awardsandgifts.ie Novice Hurdle (Grade 2)

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 4m 59.9s

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Selected odds by:

Arctic Warrior^t²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: J S McGarvey| T: W P Mullins| OR: 136| D

7/2

Useful hurdler. 5/2, career best when winning 7-runner handicap hurdle at Wexford (16f, heavy) 28 days ago, going with enthusiasm. Back up in trip and should go well again.

Form: F-1P7F1

Ash Tree Meadow^h,t⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 132| BF| C| D

5/1

Lightly-raced winner over hurdles. 4/7, second of 4 in novice hurdle at Thurles (20.1f, good to soft) 52 days ago, no match for winner. Getting better with each recent run, so considered.

Form: 61-3312

Berkshire Royal³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 132

4/1

Thrice-raced winner over hurdles. 9/2, 1¼ lengths second of 6 to The Goffer in Michael Purcell Memorial Novices' Hurdle at Thurles (20.7f, soft) 38 days ago, needing stronger gallop. Has more to offer. Solid claims.

Form: 0/12

Bronn²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 127

6/1

Lightly-raced winner under NH rules. 15/8, creditable second of 6 in novice hurdle at Navan (22.4f, heavy) 22 days ago. Respected but looks outsider of yard's trio.

Form: 1-152

Churchstonewarrior⁷⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: D F O'Regan| T: Jonathan Sweeney| OR: 135

9/2

Useful hurdler. 2 wins from 5 runs this season. 4/1, creditable third of 7 in minor event hurdle at Thurles (23f, good to soft) 70 days ago. Possibilities.

Form: 2-11243

Falcon Eight^v⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Jack Kennedy| T: D K Weld| OR: 130

10/3

Smart winner at 19f on Flat. 13/8, won 11-runner novice hurdle at Thurles (23f, good to soft) 52 days ago. Can do better still in this sphere. Player.

Form: 51

Red As Rust⁶⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: C J Orr| T: N Slevin| OR: 123| C

66/1

Fairly useful hurdler. 16/1, fair sixth of 8 to Allegorie De Vassy in Solerina Mares Novices' Hurdle at this course (18.5f, good to soft) 64 days ago. Course winner but has plenty to find on form.

Form: 34-P416

Forecasts

Falcon Eight (10/3), Arctic Warrior (7/2), Berkshire Royal (4/1), Churchstonewarrior (9/2), Ash Tree Meadow (5/1), Bronn (6/1), Red As Rust (66/1)

ARCTIC WARRIOR holds the edge on form and gets a narrow vote over Falcon Eight, who rates a big threat if translating his smart Flat efforts into this sphere after his Thurles novice success. In-form duo Berkshire Royal and Churchstonewarrior need considering too in an intriguing Grade 2.