13:40 Leopardstown

Sunday 4 February 2024

All12:4013:1013:4014:1014:4515:2015:5016:25

Tattersalls Ireland 50th Derby Sale Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 13:41 | Winning time: 3m 59.6s

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Selected odds by:

Absurde³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins

33/1

Improved on the Flat for this yard last year, winning Ebor at York before seventh of 23 in the Melbourne Cup. Likely failed to cope with very testing ground when pulled up back hurdling here over Christmas.

Form: 16P

Ballyburn³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| C| D

10/11

Most impressive winner of a 2½m maiden hurdle here at the Christmas meeting, pulling 25 lengths clear of a next-time-out winner. Should be fine back at 2m and looks more than good enough to cope with the rise in grade.

Form: 111-21

Boher Road¹³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Donagh Meyler| T: J P Fahey| OR: 127| D

250/1

Won a maiden hurdle at Wexford in September but held in a handicap at Listowel later in the month and looks firmly up against it at this level.

Form: 2U17

Daddy Long Legs³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| BF| D

11/1

Bought for €210,000 after finishing second on French Flat debut in May 2022 and made light of long absence in Thurles maiden hurdle 18 months later. Seemingly failed to cope with heavy ground when pulled up in C&D Grade 1 in December, the fact he went off favourite suggesting he's highly regarded.

Form: 1P

Farren Glory⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| BF| D

4/1

Improved again to land Grade 1 Royal Bond at Fairyhouse in December, rallying well to see off reopposing stablemate King of Kingsfield. Looked all set for another Grade 1 success (travelling strongly in lead) when falling 2 out in Formby at Aintree (2m, heavy) over Christmas. Bold show likely.

Form: 215-11F

Fascile Mode³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: T Mullins| CD

40/1

Useful hurdler but held by a couple of these on Royal Bond form and distant fourth in the C&D Grade 1 at the Christmas meeting.

Form: 404-164

Gold Dancer^t1²⁷⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins

16/1

Won 9-runner juvenile hurdle (25/10) at Compiegne (17.9f, heavy) in September. Potentially useful recruit for new yard but perhaps best watched here unless the betting vibes are notably strong.

Form: 3-1

Jit Langy²⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: M P Walsh| T: W P Mullins| D

20/1

Promise in Flat maiden and newcomers hurdle in France before striking in cosy fashion on his debut for the Willie Mullins yard at Tipperary back in May. Should have more to offer but this is a tough ask on his first outing since.

Form: 42-1

King Of Kingsfield⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott| OR: 140| CD

12/1

Useful form. Good 1½ lengths second of 8 to Farren Glory in Grade 1 Royal Bond at Fairyhouse before comfortably landing a C&D maiden at the Christmas meeting. Likeable type but probably vulnerable for win purposes back at the highest level.

Form: 53-2221

Slade Steel^t⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| D

6/1

Made it 2-2 over hurdles when digging deep to see off Lecky Watson by ½ length in 2½m Navan Grade 2 8 weeks ago. While the drop back to 2m isn't certain to suit he's a smart prospect who has more to offer.

Form: 113-11

Forecasts

Ballyburn (10/11), Farren Glory (4/1), Slade Steel (6/1), Daddy Long Legs (11/1), King Of Kingsfield (12/1), Gold Dancer (16/1), Jit Langy (20/1), Absurde (33/1), Fascile Mode (40/1), Boher Road (250/1)

The Willie Mullins domination of this Grade 1 novice looks set to continue courtesy of BALLYBURN, who had next-time winners toiling in his wake in a maiden here at the Christmas meeting. Farren Glory looked set to land his second Grade 1 of the winter until crashing out at the second last at Aintree and is feared most ahead of Navan Grade 2 winner Slade Steel.