1:20 – Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) – 2m1f – 22 runners
Key Stat
Irish-trained runners have won 7 of the last 10 renewals with Willie Mullins landing 5 and Henry De Bromhead taking 2.
Market Leaders
BAMBINO FEVER will go off a short price here. Last year’s Bumper winner was turned over by OLDSCHOOL OUTLAW on her hurdles debut in December but landed odds of 1/10 next time out at Fairyhouse and should continue to strip fitter as the season goes on. She’s already run to a high level over hurdles and her bumper form gives you confidence that she could end up going on to much better things in time. Should be hard to beat.
OLDSCHOOL OUTLAW was a decent bumper horse herself but looks even better over hurdles. She’d had the benefit of a recent run when turning BAMBINO FEVER over on their respective hurdling debuts, but she’s gone on to win impressively again since at Grade 3 level and it’s not necessarily guaranteed that her old rival will turn the form around. Leading contender and by far the biggest danger to the favourite.
Other Contenders
CARRIGMOORNASPRUCE has some Grade 1 form against males having run well behind Skylight Hustle (fell when well beaten in the Turners’ on Wednesday ) last time out, finishing second. That race came back nicely on the clock and she was a classy performer in bumpers.
Interesting Outsiders
LA CONQUIERE was just touched off in a Grade 2 bumper at Aintree last season and has quickly made up into a smart hurdler. She was unlucky to lose her unbeaten record over obstacles last time when ridden out of her ground at Ascot and she should be much happier closing off a strong pace here. Her yard won this in 2023.
CHARME DE FAUST is a juvenile and stablemate of BAMBINO FEVER. She’s lacking experience but could do no more than win impressively on her Irish debut last time and could be anything.
ECHOING SILENCE represents the De Bromhead yard and they know what it takes to win this race. She wasn’t as good as some of these in bumpers but has made up into a smart hurdler and her form over a bit further might be an edge in a strongly run contest.
2:00 – Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Grade 2) (Registered As The Golden Miller) – 2m4½f – 20 runners
Key Stat
Only one previous renewal of this race in its current format, which was won from the front by a classy sort with Graded form.
Market Leaders
MEETMEBYTHESEA was a good hurdler but was always going to be better over fences and so it has proven. A winner of his first two starts over the larger obstacles, he was disappointing last time on the face of it pitched in against experienced sorts but he was a bit outclassed there and the ground was bad. It was probably just a spin around to get him ready for this, too, and he should run a big race with a mark of 139 looking workable, particularly as he may have more to come over this distance and on decent ground.
REGENT’S STROLL was placed in Grade 1 company over hurdles last season and has a very similar profile to last year’s winner Caldwell Potter, who also represented this yard. He was far too free on his chase debut at Grade 2 level but he’s was much better in the hood last time and ran really well behind a smart one he was giving weight to at this track last time out. He’s a sound jumper and looks tailormade for the demands of this contest – huge chance.
Other Contenders
SLADE STEEL won the Grade 1 Supreme Novices’ here in 2024 but it’s fair to say his career hasn’t hit those heights since having been beaten in all six starts subsequently. He’s now 0-5 over fences with three defeats at odds-on, but he’s a sound enough jumper despite this. He should enjoy returning to this track and he mark is very workable on that top hurdles form, but you do wonder if there are less exposed ones in here. Joystick didn’t do a lot for his form on Wednesday.
SIXMILEBRIDGE flopped at this meeting last year – and the year before – but he’s won at this track before and since that run, including over fences two back. He should be up there from the off and comes here off the back of a win at the highest level, winning the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase last time out. He has plenty of class and conditions to suit, but all of his wins have come in small fields (form figures of U209 in fields of 10 or more).
JORDANS CROSS has a similar profile. He was a winner here last time, clocking a good figure in the process, but this will be a quite different test from the small field Novice races he’s been contesting. He’s the type to hit a flat spot so a strongly run race might benefit him, however, and his form received a nice boost when Quebecois ran so well on Tuesday.
Interesting Outsiders
STENCIL was sent off favourite for a big field handicap at this meeting last year off a similar sort of mark to the 139 he runs off here, so clearly someone thinks he’s got the engine. He flopped that day and all of his best form has been on bad ground, although it’s possible this flat-bred sort may enjoy better conditions.
KDEUX SAINT FRAY should enjoy returning to a left-handed track in a strongly-run race.
GOLD DANCER has some upside at a big price. He’s got plenty of weight but it’s warranted after some fine efforts in Graded chases in Ireland and he gets 7lb taken off by his claiming rider. I think he’s been getting bogged down in bad ground but he should relish the return to better going here and can outrun big odds.
