For Auction Novice Hurdle 2012

1.15 Navan

'For Auction' Novice Hurdle (Grade 3) (Class 1)  (4YO plus)

Winner €17,875

Advice: 2 pts win Sizing Rio (8/11 Sportingbet)

He’s Our Man: Not disgraced in maiden chases the last twice, travelling well before ending up out of the frame; Won over hurdles twice at Limerick and Punchestown in May; Looks likely to be outclassed.

Captain Arecaus: Well beaten in couple of decent bumpers throughought last season and finally off the mark in that sphere in August at Fairyhouse; Impressive on hurdling debut at Navan and worth respecting here if able to improve once again.  

Organisedconfusion: Irish Grand National winner who mixed hurdling and chasing his his bid for Aintree last year; Likely to lack the greats despite his decent third in Novice hurdle behind Make A Track last season.

Ted Veale: won Leopardstown bumper in January and big-field maiden event at Listowel in September; Readily exposed when last in Grade 3 latest; Needs far more here to be worth backing.

Cops And Robbers: Not always fluent when landing his maiden hurdle at Wexford, although that did at least represent a first win over jumps since  moving from Sir Michael Stoute (sold for 125,000 gns); Thrashed by Sizing Rio in maiden hurdle latest and see no reason why he should reverse that form.

Sizing Rio: Impressive when winning his point but disappointed on first start for Henry De Bromhead at Punchestown; Proved that to be all wrong when hacking up on his hurdling debut, beating reopposing and subsequent winner Cops And Robbers by 18 lengths with ease and posting faster time than Waaheb on same card; That impressive display makes him the one to beat.

Celtic Calin: Demoted when first past the winning post at Downpatrick and in frame all starts since, including them third in Grade 3 Hurdle latest; Looks exposed.

VERDICT: Not a great renewal and one at that looks the mercy of SIZING RIO, whose maiden hurdle performance now looks even better (if that was possible) when the 18 length second Cops And Robbers won at Wexford last time. He should be well upto beating this arranged field, the best of whom seems to be Captain Arcaus based on his impressive maiden hurdle win.