13:20 Leopardstown

Saturday 4 February 2023

All13:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:1016:40

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

Off time: 13:19 | Winning time: 5m 22.08s

Absolute Notions⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 131| BF

12/1

Course bumper winner who again looked a good prospect when making a successful hurdling debut here after 7 months off in November. Not disgraced when third in Grade 2 at Naas last time but more needed for win purposes.

Form: 1-13

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Cool Survivor⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: B J Cooper| T: G Elliott| OR: 136

25/1

Fair form in bumpers and made it 2 from 2 over hurdles in listed event at Cork in November. Ran at least as well in defeat in Grade 3 event there last time but had the run of the race and looks vulnerable again.

Form: 266-112

Deep Cave³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 130| C

11/1

Point winner who confirmed the promise of his hurdling debut when landing 20-runner maiden at this course (20f, soft) 38 days ago, staying on to lead near finish. This asks for a lot more but he's open to further progress.

Form: 1-21

Good Land³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: M J M O'Sullivan| T: B Connell| C

3/1

Landed a Wexford bumper that's worked out well and ran out an impressive winner on what was essentially his hurdling debut at this course (20f) 37 days ago, making all. Entitled to improve and looks sure to go well up in grade.

Form: 2/1U1

Grangeclare West²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| BF

15/2

Won sole start in points and showed useful form when winning a Punchestown bumper/Navan maiden hurdle first 2 starts under Rules. Lost his unbeaten record in tame fashion in Naas Grade 1 since, though was reported to be coughing post-race. Too soon to be writing him off.

Form: 1/1-15

Quais De Paris³⁴

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

9/2

Landed the odds in straightforward fashion returning from 14 months off in 15-runner maiden at Tramore (16.2f, heavy, 1/5) on yard debut 34 days ago, driven out. Has plenty of scope to improve.

Form: 3-1

Sandor Clegane⁶⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: P Nolan| D

9/2

Useful bumper winner who opened his account over hurdles in stylish fashion in Punchestown maiden (21.7f, good to soft) 67 days ago. Better to come and well worth a shot at this level.

Form: 1227-21

Weveallbeencaught³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 137

7/2

Point/useful bumper winner who shaped with plenty of encouragement thrown in the deep end on his Cheltenham hurdling debut and built on that promise when getting off the mark there (20.2f) on New Year's Day. That form has been franked by the runner-up since and he's open to further improvement.

Form: 11-31

Non-Runners

American Mike⁶⁹

Weight: 11-10| Age: 6

T: G Elliott J: D N Russell

Forecasts

Good Land (3/1), Weveallbeencaught (7/2), Sandor Clegane (9/2), Quais De Paris (9/2), American Mike (6/1), Grangeclare West (15/2), Deep Cave (11/1), Absolute Notions (12/1), Cool Survivor (25/1)

GOOD LAND won what looked an interesting race in very taking fashion here over the Christmas period and looks the type to go on to better things now stepping up in grade, so he gets the nod. Weveallbeencaught saw his Cheltenham form franked last weekend and looks a big threat with further progress on the cards, as does Sandor Clegane following an impressive win at Punchestown.