Royal Bond Novice Hurdle 2012

1.05 Fairyhouse

Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle (grade 1) (Class 1)  (4YO plus)

Winner €48,750

Advice: 1 pt win Champagne Fever (6/4 Hills, Ladbrokes); 1 pt treble Champagne Fever (1.05), Arvika Legionnaire (1.35), Zaidpour (2.40) (30.94 Bet Victor)

Champagne Fever: The outstanding bumper horse of last season, compensating for Leopardstown reverse in emphatic fashion before winning Cheltenham and Punchestown bumpers last year, showing remarkable attitude and impressive range of speed and stamina (won from the front on good at Cheltenham, and destroyed others in near unreachable ground over C&D); Debut hurdling win just confirmed his health but sure to take the beating here even upped in class.

Clonbanan Lad: Useful bumper horse last year before switching to De Bromhead’s stable (Hugely impressive when backing up on second start under rules at Naas in February, beating Mozotov by 12 lengths on the bridle) but couldn’t cut it when it mattered in the major bumper events; Debut win for De Bromhead stable impressive but others make more appeal.

Jezki: Horse of major potential in bumpers last season (2-3, but well behind Champagne Fever at Cheltenham) and most impressive when making it 2-2 over hurdles at Naas in Grade 3 last time; Favourite and only main rival flopped but still showed big engine and looks set to go close today.

Midnight Oil: Well fancied to make his mark on the hurdling scene thanks to strong flat form but disappointing in two hurdles defeats and this yet harder still.

Minsk: All the rage for the Triumph Hurdle last year after incredible improvement on the flat, romping away with Irish Cesarawitch, but jumped and then scoped badly before and after long odds on defeat in Grade 2 company (ran well in Listed flat races since); Much more like it when destroying very decent mare on return here over 2m4f and should throw down a big challenge.

Zuzka: Ended run of three straight seconds when running out a very comfortable 11 length winner of Mares Grade 3 in October but not run since and others preferred.

VERDICT: A small but very select field for a race which has thrown up some very high quality performers, with CHAMPAGNE FEVER taken to enhance the already superb record of Willie Mullins and the Ricci’s in this event (two recent winners), assuming that Ruby Walsh allows him to stretch out from the front and use his stamina, although a Cheltenham Festival bumper win on good suggests he doesn’t lack for speed if needed. Jezki, who was so impressive at Naas latest (albeit with nothing to beat) and Minsk, who finally brought his flat speed to show when bolting up here over 2m4f, are the main dangers.