Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle (Grade 3)

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 6m 53.8s

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Selected odds by:

Ballybow¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott| OR: 128

5/6

Promising type. 2 wins from 4 runs this season. Career best when winning 14-runner novice hurdle (9/2) at Naas (18.7f, heavy) 18 days ago, kept up to work. Up in trip. Should progress and looks the one to beat.

Form: 22-1021

Ballygunner Castle^h1,t1²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 129| BF

1/1

Lightly-raced winner under NH rules. 2/1, fourth of 5 in novice hurdle at Navan (16f, soft) 26 days ago, finding less than looked likely. Hood on 1st time, tongue strap on 1st time. Retains potential.

Form: 31-114

Kalnoo⁶²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Cian Quirke| T: P Kiely| OR: 80| D

125/1

Poor hurdler. Remains a maiden after 16 NH runs. First run since leaving P. M. Hurley when thirteenth of 14 in handicap hurdle at Cork (16.2f, soft, 7/1) 62 days ago. Significantly back up in trip. Stiff task against a pair of promising 6-y-os.

Form: 38-5700

Forecasts

Ballybow (5/6), Ballygunner Castle (1/1), Kalnoo (125/1)

BALLYBOW improved again when scoring at Naas while Ballygunner Castle was a shade disappointing at Navan, so the former gets the nod in what is effectively a match race.