14:40 Navan

Sunday 12 February 2023

All13:1013:4014:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:40

William Hill Boyne Hurdle (Grade 2)

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 5m 27.05s

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Selected odds by:

Sire Du Berlais^b,t⁴⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: J S McGarvey| T: G Elliott| OR: 147| C

28/1

Smart hurdler. Course winner. 22/1, pulled up in Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown (24f, soft) 46 days ago won by Home By The Lee, left behind 5 out.

Form: 014-55P

Blazing Khal⁴²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Philip Byrnes| T: C Byrnes| OR: 147| D

5/1

Smart hurdler. Evens, career best when winning 6-runner Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Bristol) at Cheltenham (24f, good) by 4¼ lengths from Gelino Bello when last seen, readily. Off 14 months. More to come if all is well.

Form: 541/111-

Highland Charge²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 138

50/1

Useful hurdler. Possibly amiss when pulled up in novice chase at Fairyhouse (17f, heavy, 7/2) 29 days ago, pulled up before 5 out. Switches from chase to hurdles. Up in trip. Difficult ask.

Form: 2211-3P

Beacon Edge^b¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: B J Cooper| T: N Meade| OR: 145| CD

14/1

Very smart chaser. C&D winner (won this in 2021). Blinkered for 1st time, well-beaten fourth of 6 to Teahupoo in John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran (24.4f, heavy, 16/1) 17 days ago.

Form: 27P-5P4

Delta Work^t¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: G Elliott| OR: 146| BF

9/1

High-class chaser. Creditable third of 15 in cross country handicap chase at Cheltenham (30.2f, good to soft, 5/2) 15 days ago. Significantly down in trip back over hurdles. Cheltenham/Grand National presumably the targets again but he could go well here.

Form: 6613-13

Grand Roi^p⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: J C Gainford| T: G Elliott| OR: 144

14/1

Smart hurdler. 15/2, pulled up in novice chase at Leopardstown (21f, soft) 46 days ago, pulled up after seventh. Switches from chase to hurdles.

Form: 4P3-2FP

Meet And Greet¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Phillip Enright| T: O McKiernan| OR: 150

10/3

Smart hurdler. 6/1, 12½ lengths fourth of 6 to Echoes In Rain in Limestone Lad Hurdle at Naas (15.7f, soft) 14 days ago, inadequate test. Significantly back up in trip. Should get competitive.

Form: 123-034

Saint Sam^h⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 142

1/1

Smart chaser. Off 8 months, career best when winning 10-runner minor event hurdle at Punchestown (19.6f, heavy, evens) 43 days ago, going with enthusiasm. Solid claims.

Form: 5/13U6-1

Non-Runners

Dreal Deal³⁵

Weight: 11-3| Age: 8

T: R McNally J: D F O'Regan

Forecasts

Saint Sam (1/1), Meet And Greet (10/3), Blazing Khal (5/1), Delta Work (9/1), Beacon Edge (14/1), Grand Roi (14/1), Sire Du Berlais (28/1), Dreal Deal (33/1), Highland Charge (50/1)

SAINT SAM remains with unfinished business over hurdles and is fancied to follow up his Punchestown victory 43 days ago. Meet And Greet is a danger and Delta Work should give another good account.