2:40 – Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Registered As The David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle) (Grade 1) – 2m4½f – 7 runners
Key Stat
This has been won by a wide range of ages. Irish-trained runners have largely dominated, winning 8 of the last 10 renewals.
Market Leaders
WODHOOH will go off short for this and really should win. Her only defeat over hurdles came to the mighty Lossiemouth, who won the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday, and she is unbeaten at this track. She’s won both races this season and we probably don’t know how good she is still.
Other Contenders
JADE DE GRUGY’S connections know what it takes to win this. She was no match for Lossiemouth in this last year but ran well to finish second. She reverts to hurdles after a spell over fences that on ratings was just as good as her hurdles form and she clearly retains plenty of ability.
Interesting Outsiders
FEET OF A DANCER was only a couple of lengths behind WOODHOOH at Leopardstown in December before winning nicely at Doncaster last time. She is going the right way still but might prefer slower ground/further.
3:20 – Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1) – 3m – 11 runners
Key Stat
Another race largely dominated by Irish-trained runners in recent times. 6 and 7-year-olds have won 8 of the last 10 renewals, although a 10-year-old won last year and an 11-year-old won in 2023.
Market Leaders
TEAHUPOO is a class act and this 9-year-old has been better than ever this season. He won this in 2024 and ran a mighty race to finish second to ownermate BOB OLINGER last year. He emphatically reversed that form when romping home in the Christmas Hurdle last time out and this smooth-travelling sort is simply a very good horse. I would imagine anything finishing in front of him will win.
Other Contenders
HONESTY POLICY looks short enough to me. A good Novice last year, he’s been placed in two starts this season, both at Grade 1 level, but I’m not sure there’s much merit in finishing behind IMPOSE TOI (double figures here) and the exposed Strong Leader, who’d be a 25/1 shot. Clearly must be showing something at home – and he might be better on this spring ground – but he’s got a bit to find.
So too does KABRAL DU MATHAN but I think he might be able to bridge the gap. He’s improved significantly this season for switching yards, a wind op and moving up in distance, destroying a handicap field on his return and then taking the Grade 2 Relkeel at this track from Jingko Blue (who won the 14:40 on Wednesday) showing a sparkling turn of foot to come from the rear off a slow pace. He has to prove he stays but he has plenty of speed and ability and it’ll take a really good one to beat him provided his stamina holds.
BOB OLINGER is 4/4 at this track and won this race last year to maintain that unbeaten record. He’s 11 now but shaped very well when never put in the race behind TEAHUPOO on his sole run this season back in December. He’s clearly had this race in mind all season and there’s no reason why he won’t put up a very bold showing again.
MA SHANTOU flopped at Haydock three back but otherwise has had a perfect season, winning his other three starts – all at this track – in impressive fashion. The market has heralded his improvement and he was very strong in the betting when slamming IMPOSE TOI last time out. He was in receipt of 6lbs there but the manner of that victory was extremely impressive and is hard to say what his ceiling is. His trainer knows what it takes to win this race and he warrants plenty of respect.
Interesting Outsiders
BALLYBURN ran TEAHUPOO close on his seasonal debut but wasn’t as good when the pair met last time, only able to finish a 14 length third. He gets a hood here but may prefer soft ground.
IMPOSE TOI was no match for MA SHANTOU last time out but had looked a leading light prior to that. He was weak in the betting in that race and the ground may have been a little bit softer than ideal for him, while he was also a bit further back than the winner in a steadily run race. I could see him running a fair bit better here.
4:00 – Ryanair Chase (Registered As The Festival Trophy) (Grade 1) – 2m4½f – 9 runners
Key Stat
Willie Mullins has won this 6 times in the last decade. No horse older than 9 has won it in that period, and winners have generally been well found in the betting.
Market Leaders
FACT TO FILE won this last year in very impressive style, running a huge figure on the way to a 9 length romp. He was a bit in and out since but returned to his very best with a stunning win in the Irish Gold Cup last time, again most impressive on the clock. There was talk that he’d go for the Gold Cup here but connections have taken the easier option and really he should be hard to beat with every box well and truly ticked.
BANBRIDGE is a fine performer. The 2024 King George winner was only just touched off in that race this year and looks as good as ever aged 10 based on the ratings. The combination of a visor and Sean Bowen may well have eked out a little improvement and he’s by far the most likely to take advantage should FACT TO FILE underperform.
