Deloitte Novice Hurdle

2.10 Leopardstown
Deloitte Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1) (5YO plus)
Winner €52,000

Pick: Zaidpour (win)

Cottrellsbooley: Made mincemeat of decent maiden hurdle field last time, not coming off the bridle to beat Buck Barrow by 5 lengths; Was a neck behind Shot From The Hip before that and that horse is much shorter in the market (having also improved massively since) so fascinating runner and not discounted.

Endless Intrigue: Twice a winner in National Hunt flat races and second in the Irish Champion Bumper at Punchestown before injury struck but has come back in good form, winning twice on the flat (fourth in Irish Cesarawitch) and made excellent hurdling debut finishing behind Shot From The Hip last time out; Sure to improve for that run fitness wise and experience will benefit, so no reason why he should be one of the outsiders.

Far Away So Close: Ninth in the Supreme Novice’s Hurdle last year but most of the also rans in that race were quite flattered to be where they ended up; Has won 2 races this season but thrashed behind Cue Card last time and has it tougher here.

Old Macodnald: Fourth, 10 lengths behind Hidden Universe in the Punchestown Champion Bumper last season and treated by trainer as one of best he’s ever had; Relished stamina test last time out (got better of good type in second) and while ground will help him great deal, this is level above anything he’s done.

Oscars Well: Already better over hurdles than bumpers, having slammed the opposition by 9 lengths on his first try at intermediate trip, and then going on to win Grade 1 event by similar margin at Navan; Form weak for the grade though, and while’s he a smashing prospect, this is infinitely more difficult.

Shot From The Hip: Majorly impressive on two bumper starts in winning despite his tendency to pull, but found out on that score at both the Cheltenham and Punchestown festivals and didn’t impress on his hurdling debut when well beaten second behind Frisco Depot; Changed that when easily beating Endless intrigue though and still has time to develop into a top class horse.

Hidden Universe: Has won 4 out of 5 starts, his only defeat coming in the Champion Bumper (won Grade 1 at Punchestown Festival with relative ease) ; Made perfect debut but for jumping to his left here last time and big chance here.

Si C’etait Vrai: Still going well when falling 4 out at Naas last time (decent race) and had accounted for subsequent winner The Bull Hayes at the same track on hurdling debut; Solid but unspectacular third last time and lot more to do here.

The Bull Hayes: Finally off the mark when scoring in impressive style last time by 12 lengths; Form weak in it’s context however, and has it all to do.

Zaidpour: High class recruit to jumping game 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; Beaten at long odds on here last time in Future Champion Novice Hurdle, not convincing with his attitude once asked for pressure (or jumping); First and third are high class horses though and it’s worth noting that he would probably have won that race over today’s trip.

VERDICT: A real cracker of a race and Ireland's best novice hurdler may well come from this race. There’s probably more we don’t know than we’ve seen about ZAIDPOUR so far, especially based on his run last time, but he’s worth a chance to make amends given the nature of his defeat and the superb form of his yard. Hidden Universe heads a strong list of contenders, although it’s interesting that Cottrellsbooley and Endless Intrigue are double the price of Shot From The Hip with Oscars Well also given respect.