15:10 Naas

Sunday 23 February 2020

All14:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:4017:10

Paddy Power Betting Shop Novice Hurdle (Grade 2)

Off time: 15:12 | Winning time: 3m 54.20s

Andy Dufresne⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: G Elliott| OR: 144| D

6/5

Possibly failed to stay on penultimate start at Navan when sent off odds-on but appreciated step back when scoring well last time out at Punchestown; definitely more to come and has a leading chance.

Form: 1/1-121

Beacon Edge¹³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: D F O'Regan| T: N Meade| D

11/1

Snapped up by current connections after winning at Ayr for Nicky Richards last year and has put in plenty of decent performances since, including winning in October; well entered up and should go well.

Form: 14-31

Jason The Militant²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 128| D

25/1

Started over timber in pleasing fashion following up on a second at Fairyhouse in November when winning a Limerick maiden hurdle over a similar trip over Christmas on heavy ground; outclassed in Grade 1 event last time out; improvement required.

Form: 3-215

Mt Leinster^h²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 142| D

9/4

Off the mark at the second time of asking landing an 18 runner maiden hurdle at Christmas; unable to follow up at same track at the start of last month but respected from top stable.

Form: 52-7213

Pakens Rock³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: K J Brouder| T: B J Murphy| OR: 137| D

8/1

Has plenty of experience and has won three times already; can throw in the occasional below par effort but put his best foot forward last time at Thurles and deserves his place in the line-up though others preferred.

Form: 1134P1

Department Of War^t²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Kevin Sexton| T: D P Dunne

25/1

Lightly-raced on the Flat; brought down on hurdles debut at the first flight at Leopardstown in December and subsequently sent off at 100/1 at Down Royal the following month when winning well; more to come but more needed in this contest.

Form: B1

Fighter Allen²⁹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott

33/1

Hard to assess given his only racecourse appearance came when winning a bumper in France last May; obviously well regarded and market will provide plenty of clues about stable confidence.

Form: 1

Grangeclare Native⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| D

16/1

Cost this yard for £125,000; more than impressive on sole point-to-point start and followed that up with a win in a bumper here in December; interesting prospect.

Form: 1-1

Tiger Tap Tap^h1²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 135| C

10/1

Maiden hurdle winner who didn't need to improve to win a four-runner event at Clonmel in January; very disappointing when showing up well for a long way last time at Leopardstown; not easy to dismiss in first-time headgear.

Form: 49-4110

Non-Runners

Exit Poll²⁹

Weight: 11-4| Age: 6

T: Mrs J Harrington J: R M Power

Forecasts

Andy Dufresne (6/5), Mt Leinster (9/4), Exit Poll (7/1), Pakens Rock (8/1), Tiger Tap Tap (10/1), Beacon Edge (11/1), Grangeclare Native (16/1), Jason The Militant (25/1), Department Of War (25/1), Fighter Allen (33/1)

Despite having to weight away all round, ANDY DEFRESNE may be the answer in the Grade 2 contest. The gelding relished stepping back in trip last time to score well at Punchestown in January and while he obviously lacks experience he has shown himself to be a tough performer given his defeat over 2m4f came at the hands of a future Grade 1 winner. It has been frustrating for connections of Beacon Edge who have been unable to get a run into the six-year-old due to meetings being called off. The gelding certainly has talent but needs to overcome a lengthy absence. Department Of War is an interesting candidate from unfashionable connections. He did little wrong in defeat last time.