Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle 2012

4.55 Punchestown

Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1)  (4YO plus)

Winner €46,500

Advice: 2 pts win Sous Les Cioux (11/4 general), 3 pts Sous Les Cioux – Insurebet – 3 places (11/8 Paddy Power)

Castle Wings: Good efforts on all 4 starts since Limerick maiden hurdle win and shouldn’t mind trip or ground, although he needs to find improvement off his mark of 132 and this a serious step up in class for him.

Cootamundra: Landed a C&D handicap in February but that but that off 121 and couldn’t handle the 7lsb rise she took for landing that, so hard to see her making an impact here.

Ipsos Du Berlais: Followed up promising bumper win with easy maiden hurdle success and with that in mind, probably not suited by slowly run race when losing his unbeaten record in November; Done well since apart from Cheltenham disappointment and wouldn’t mind the ground here but worry that running at Cheltenham and Aintree coming back to him.

Jetson: Wasn’t upto standard when tried twice in Graded company earlier this year but likely that he’s since improved for the step up to three miles, winning Pertemps Qualifer in good style at Leopardstown before second in EBF Novice Handicap off mark of 132; Might be a plus that he reverts to softer ground here (his three wins all on ground soft or worse) but has a little improvement still to find.

Marasonnien: Useful chaser in France (second to progressive Aerial of Paul Nicholls’s giving 6lbs at Auteil in June 2010) and respectable return over hurdles at Leopardstown when second on much quicker ground than today but won on soft to heavy afterwards, having looked like he’d be an easy winner before hitting the last; Only a neck behind My Murphy last time but that rival reopposes here on 3lbs better terms and was only able to catch him due to extended trip, so 3 miles the worry here.

My Murphy: Big disappointment behind Folsom Blue at Clonmel but that effort sandwiched by two gutsy wins, beating Please Talk in Grade 3 at Limerick before catching Marasonnien with last stride in Navan novice hurdle; Now 3lbs better off with that rival and sure to relish extra furlong so high on the list.

Please Talk: Looked to have a future when winning on the bridle at Punchestown on hurdles debut and sent off 9/10 favourite for Limerick Grade 3 that My Murphy won, but couldn’t raise an effort in second; Hard to see how that form reversed today.

Sea Of Thunder: Looked set to run out a wide margin winner of Cheltenham Grade 2 in December but for last flight fall, his first try over three miles; Then fifth in Grade 2 but trip a little short for him on all evidence; Lifeless effot in Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham and while these might be calmer waters, worry for him is that all of his best efforts on good ground.

Sous Les Cieux: French import who suffered stress fracture when beaten on debut (odds on); Showed he’d recovered when unextended to come home in his own time and win by 6 lengths in weak maiden hurdle, but that still impressive; Dropped in trip and upped in class for Royal Bond Hurdle but travelling much the best in the straight and won well after being challenged by listed flat winner; Clearly not at same level when disappointing at Christmas meeting (very keen infront and hung head to one side under pressure) but once again outpaced when it mattered on good ground when beaten by Benefficent in the Deolitte; Same story again when a wide margin fifth in Neptune at Cheltenham but acted as if he’d enjoy three miles again there and this a weaker race on figures; Back on soft ground, he merits major respect here.

Vesper Bell: Seems to be at his best on heavy (won bumper on Heavy but then only fourth on good ground here last year) but beaten on seasonal reappearance and effort over three miles flattened out latest, which casts doubt over whether he’s a stayer of the trip.

Bridgets Pet: Holds some very solid form over middle distance, like his Grade 2 third behind Lyreen Legend and Grade 2 second behind Jenari latest (then ahead of Lyreen Legend); Does seem to relish this ground so has to be respected as he did shape as if wanting this trip when last seen.

Spring Heeled: Winner of his maiden hurdle on heavy ground but since not really been at the same form, ending up well behind that rival when they next met and then finishing far out of his ground in Grade 2 company; Won at Limerick on good ground and might be better on the fastest surface

VERDICT: SOUS LES CIOUX has disappointed throughought the winter/spring based on his Royal Bond effort, but those runs have always given the impression that he’d be better the further he went and the return to soft ground can only aid him. He can get the better of Ipsos Du Berlais, My Murphy, and Brigdets Pet.