Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 3m 50.9s

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Selected odds by:

Bleu De Vassy⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D J Gilligan| T: G Elliott| D

9/4

Promising sort. Career best when winning 7-runner For Auction Novices' Hurdle (4/6) at Navan (16.2f, good to soft) 41 days ago by 5 lengths from Mr Percy, pushed out. Strong contender for the yard (also represented by Romeo Coolio) that has won 3 of the last 5 renewals of this contest.

Form: 2241-11

Court Of Appeal^h1⁴⁷⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: D J O'Keeffe| T: N G Hynds| C

250/1

Fair Flat winner. Fourteenth of 16 in handicap (22/1) at Gowran (8f, good). Off 15 months ahead of this hurdles bow and sports a first-time hood. Faces a very tall order.

Form:

Eastern Legend^p,t¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: K M Donoghue| T: J S Bolger| C

22/1

Lightly-raced maiden over hurdles. Useful Flat winner. Very good second of 18 in novice hurdle at Naas (19.5f, good to soft, 7/1) 11 days ago. Cheekpieces back on. Will surely get his head in front over hurdles before long but probably biting off more than he can chew here.

Form: 85-422

Karafon²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: D A Jacob| T: W P Mullins

10/1

Fair maiden on the Flat. Fairly useful hurdler. Won 18-runner novice hurdle at Clonmel (19.4f, soft, 7/4) 24 days ago, cosily. Yard saddles a more appealing candidate in Karniquet.

Form: 35-1

Karniquet³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| D

11/2

Useful hurdler. First run since leaving Mme I. Pacault when winning 15-runner novice hurdle at Tramore (16.2f, heavy, 4/5) on debut for new yard 31 days ago, forging clear. Open to improvement and he shouldn't be underestimated.

Form: 22-1

Romeo Coolio²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott| BF| D

7/4

Promising type. 1/2, good 2½ lengths second of 8 to Tounsivator in Royal Bond Novices' Hurdle at Fairyhouse (16.5f, good) 26 days ago. Probably capable of better still and he's a leading contender.

Form: 1/125-12

Sea Of Sands²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| D

5/1

Twice-raced winner over hurdles. 5¼ lengths third of 8 to Tounsivator in Royal Bond Novices' Hurdle at Fairyhouse (16.5f, good, 11/1) 26 days ago. The betting should help point to where he sits in the pecking order, being one of 3 from the Willie Mullins yard.

Form: 13

Forecasts

Romeo Coolio (7/4), Bleu De Vassy (9/4), Sea Of Sands (5/1), Karniquet (11/2), Karafon (10/1), Eastern Legend (22/1), Court Of Appeal (250/1)

Though this represents a big step up in class, KARNIQUET may well take it in his stride having looked a fine prospect when making a winning start for his powerful new connections in a Tramore maiden last month. Gordon Elliott fields two strong candidates in Romeo Coolio and Bleu de Vassy, with the former marginally preferred of the duo, despite failing to land the odds in the Royal Bond last time. The selection's stablemates Karafon and Sea of Sands should also make their presence felt.