Cafe En Seine Novice Hurdle (Grade 2)

Off time: 15:46 | Winning time: 4m 3.5s

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Selected odds by:

Hercule Du Seuil^h,t¹²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: M P Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 137| D

7/1

Useful form over hurdles, winning first 2 starts this season. 12/1, possibly amiss when pulled up in Royal Bond Novices' Hurdle at this C&D (heavy) 126 days ago. No surprise to see him get back on track.

Form: 2/8-11P

American Mike^t²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: L P Dempsey| T: G Elliott| OR: 138| D

13/2

Hasn't go on as hoped over hurdles, in first-time tongue strap when 21¼ lengths seventh of 10 to Impaire Et Passe in Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Baring Bingham) at Cheltenham (2m5f, soft, 28/1) 25 days ago.

Form: 23-1247

Amir Kabir²⁰⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott| OR: 130| D

25/1

Progressed again when making it 2 wins from 3 starts over hurdles in 7-runner novice at Listowel (2m, good, 6/4) in September. Could have more to offer after 6 months off.

Form: 121

Hunters Yarn²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 143| CD

6/5

Has won twice from 4 starts over hurdles this season. 11/2, twelfth of 24 in County Hurdle at Cheltenham (16.8f, good to soft) 23 days ago, unable to sustain effort. Can resume winning ways.

Form: 11-3110

Joyeux Machin^t⁹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: P Nolan| CD

4/1

Won maiden at this C&D in December. Beaten long way out when pulled up in Challow Novices' Hurdle at Newbury (20.5f, soft, 4/1) 99 days ago. Others look stronger back down in trip.

Form: 1P7-31P

Nucky Johnson¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: D F O'Regan| T: N Meade| OR: 134| CD

9/2

After 4 months off, improved when making it back-to-back wins in 9-runner novice hurdle at Naas (16.3f, soft, 7/2) 10 days ago, well on top finish. Respected with further progress to come.

Form: 3-1311

Non-Runners

Arctic Bresil⁹²

Weight: 11-4| Age: 6

T: H De Bromhead J: Rachael Blackmore

Forecasts

Hunters Yarn (6/5), Joyeux Machin (4/1), Nucky Johnson (9/2), American Mike (13/2), Hercule Du Seuil (7/1), Arctic Bresil (15/2), Amir Kabir (25/1)

HUNTERS YARN wasn't able to provide Willie Mullins with another winner of the County Hurdle at Cheltenham last time, but he is taken to resume his progress and make it a sixth consecutive victory in this Grade 2 event for his leading trainer. Nucky Johnson could be the main danger in his bid for a hat-trick, with Hercule du Seuil completing the shortlist.