (2m, soft; 10-1) but since finished third of four in 2m4f soft-ground Grade 2 at Navan. Needs plenty more to pick up minor honours in this and clearly stable second string.

Form: 41-F313

Elixir D'Ainay⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: M P Walsh| T: W P Mullins| C

8/1

Well thought of French import, off the mark at second time of asking for champion trainer when taking 2m3f maiden in testing conditions here in November from Longhouse Poet (won next time). Type to improve again and respected.

Form: 61/2-1

Envoi Allen³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 152| D

1/4

Winner of a strong Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in March and well on the road back there after hurdles wins at Down Royal and Grade 1 Royal Bond at Fairyhouse (runner-up won Grade 1 at Leopardstown since). Sets a high bar going up in distance.

Form: 1111-11

Longhouse Poet^t²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: M Brassil| D

10/1

Yeats gelding, 2-3 under rules having won bumper and maiden hurdle either side of narrow defeat behind Elixir D'Ainay at this track in November. Improving sort and should give that rival a race today.

Form: 1-121

Midnight Run³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| C

7/1

Smart bumper performer (sole defeat was to Envoi Allen) and started hurdles career with Cork success (2m, soft; 13-8) in November. Couldn't go with front pair in Royal Bond since and let down by jumping when tired. Playing for minors on that run.

Form: 121-19

French Dynamite³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: R M Power| T: M F Morris

25/1

Bought for £165,000 after impressively winning a Tralee point-to-point in May and landed Thurles maiden hurdle over 2m on rules bow in November. Can improve on that form but will need to do so generously to continue winning ways.

Form: 11

Non-Runners

Anything Will Do²⁸

Weight: 11-7| Age: 5

T: J P O'Brien J: S A Shortall

Forecasts

Envoi Allen (1/4), Midnight Run (7/1), Elixir D'Ainay (8/1), Longhouse Poet (10/1), French Dynamite (25/1), Anything Will Do (25/1), Conflated (33/1)

Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott have won the last six renewals, and the latter can close the score with the hugely exciting ENVOI ALLEN. Last season's Champion Bumper hero is 2-2 over timber and won the Royal Bond last time from a subsequent Grade 1-winning stablemate in Abacadabras. Connections feel he's ready for this longer trip and he sets the bar fairly high. The champion trainer relies on Elixir D'Ainay, a maiden winner at this track last month. He had Longhouse Poet behind that day, who has won himself since at Navan. At a big price it wouldn't pay to cross of the Joseph O'Brien-trained Anything Will Do will do from snaring some decent prize money.