13:45 Leopardstown

Sunday 27 December 2020

All12:0512:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:30

Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 4m 7.01s

Appreciate It³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| CD

7/4

Smart in bumpers. 1/12, career best when winning 14-runner novice hurdle at Cork (16f, heavy) on hurdles bow 35 days ago, plenty in hand. Exciting prospect and lead claims with better to come.

Form: 1/3112-1

Ballyadam²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| D

9/4

Highly promising individual. 8/15, career best when winning 7-runner Royal Bond Novices' Hurdle at Fairyhouse (16f, soft) 28 days ago. Open to above-average improvement and he's an exciting prospect.

Form: 131-11

Fire Attack³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Donagh Meyler| T: J P O'Brien

11/1

Thrice-raced winner under NH rules. 7/1, ½-length second of 7 to Fakiera in Monksfield Novices' Hurdle at Navan (20f, heavy) on hurdles bow 35 days ago, needing stronger gallop. Likely to improve.

Form: 12-2

Irascible⁵⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 134

16/1

Jukebox Jury gelding. 17/2, won 14-runner novice hurdle at Clonmel (16.7f, soft) on NH debut 59 days ago, suited by way race developed. Type to progress but this undoubtedly more demanding.

Form: 5/1

Keskonrisk^t²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| D

16/1

Twice-raced winner under NH rules. First run since leaving T. E. Hyde when 6/5 and tongue strap on for 1st time, won 18-runner novice hurdle at Fairyhouse (16f, soft) on hurdles bow 29 days ago.

Form: 1-1

N'Golo^t²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 138| D

15/2

Lightly-raced winner over hurdles. Very good 2 lengths third of 7 to Ballyadam in Royal Bond Novices' Hurdle (9/2) at Fairyhouse (16f, soft) 28 days ago, running on late. Progressing recently.

Form: 1P113

Call Me Lyreen³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott| D

12/1

Promising individual. Won 7-runner Fishery Lane Hurdle (11/2) at Naas (2m) 36 days ago by 1¾ lengths from Wolf Prince, keeping on well. Stable having good spell and he may yet have more to offer.

Form: 111

Jesse Evans⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| D

40/1

7/2, unseated rider first in For Auction Novices' Hurdle at Navan (16f, soft) 49 days ago won by N'golo. Remains open to signficant improvement over timber.

Form: 311U

Thedevilscoachman³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Mark Walsh| T: N Meade| D

20/1

Twice-raced winner under NH rules. Won 12-runner novice hurdle at Cork (16f, heavy, 4/1) on hurdles bow 35 days ago, quickening clear. Trainer going well. May well do better.

Form: 1-1

Non-Runners

Dewcup²⁸

Weight: 11-12| Age: 5

T: T M Walsh J: B J Cooper

Forecasts

Appreciate It (7/4), Ballyadam (9/4), N'Golo (15/2), Fire Attack (11/1), Call Me Lyreen (12/1), Irascible (16/1), Keskonrisk (16/1), Thedevilscoachman (20/1), Dewcup (33/1), Jesse Evans (40/1)

A bumper winner at Downpatrick in March, BALLYADAM is clearly a smart prospect, doubling his hurdles tally when landing the Grade 1 Royal Bond Hurdle at Fairyhouse 4 weeks ago. There's room for improvement in his jumping but he can maintain his 100% record over timber and make it 3-3. Appreciate It is of a very similar ilk and is highly respected, ahead of Call Me Lyreen and Fire Attack.