15:35 Leopardstown

Sunday 6 February 2022

All12:4513:2013:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:40

Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 15:38 | Winning time: 4m 2.7s

Colonel Mustard⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: C J Orr| T: L Fowler| OR: 140| D

14/1

Useful hurdler. 8/1, creditable 2¾ lengths second of 5 to Jonbon in Kennel Gate Novices' Hurdle at Ascot (15.7f, good to soft) 51 days ago, no match for winner. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 2432-12

Farout^t⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 137| D

25/1

Useful hurdler. 2 wins from 5 runs this season. Good 4¼ lengths third of 6 to Mighty Potter in Future Champions Novices' Hurdle (20/1) at this C&D (soft) 41 days ago. Looks vulnerable at this level.

Form: 5-11243

Gatsby Grey^t⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: B Browne| T: O McKiernan| D

40/1

First run since leaving Declan Queally when tongue strap on for 1st time, won 18-runner novice hurdle (6/1) at Limerick (16f, heavy) on hurdles bow 40 days ago, kept up to work. More required.

Form: 1-1

My Mate Mozzie⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 141| BF| D

7/1

Promising sort. 5/4, good short-head second of 7 to Statuaire in Royal Bond Novices' Hurdle at Fairyhouse (16f, good) 70 days ago, going with enthusiasm. Dangerous if allowed his own way in front.

Form: 11-112

Sir Gerhard⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| CD

8/13

£400,000 point recruit who won 3 of his 4 starts last term, notably Champion Bumper. Cruised clear to make a winning hurdling debut over C&D, and boasts leading claims upped markedly in grade.

Form: 1/1113-1

Three Stripe Life⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 141| D

5/1

Confirmed promise of successful hurdling debut when good 1½ lengths second of 6 to Mighty Potter in Future Champions Novices' Hurdle at this C&D (soft, 4/1) 41 days ago. Another bold show likely.

Form: 14-12

Watch House Cross⁴²

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

22/1

Won 21-runner novice hurdle at this C&D (soft, 12/1) on NH debut 42 days ago. Has some potential, but probably out of his depth in this company.

Form: 21-1

Statuaire^h1⁷⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 135| D

11/1

Useful hurdler. Won 7-runner Royal Bond Novices' Hurdle at Fairyhouse (16f, good, 12/1) 70 days ago, doing well to get up late from unpromising positoin. One to consider with a hood applied.

Form: 2/PP-111

Non-Runners

El Fabiolo³⁶

Weight: 11-12| Age: 5

T: W P Mullins J: Sean O'Keeffe

Forecasts

Sir Gerhard (8/13), Three Stripe Life (5/1), El Fabiolo (5/1), My Mate Mozzie (7/1), Statuaire (11/1), Colonel Mustard (14/1), Watch House Cross (22/1), Farout (25/1), Gatsby Grey (40/1)

SIR GERHARD, last year's Champion Bumper winner, took well to hurdling when readily making all in a C&D novice on Boxing Day. That form has worked out and he has obviously has a good deal of scope, so he gets the nod in this ultra-competitive Grade-1 event. His stablemate El Fabiolo is a danger and Three Stripe Life demands respect after an excellent second at the top level on his latest outing.