13:05 Leopardstown

Saturday 6 February 2021

All13:0513:3514:1014:4515:1515:5016:25

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

Off time: 13:05 | Winning time: 5m 45.40s

Ashdale Bob²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: P D Kennedy| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 146

11/1

Useful novice who improved again to take Navan Grade 2 (20f) on his penultimate start in December. Fell early in race won by Bob Olinger at Naas since and he remains with potential moving forward.

Form: 435-11F

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Baptism Of Fire⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 135

150/1

Off the mark on return in Punchestown maiden (20f) in October and stepped up again when third in Grade 2 back there next time. However, he does need to bounce back having ran poorly at Limerick latest

Form: 1/55-13P

Fakiera^p1⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 138

9/1

Fairly useful hurdler. 5/1, creditable 6 lengths second of 7 to Ashdale Bob in Navan Novices' Hurdle at Navan (20f, heavy) 50 days ago. This greater test of stamina should suit.

Form: 222-112

Fun Light²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien

40/1

Lightly-raced winner under NH rules. 11/4, career best when winning 13-runner novice hurdle at Fairyhouse (20f, heavy) 25 days ago, well positioned. However, this requires another jolt of improvement.

Form: 72-21

Shadow Rider^h1⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins

12/1

Martaline gelding who confirmed debut promise behind Ashdale Bob when justifying cramped odds in a Limerick maiden (20f) on Boxing Day. Expected to go on improving.

Form: 1/31

Stattler³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| C

7/1

Fairly useful bumper winner who shaped promisingly when third behind Vanillier on debut and duly off the mark in good style in a 20f course maiden since. Type to go improving as stamina is drawn out.

Form: 132-31

Vanillier^t⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 137

12/1

Confirmed promise of hurdles debut when staying on well to land 19f Naas maiden in November. Smashing second behind Farouk D'Alene in Gr. 2 since and no surprise to see him go well again.

Form: P/1-212

Cape Gentleman⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Brian Hayes| T: E Mullins

8/1

Useful Flat performer who looked an exciting hurdles prospect when running out a 2-length winner of a Punchestown maiden (20f) in December. Worth his place at this higher level on that evidence.

Form: 1

Gaillard Du Mesnil^h1⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| C

13/8

Shaped with plenty of promise on hurdles bow in November and looked a novice with serious potential when bolting up in a 20f maiden here in December. Form has been boosted since and he's a big player.

Form: 1222-21

Ganapathi²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: B J Cooper| T: W P Mullins

18/1

French bumper winner who justified cramped odds to make winning hurdles debut at Cork (2m) in November. Cracking second in Gr. 2 Moscow Flyer at Punchestown in January and likely there is more to come

Form: 12

Gentlemansgame³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: R M Power| T: M F Morris

12/1

Promising individual. Won 17-runner novice hurdle at Cork (16f, heavy, 5/4) on NH debut 35 days ago, impressively. Significantly up in trip and well worth a crack at this level on that evidence.

Form: 11

Holymacapony⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| BF

11/1

Point winner who responded well to score by 8 lengths in a Punchestown maiden from Gaillard Du Mesnil). Seemingly not 100% at Navan subsequently and feasible to think he will get back on the up.

Form: 1-1P

Kalkas³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead

80/1

Fairly useful hurdler. Won 18-runner novice hurdle (2/1) at Limerick (16f, heavy) 38 days ago, having run of the race. Type to go improving but this is understandably a lot more demanding.

Form: 3-51

Forecasts

Gaillard Du Mesnil (13/8), Stattler (7/1), Cape Gentleman (8/1), Fakiera (9/1), Holymacapony (11/1), Ashdale Bob (11/1), Gentlemansgame (12/1), Shadow Rider (12/1), Vanillier (12/1), Ganapathi (18/1), Fun Light (40/1), Kalkas (80/1), Baptism Of Fire (150/1)

GAILLARD DU MESNIL built on his promising debut effort in no uncertain terms when running out an emphatic winner of a maiden here (20f) in December. The type to go on improving, he's fancied to handle the even longer trip and come out on top once more. Stattler impressed when winning himself latest and is threat, along with Ganapathi, Holymacapony and Cape Gentleman in a cracking opener.