Bar One Racing For Auction Novice Hurdle (Grade 3)

Off time: 13:25 | Winning time: 4m 3.0s

Bleu De Vassy³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott

4/6

Promising type. Career best when winning 9-runner novice hurdle (6/4) at Fairyhouse (18.5f, good) on hurdles bow 35 days ago, impressively. Obvious appeal.

Form: 2/2241-1

Helvic Dream^b1¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Donagh Meyler| T: N Meade| OR: 128| CD

7/1

Useful hurdler. Course winner. 8/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time in this code, good second of 18 in handicap hurdle at Down Royal (16.9f, good to soft) 14 days ago. Blinkers on 1st time and he merits respect.

Form: 5149-32

Milo Lises²⁰⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Sean Flanagan| T: D H Kelly| OR: 127

125/1

Fairly useful hurdler. Successful at Punchestown in February. Fell in handicap hurdle at Perth (20.2f, soft, 16/5). Off 6 months ahead of this debut for new yard and he's opposable.

Form: 2/U401F-

Mr Percy²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: D E Mullins| T: J P O'Brien| D

8/1

Fairly useful winner on the Flat. Won 17-runner novice hurdle (5/6) at Limerick (16.3f, good to soft) 28 days ago, going with enthusiasm. Open to improvement but this represents a significant step up in class.

Form: U1

Mywayofthinkin¹⁷⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Mark Walsh| T: G P Cromwell| D

8/1

Highly promising type. Won 15-runner novice hurdle at Punchestown (16f, good to soft, 4/5) on hurdles bow 179 days ago, cosily. Should significantly improve.

Form: 22-1

Patter Merchant²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott| D

9/1

Thrice-raced winner under Rules. Won 7-runner novice hurdle at Galway (21.4f, heavy, 9/4) on hurdles bow 20 days ago. Back down in trip and open to progress. Bleu De Vassy appears to be the stable No 1 but he shouldn't be underestimated.

Form: 117-1

Royal Hollow¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Cian Quirke| T: A Slattery| OR: 126

14/1

Fairly useful hurdler. Creditable 3½ lengths second of 8 to Sansrisk in Grade 3 hurdle (4/1) at Down Royal (16.9f, good to soft) 15 days ago. Not without each-way hope.

Form: 4-21122

Forecasts

Bleu De Vassy (4/6), Helvic Dream (7/1), Mr Percy (8/1), Mywayofthinkin (8/1), Patter Merchant (9/1), Royal Hollow (14/1), Milo Lises (125/1)

Having impressed on his hurdles debut at Fairyhouse last month, BLEU DE VASSY can be expected to take this step up in class in his stride. He may have most to fear from stable companion Patter Merchant, who also made a winning start in this sphere at Galway. Mywayofthinkin, another who is 1-1 over hurdles, is open to plenty of progress and he needs a second look, along with Helvic Dream.