12:50 Leopardstown

Saturday 1 February 2020

All12:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:4516:20

Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors '50,000 Cheltenham Bonus For Stable Staff' Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 12:50 | Winning time: 5m 32.70s

Assemble^t³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien

16/1

Bumper winner who won a maiden hurdle on debut over timber at Limerick (1m2f) in December and barely asked a question prior to the second last; steps up in trip again here but went well through the line last time; interesting.

Form: 23/44-11

Cobbler's Way^t³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| C

9/1

Maiden hurdle winner here last time out, sticking to his task well and that form has a solid look to it; ought to improve again here up in trip but will need more to get the better of some of these prospects.

Form: 2/1-21

Elixir D'Ainay²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 146

3/1

Maiden hurdle winner at Naas but no match for the unbeaten Champion Bumper winner back at that venue last time out in a novice hurdle; step up in trip will suit and remains an exciting prospect.

Form: 61/2-12

Fury Road^t³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 144| D

9/4

Very impressive when winning a Grade 3 at Navan and followed up in Grade 2 company at Limerick in December (would have won with a much greater degree of comfort if not making a novicey error at the last); still has potential for better.

Form: 51-3111

Latest Exhibition⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: B J Cooper| T: P Nolan| OR: 145

7/2

Appreciated the step up in trip when taking a Grade 2 at Navan last time. That was only a four-runner affair but he beat a subsequent Grade 2 winner who may have failed to see out the trip; interesting contender.

Form: 21-121

Longhouse Poet^t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr J J Codd| T: M Brassil| OR: 142

6/1

Maiden hurdle winner but only third in behind Elixir D'Ainay at Naas earlier this month; certain to need improvement if he's to reverse that form here.

Form: 1-1213

Aircraft Carrier¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Ricky Doyle| T: L Comer

100/1

Useful on the Flat but shown very little in three starts over hurdles to date and looks out of his depth in this line up.

Form: 069

Home By The Lee^h³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: R M Power| T: J P O'Brien

18/1

Got the better of a subsequent winner at Fairyhouse last time but sure to need further improvement if he's to play a part here.

Form: 1121

Forecasts

Fury Road (9/4), Elixir D'Ainay (3/1), Latest Exhibition (7/2), Longhouse Poet (6/1), Cobbler's Way (9/1), Assemble (16/1), Home By The Lee (18/1), Aircraft Carrier (100/1)

A competitive Grade 1 to kick off the Dublin Racing Festival and FURY ROAD could get Gordon Elliot off to a flyer. The gelding would have won with much more in hand without making a mistake at the last in Grade 2 company at Limerick last time out. Latest Exhibition is another exciting prospect who can go well again while Assemble traveled well into his race last time out and could go well, though improvement will be required.