14:45 Navan

Sunday 11 February 2024

All13:4514:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:45

William Hill Boyne Hurdle (Grade 2)

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 5m 59.3s

Sire Du Berlais^b,t²⁹⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: G Elliott| OR: 158| C

12/1

High-class hurdler. Course winner. Respectable ¾-length third of 9 to Klassical Dream in Champion Stayers' Hurdle at Punchestown (23.6f, good to soft, 7/1) when last seen. Off 9 months. Might need this but still has plenty of class and got to go well.

Form: 5P4113-

Blazing Khal³³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Philip Byrnes| T: C Byrnes| OR: 157| CD

4/1

Very smart hurdler. C&D winner. 9/2, bit below form 11¼ lengths sixth of 11 to Sire Du Berlais in Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham (24f, good to soft) when last seen. Can make a successful comeback in this race once again.

Form: 1111/16-

Hiddenvalley Lake⁶⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 139| BF

3/1

Lightly-raced winner under NH rules. 11/5, fell in novice chase at this course (20.4f, heavy) on debut over fences 64 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles. Others preferred.

Form: C/1129-F

Ashdale Bob¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: J S McGarvey| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 149| C

11/2

Smart hurdler. Course winner. Sixteen runs since last win in 2021. 6/1, 13½ lengths third of 4 to Monkfish in John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran (24f, heavy) 17 days ago. Worth considering.

Form: 2P5-533

Beacon Edge⁴⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 142| CD

16/5

Very smart chaser. C&D winner. 1 win from 3 runs this season. 40/1, 13½ lengths fourth of 6 to Irish Point in Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown (23.4f, heavy) 45 days ago.

Form: 036-1P4

Da Capo Glory³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: J J Slevin| T: Padraig Butler| OR: 141

6/1

Useful hurdler. 2 wins from 4 runs this season. 9/2, career best when winning 8-runner handicap hurdle at Cork (20f, heavy) 36 days ago. Likely to find at least one too good.

Form: 02-15P1

Delta Work^p,t⁸⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-3| J: Donagh Meyler| T: G Elliott| OR: 146

33/1

High-class chaser. Eleven wins from 33 NH runs. 4/1, below form sixth of 13 in Cross Country handicap chase at Cheltenham (29.2f, good to soft) 86 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles. Back down in trip.

Form: 361U-36

Galvin⁵⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott| OR: 140| C| D

25/1

Very smart chaser. Course winner. Respectable fifth of 13 in Cross Country handicap chase at Cheltenham (29.2f, good to soft, 11/2) 58 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles. Down in trip. Not ruled out.

Form: 462U-85

Forecasts

Hiddenvalley Lake (3/1), Beacon Edge (16/5), Blazing Khal (4/1), Ashdale Bob (11/2), Da Capo Glory (6/1), Sire Du Berlais (12/1), Galvin (25/1), Delta Work (33/1)

BLAZING KHAL wasn't disgraced in the Stayers' Hurdle when last seen and can make a winning return in this race for the second year running. Old rival Sire du Berlais, who beat the selection at Cheltenham, may need the run but he's still the obvious danger, while Ashdale Bob can't be dismissed.