KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 4m 1.60s

Fleetfoot^t⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Keith Donoghue| T: J S Bolger| C

150/1

Highly-promising type. Twenty-first of 27 in handicap (7/1) at the Curragh (8f, soft) 44 days ago. Open to significant improvement in this sphere given Flat ability but this is a tough ask.

Form: 5

Irancy²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 146| C

18/1

Useful hurdler. Two wins from 3 runs last season. Career best when winning 8-runner Hardy Eustace Novices' Hurdle (5/1) at Fairyhouse (16f, good) 23 days ago by 1½ lengths from Karniquet. Way he went through that race suggests his limit hasn't yet been reached.

Form: /3-171

Karbau²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 147| C

22/1

Useful hurdler. Course winner in January. Excellent 8 lengths third of 9 to Salvator Mundi in Top Novices' Hurdle at Aintree (16.5f, good, 33/1) 25 days ago. No reason why he'll reverse form with that stablemate.

Form: -14103

Kopek Des Bordes^h⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 159

30/100

Created a brilliant impression when winning the Brave Inca at Leopardstown and hooded for first time, he improved again when winning 11-runner Supreme Novices' Hurdle (4/6) at Cheltenham (16.4f, good to soft) 49 days ago by 1¾ lengths from William Munny, going with enthusiasm. Top-class prospect.

Form: 1-111

Salvator Mundi^t²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 156| CD

10/3

Just a respectable fiffh in the Supreme but showed he's smart with commanding success in 9-runner Top Novices' Hurdle at Aintree (16.5f, good) 25 days ago by 7 lengths from Romeo Coolio. Obvious threat to Kopek des Bordes.

Form: 6-1151

Whinney Hill⁸⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott

100/1

Lightly-raced winner under NH rules. 40/1, tailed-off ninth of 10 to Kopek Des Bordes in Brave Inca Novices' Hurdle at Leopardstown (16f, good to soft) 86 days ago.

Form: 2-2139

Forecasts

Kopek Des Bordes (30/100), Salvator Mundi (10/3), Irancy (18/1), Karbau (22/1), Whinney Hill (100/1), Fleetfoot (150/1)

A Willie Mullins benefit but a very exciting rematch between KOPEK DES BORDES and Salvator Mundi nonetheless. The latter should finish closer than he did in the Supreme judged on his commanding Aintree success but the former looks a little bit special so is fancied to remain unbeaten.