1.55 Leopardstown
Paddypowerpoker.com Future Champions Novice Hurdle (grade 1) (4YO plus)
Winner €52,000
Pick: Zaidpour (win)
First Lieutenant: Has had a mixed start to hurdling, winning once at odds on in an ordinary maiden hurdle (for all he was a long way clear) and well beaten into third last time at Navan; This likely to be too tough.
Hazyemm: Been well exposed following respectable efforts in the summer; This too much.
Hidden Cyclone: Has been seriously impressive on all completed starts, making step up from maiden hurdle to Grade 3 company easily with commanding 6 length win in the ‘For Auction’ Novice Hurdle (over 2 miles); Clearly highly regarded (trained missed easier race at Navan to come here) and n surprise if he were to put up a bold show, for all this is a much harder affair.
Perfect Smile: Strong-travelling sort from notably powerful stable who didn't need to be at best to cruise home at Punchestown on reappearance (was fully entitled to do so);Travelled very well coming to the home turn before emptying out in the straight and may be ridden with lot more restraint today, which makes him an interesting runner.
Zaidpour: Very high class recruit to jumping game (Winner on Flat in France for Alain de Royer-Dupre and half-brother to high-class hurdler Zaynar) who created deep impression when routing field by 12 lengths at Punchestown on debut, building on that with even more impressive success in Royal Bond Novice Hurdle last time; This much tougher again but potential star quality and will be very hard to beat.
VERDICT: It’s likely that this is the hardest ZAIDPOUR will be tested all season before the Cheltenham Festival and while he should be making it three out of three here, the presence of the highly rated Hidden Cyclone means it’s no formality.
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