Other Contenders
IMPAIRE ET PASSE was a very good novice and returned to action with what was ultimately a ready enough win last time. He’d looked in trouble at one point, not helped by his jumping, until his class kicked in. He’s got the right trainer and has a big engine but needs to find a little.
A victory for JONBON would raise the roof. This remarkable horse has never finished outside of the first two in 27 starts and has 12 Grade 1 wins to his name, but he has yet to win at the Festival. It’s possible this track doesn’t really play to his strengths as well as the likes of Aintree and Ascot, but he comes here in top form having won his last two and this looks like his best trip these days. He’s got a bit to find on his best form this year but his victory at Aintree in April would put him right there and his speedfigure two back also reads well. It’s interesting that he runs as connections had previously ruled the meeting out as recently as a fortnight ago.
Interesting Outsiders
HEART WOOD was no match for FACT TO FILE in this last year but has run to a similar level this season and comes into the race off the back of good win at Tramore.
4:40 – Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) – 3m – 24 runners
Key Stat
Nothing too strong here with British-trained runners having won 3 of the last 4 runnings after a barren spell. Horses aged from 5 to 9 and weighted from 10-9 to 11-12 have won this in the last decade, so basically anything can win!
Market Leaders
The Skelton yard landed a handicap touch on the opening day and will attempt to pull off the same feat here with SUPREMELY WEST. A progressive sort for his previous yard, albeit generally at lower levels, he’s not show a great deal in his last three starts but very much caught the eye on his stable debut behind Ma Shantou at this track (runs in the Stayers’ Hurdle) in October and hasn’t been put in his races since. This has clearly been the plan and he should be making a big impact here a mark that’s 2lb lower than he started the season on.
C’EST DIFFERENT has altogether different profile having won his last four starts. There’s a chance this means that the handicapper knows exactly where he is with him, but he was hugely impressive at Newbury last time and he must have more to come. A 10lb rise will make life harder for him but that only puts him on a mark of 131 and it’s perfectly possible that this strong-travelling type can rate a fair bit higher than that.
Other Contenders
ELECTRIC MASON finished second the Ma Shantou in the race that SUPREMELY WEST was third in. He’s come out and won again since in a fast time, but as a result now meets SUPREMELY WEST on 13lb worse terms. He’s improving but that’s a big ask.
ABSOLUTELY DOYEN made the same stable switch as SUPREMELY WEST did in the summer and has won all 5 starts for the Nicholls yard. All conditions and paces seem to come alike to him and he suit relish the strong gallop he’ll get here.
ACE OF SPADES likes it here and ran well behind Ma Shantou in a different race to that contested by SUPREMELY WEST and ELECTRIC MASON earlier in the season. He’s gone on to win again but has ground to make up on the latter based on their Haydock running.
BOLD ENDEAVOUR was behind ACE OF SPADES last time out but shaped well off a long break on his yard debut. He should come on plenty for that run and gets in here off 15lb lower than his chase mark. He was fourth in this race off 143 in 2024 and a mark of 130 looks very appealing if his new stable can get him back to that sort of level.
Interesting Outsiders
CHAMPAGNE CHIC had MINELLA EMPEROR well adrift last time out and has now won his last two. He’s very much going the right way and can improve again on only his 9th start.
RED DIRT ROAD must have a big chance. He has form on decent ground and bolted up in a fast time off a mark of 133 in a Grade 3 handicap at Sandown in February of last year. He was pulled up on his next two starts but showed a fair bit more behind CHAMPAGNE CHIC last time out and might be coming to hand just in time. He’s incredibly well handicapped on that Sandown win.
IDEM is exposed but the yard is going well and he may be seen to better effect off a strong pace.
5:20 – Rosconn Group Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase – 3m2½f – 24 runners
Key Stat
Nothing standout in stats terms in this contest for amateur jockeys.
Market Leaders
JERIKO DU REPONET has disappointed in three starts over fences to date but he’s ended up on a very workable mark as a result. He gets cheekpieces and Derek O’Connor – the go to man in this type of race – and Nicky Henderson is having a fine week. No surprise if he runs a big race here.
Other Contenders
WATERFORD WHISPERS – an ownermate of JERIKO DU REPONET – and KIM ROQUE both ran well enough in a Leopardstown handicap last time out. The winner of that race, Backmersackme let the form down here on Tuesday.
Interesting Outsiders
MONBEG GENIUS is on a fair mark and has some course form if blinkers can revive him. He’s not run badly the last two starts.
WEVEALLBEENCAUGHT might respond to the cheekpieces and has been knocking on the door off this sort of mark.
