13:50 Leopardstown

Sunday 3 February 2019

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:40

Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 3m 48.30s

Aramon³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 146| CD

5/2

Three wins from five starts for this yard and bolted up in a C&D Grade 1 over Christmas having travelled well throughout the race. Second string on jockey bookings here but unlikely to be much between the pair and expected to go close.

Form: 12131

Triplicate^t³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: B J Geraghty| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 142| BF| D

7/1

Won twice last year in soft ground and not disgraced in a pair of defeats in Grade 1 company this time around, including in a messy race when fourth behind Aramon last time. Better than that and not without each-way claims.

Form: 4-11224

Valdieu^t²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| D

12/1

Placed in a series of bumpers before finally getting his head in front at Down Royal. Backed that up with an impressive maiden hurdle win at Naas but he will need sizable improvement to land this.

Form: 322211

Dancing On My Own³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead

20/1

Unlucky not to win on his seasonal return at Navan when only narrowly denied and put in a fair effort when third of 20 over C&D on Boxing Day. A whole lot more needed at this level though and others preferred.

Form: 523

Entoucas^h1,t1³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien

10/1

Bumper winner at Nantes and has shaped well in two hurdles starts for this yard. First-time hood and first-time tongue-tie go on but much more needed taking a huge step up in Grade here.

Form: 1-22

Klassical Dream³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 145| CD

9/4

French Flat winner who was fourth in a Grade 1 at Auteuil back in 2017, just 4½L behind a classy sort. Made an encouraging start for this yard with a C&D last time out and expected to improve. First-string on jockey bookings.

Form: 1324P-1

Vision D'Honneur²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| D

3/1

Flat winner at Fontainebleau and produced a good fourth behind Klassical Dream on debut for this yard. Took a big step up from that when winning a 21-runner maiden hurdle at Punchestown in good fashion next time and yard won this last year.

Form: 1-41

Non-Runners

Prince D'Aubrelle²⁶⁹

Weight: 11-10| Age: 9

T: W P Mullins J: D J Mullins

Elixir D'Ainay²¹

Weight: 11-9| Age: 5

T: W P Mullins J: J S McGarvey

Forecasts

Klassical Dream (9/4), Aramon (5/2), Vision D'Honneur (3/1), Triplicate (7/1), Entoucas (10/1), Valdieu (12/1), Prince D'Aubrelle (14/1), Elixir D'Ainay (16/1), Dancing On My Own (20/1)

Gordon Elliot won this last year with Samcro and Vision D'Honneur bids to give Gigginstown another win in the race after his impressive effort last time out at Punchestown. However, ARAMON couldn't have been much more impressive last time and with Grade 1 form already in the book, he's the selection in a wide-open renewal. Ruby Walsh seemingly prefers the claims of Klassical Dream who should improve for his course and distance success last time.