Punchestown Festival 2013 - Champion Novice Hurdle

4.20 Punchestown

Herald Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1)  (5YO plus)

Winner €49,600

Advice: 1 pt win Champagne Fever (13/8 Hills)

Art Of Logistics: Did the job nicely at Fairyhouse, putting away subsequently impressive winner Midnight Oil and Waaheb; This on a different level and no match for Un Atout, which suggests he’s struggle to match Champagne Fever and Jezki.

Champagne Fever: Top bumper horse of last season who has proven himself a top hurdler as well this season, bouncing back from moderate effort when sick horse at Naas to land Deloitte Novice Hurdle and then Supreme Novice at Cheltenham in a thrilling renewal, holding off My Tent Or Yours with Jezki in third; This track will suit less but heavy ground to his advantage when romping here in Champion Bumper last year and with only five rivals, chance he may get to dictate pace; That wasn’t good enough in Royal Bond (hit the last) but didn’t go as hard from front as he could have that day and arguably better horse now; Big chance of following up.

Jezki: The leading Irish novice hurdler before Cheltenham, winning four on the bounce, never more impressive than when romping to Grade 1 win at Leopardstown; First run since in Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and hugely creditable third considering that, while he hit the last and landed awkwardly; had previously beaten Champagne Fever in Royal Bond through speed but that Champagne Fever hadn’t gone as hard as he did at Cheltenham and fair to say he’s improved; That said, conditions favour him today.

Mallowney: Impressive handicap winner at Naas off 119 (won by seven lengths) and quickly followed up in Listed event; Needs more here although we don’t know how

Rule The World: Run just the once over 2m this season but that produced and impressive win in maiden hurdle, and since become one of best novice hurdlers in UK/Ireland, clear second best in Neptune behind The New One (Aintree Hurdle second); This drop back in trip will suit just fine and one to go well.

Ted Veale: Seems a much better horse than when second in Navan Grade 3, strong at the finish when convincing winner of County Hurdle at Festival;

VERDICT: There’s a strong case to be made for Jezki turning around the Supreme Novice form with CHAMPAGNE FEVER on a track which will be a test of speed over stamina compared to Cheltenham, but the testing surface that has prevailed is in the favour of Willie Mullins’ charge and dictating matters from the front at a harder pace than the one he set when beaten in the Royal Bond at the beginning of the season.