Tote Navan Novice Hurdle (Grade 2)

Off time: 13:07 | Winning time: 5m 40.70s

Ballystone²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: T Gibney

80/1

Lightly-raced winner under Rules. 9/1, tailed-off fifth of 6 to Croke Park in Monksfield Novices' Hurdle at this C&D (heavy) 20 days ago. Looks vulnerable.

Form: 2382-15

Better Days Ahead^t¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Jordan Gainford| T: G Elliott

5/1

Lightly-raced winner under Rules. 2/9, didn't need to be at best when winning 7-runner novice hurdle at Fairyhouse (23.5f, heavy) 15 days ago, going clear. Likely to improve. Jack Kennedy prefers Stellar Story.

Form: 1/210-F1

Lecky Watson³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins

9/2

Fairly useful hurdler. Career best when winning 9-runner novice hurdle (4/7) at Thurles (23f, soft) on hurdles bow 37 days ago, always holding on. This is tougher, but he should have more to offer.

Form: 2/D245-1

Slade Steel^t²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead

2/1

Promising type. 10/3 and tongue strap on for 1st time, won 22-runner novice hurdle at Naas (16f, soft) on hurdles bow 27 days ago, forging clear. Looks promising.

Form: 113-1

Stellar Story²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| CD

11/8

Lightly-raced winner under Rules. Career best when winning 16-runner novice hurdle (4/7) at this C&D (heavy) on hurdles bow 21 days ago. Open to progress and he's a major player.

Form: U1/511-1

Forecasts

Stellar Story (11/8), Slade Steel (2/1), Lecky Watson (9/2), Better Days Ahead (5/1), Ballystone (80/1)

The pick of these promising novices could be STELLAR STORY, who did the job well in a big-field C&D maiden on his hurdles debut three weeks ago and he's open to plenty of improvement. Slade Steel represents last year's winning yard and, armed with a similar profile to the selection, he is second choice ahead of Lecky Watson and Better Days Ahead.