Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 18:35 | Winning time: 5m 17.7s

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Selected odds by:

Ballyburn⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 163| C| D

1/5

No match for Firefox on hurdles debut but has progressed at a rate of knots since, readily beating Slade Steel at Leopardstown in February prior to running out a convincing winner of Grade 1 Gallagher Novices' at the Festival. Rates a top prospect and hard to beat here.

Form: 11-2111

Jimmy Du Seuil²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins| OR: 145

40/1

Ex-French performer who landed short odds in a Clonmel maiden hurdle in January. Improved when 13 lengths second behind Ballyburn at Cheltenham next time but not in quite the same form in Aintree Grade 1 latest. Looks to be playing for minor honours again.

Form: 52-2124

Mirazur West^h³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: M P Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 138

25/1

Winner only start in bumpers and lines up here having made it 2 wins from 4 starts over hurdles in Grade 2 at Fairyhouse (2m, heavy) 33 days ago, making all and quickening clear from 2 out. This tougher still but unlikely we've seen the best of him yet.

Form: F1-2131

Predators Gold⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 147| CD

17/2

Impressive winner on hurdles debut at Punchestown (19.4f, soft) in November and good efforts in defeat in Leopardstown Grade 1s next 2 starts. Let down by his jumping when fifth behind Ballyburn at Cheltenham latest and passed over here.

Form: 1-1225

Staffordshire Knot^p²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 140

25/1

Changed hands for €510,000 after bumper/maiden hurdle wins in January. Solid efforts in Grade1's both outings since, chasing home stablemate Brighterdaysahead equipped with first-time cheekpieces in Mersey Novices' at Aintree (20f) 3 weeks ago.

Form: 31122

Jetara³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: N de Boinville| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 140| CD

16/1

Useful mare who improved further to complete a hurdles hat-trick in Fairyhouse Grade 3 in December. Emerged with credit in making the frame both starts in Grade 1 company since but she's likely to come up short here for all she's in receipt of weight all round.

Form: 811133

Forecasts

Ballyburn (1/5), Predators Gold (17/2), Jetara (16/1), Mirazur West (25/1), Staffordshire Knot (25/1), Jimmy Du Seuil (40/1)

Dominant when defeating Slade Steel at Leopardstown in February, BALLYBURN did little to alter the fact he's every inch a top-class prospect when an impressive winner of the Gallagher Novices' at the Festival last month and he's very difficult to oppose. Staffordshire Knot and Mirazur West can do battle for minor honours.