Punchestown Festival 2011 - Cathal Ryan Memorial Champion Novice Hurdle

6.05 Punchestown

Cathal Ryan Memorial Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1)  (4YO plus)

Pick: First Lieutenant (win)   

First Lieutenant: Impressive winner of a steadily run maiden hurdle on debut before getting beat at odds on in novice contest next time; Sprung big shock when getting better of Zaidpour over Christmas and showed that was no fluke when winning Neptune novice hurdle at Cheltenham Festival latest, staying on well to take advantage of last flight blunder from reopposing So Young and catching Rock On Ruby at line; Can go close again, although wouldn’t be wanting overly tactical battle.

Frisco Depot: Built on promising debut over hurdles when beating Shot From The Hip (Grade 1 winner at this meeting on Tuesday) by 2 lengths at Naas in November; Can make up into a useful horse but been off since then and this step up in class.

Gagewell Flyer: Made excellent start to the season, winning with ease at Navan before coming home clear in the Slaney Novice Hurdle and showing guts and slick jumping to win 2m Grade 2 event; Wheels have come off since however, not staying three miles at Cheltenham Festival before running shocker latest and cannot be recommended here.

 Prima Vista: Improved for a career best when getting better of Rathlin in Grade 2 hurdle at Fairyhouse last time, taking advantage of two serious blunders in home straight by the reopposing runner up, who had been involved in a pace battle long before then; Obvious claims here although this harder and that may have been a hard race to come back from so soon.

So Young: Easy winner of ordinary 2m4f maiden hurdle on debut in December&  again faced weakish opposition when winning without being asked a serious question in a 2m novice event at Punchestown; Both performances impressive though, so backed as if defeat was out of question in Neptune Novices Hurdle (sent off 2/1 fav) and throwing down strong challenge when ending chances with blunder at the last; Can get much closer to First Lieutenant today with clear jumping but was comprehensively beaten that day.

Spirit Of Adjisa: Bumped into some top class horses when unable to break maiden last season; Been placed in much weaker company, so predictably not had to work hard to land two easy wins; This a big rise in class but best of him not seen best and can go well here.

VERDICT: So Young was backed as if defeat was out of the question in the Neptune Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival but he was well behind FIRST LIEUTENANT at the line and will do well to reverse form today. A small field will make this a test of speed but the two were level at the last and although So Young can get closer with a clear round, the winner can confirm form.