Bective Stud Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 4m 2.3s

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Selected odds by:

Dysart Dynamo^t⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 150| BF| CD

13/8

Three wins from 4 runs last season, including Grade Moscow Flyer over C&D in January. Still in front but ridden when fell 3 out in Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham (16.4f) 42 days ago won by Constitution Hill. Obvious contender.

Form: 11-11F

Gatsby Grey^t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: B Browne| T: O McKiernan| OR: 135| D

100/1

Back on track when winning 6-runner minor event hurdle at Naas (16.2f, good to soft) 26 days ago, readily. This is a massive step up in grade though, and will surely be outclassed.

Form: 1-17471

Mighty Potter⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: J W Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 144| CD

20/1

Resumed progress/winning ways in Grade 1 at Leopardstown in December. Pulled up in Supreme Novices' Hurdle won by Constitution Hill at Cheltenham Festival, so bounce back called for.

Form: 1-131P

Sir Gerhard⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 155| D

4/7

£400,000 point recruit who completed the hat-trick over hurdles in Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Baring Bingham) at Cheltenham (21f, soft) 41 days ago, despite pulling hard. Not short of speed so drop back to 2m no issue and capable of better still.

Form: 113-111

Vina Ardanza¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 137| D

66/1

Landed sole start in bumpers for Stuart Crawford and made winning start for this yard over hurdles at Thurles (15.8f) in November. Far from disgraced in stronger company both outings since but faces another stiff task kept to this level.

Form: 1-123

Forecasts

Sir Gerhard (4/7), Dysart Dynamo (13/8), Mighty Potter (20/1), Vina Ardanza (66/1), Gatsby Grey (100/1)

SIR GERHARD is not short of speed, so with a return to 2m unlikely to pose a problem, he's taken to extend his unbeaten record over hurdles to 4. Dysart Dynamo can provide the main threat.