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Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle - Analysis
05/02/10

The Grade One contest staged over two miles and five furlongs has attracted 112 entries, with 37 of those trained in Ireland.

The Dermot Weld-trained Rite Of Passage was third in last season’s Grade One Weatherbys Champion Bumper and won a maiden hurdle at Leopardstown in January.

Fiveforthree (Ruby Walsh centre) takes the last hurdle in the Ballymore Properties Novices` Hurdle and stays on well to hold off Venalmar (Paddy Flood farside) with Trafford Lad (Tom Doyle blue cap) in third (Cheltenham 14-03-08)
© racing-images.co.uk

Willie Mullins saddled Mikael D’Haguenet (2009) and Fiveforthree (2008) to win the last two runnings and he has engaged Grade Three winners Quel Esprit and Enterprise Park among 13 entries that also include Morning Supreme and the Grade One-placed pair of Fionnegas and Rhyl Accord.

Paul Nolan has entered Shinrock Paddy, who defeated Rhyl Accord to win a Navan Grade One on December 13.

The Jessica Harrington-trained Coole River defeated Quel Esprit to land a two and half-mile Leopardstown Grade Two hurdle in January, while the John Hanlon-trained Luska Lad won the Grade Two Moscow Flyer Hurdle at Punchestown, a race in which the Noel Meade-trained Grade One paddypowerpoker.com Future Champion Novices’ Hurdle victor Hollo Ladies was fourth, one place behind the Charlie Swan-trained Start Me Up.

Loosen My Load won the Grade Two Sharp Novices’ Hurdle at The Open in November for trainer Henry de Bromhead, while Tom Mullins has engaged the unbeaten Dr Whizz.

Edward O’Grady saddled Drumlargan (1980) and Mister Donovan (1982) to victory and the Irish handler has entered Acapulco, a classy performer on the Flat when with Aidan O’Brien and winner of a maiden hurdle at Navan on January 27.

The Nick Williams-trained Reve De Sivola landed the Grade One Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury in January from the Robin Dickin-trained Restless Harry, who franked the form with a fine victory over General Miller in the Grade Two Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on Festival Trials Day.

Nicky Henderson has a powerful hand with 10 entries. Among them, Quantitativeasing is unbeaten in three starts, General Miller won at the course in December, Kerada and Master Of The Hall have won their last two starts and Finian’s Rainbow was third in the Challow Hurdle.

Peddlers Cross landed the Grade Two Rossington Main Hurdle at Haydock in January for trainer Donald McCain, while the Howard Johnson-trained The Knoxs has won both his starts at Newcastle and the Karen McLintock-trained Bygones Of Brid saw off Washington Irving at that same venue.

The Tom George-trained Tell Massini defeated Reve De Sivola in a Grade Two at The Open and added the Grade Two Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle over three miles back at Cheltenham in December.

Paul Nicholls has entered Grade Two Prestbury Juvenile Hurdle victor Pistolet Noir, easy Taunton winner Ghizao and classy French import Najaf among five entries.

Alan King has seven entries including Grade Two Winter Novices’ Hurdle winner Manyriverstocross, dual winner Stoney’s Treasure and recent Taunton victor Whistlejacquet.

Chartreux easily landed a Fos Los maiden hurdle for trainer David Pipe on January 28, to go with previous wins in a bumper and a point-to-point, while the same trainer’s Sure Josie Sure has won both of her completed starts over hurdles.

There is one Australian-trained entry in the shape of Anthony Cosgriff’s Onajet.

THE NEPTUNE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT NOVICES’ HURDLE
Class 1, Grade 1, Total Prize Fund £100,000, 2.05pm, Cheltenham, Wednesday, March 17, 2010. Two miles and five furlongs. For novice four-year-olds and upwards. Weights: four-year-olds 10st 13lb; five-year-olds and upwards 11st 7lb. Allowances: fillies & mares 7lb. Entries closed Tuesday, February 2, 2009. Entries revealed Thursday, February 4 (112 entries).Scratchings deadline February 23. Six-day confirmation stage March 11. Final declaration stage 10am, Tuesday, March 16. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, February 1. May not include some overseas form.

Form Horse Age Owner Trainer

234-12 ABBEVILLIAN (IRE) 6 Ronald Brimacombe Charles Egerton
2-221 ACAPULCO (IRE) 6 Joseph Higgins Edward O'Grady IRE
162- ALEXANDER SEAVIEW (IRE) 7 Maggie Findlay Willie Mullins IRE
21-011 ALVARADO (IRE) 5 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
112325 ANY GIVEN DAY (IRE) 5 Tim Leslie Donald McCain Jnr
2-41 ARVIKA LIGEONNIERE (FR) 5 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE
012 ASHFIELD'S DREAM 6 William & Angela Rucker Evan Williams
301501 BAILY ROCK (IRE) 7 Adam Scott & Michael O'Flynn Mouse Morris IRE
321-1 BARAFUNDLE (IRE) 6 Mrs Judith Ratcliff Jennie Candlish
23-(1) BENARTIC (IRE) 6 Sir Eric Parker & Mary Anne Parker Nicky Henderson
5-31110 BERONI (IRE) 8 Margaret O'Rourke Willie Mullins IRE
31(1) BRACKLOON HIGH (IRE) 5 T Conway, Mrs Conway, T G Warren Noel Chance
10-4151 BYGONES OF BRID (IRE) 7 James Callow Karen McLintock
141-12 CANDY CREEK (IRE) 6 Richard & Lizzie Kelvin Hughes Nicky Henderson
11 CHARTREUX (FR) 5 Roger Brookhouse David Pipe
142213 CONSULATE (IRE) 6 Gordon Edwards Gordon Edwards
14-3131 COOLE RIVER (IRE) 6 Queens Prices Syndicate Jessica Harrington IRE
1 COTTAGE STAR (IRE) 6 J J Shaughnessy Noel Meade IRE
3 COURT IN MOTION (IRE) 5 Nick Mustoe Emma Lavelle
0443 CURLING (FR) 5 Da Southside Syndicate Dessie Hughes IRE
146-022 DARING ORIGYN (FR) 5 Gavin MacEchern & Lord Daresbury Richard Lee
211-42 DIVY (FR) 5 Hendan SD George Baker
11 DON'T TURN BACH (IRE) 6 Cathal McCarthy Willie Mullins IRE
113 DOUBLE EXPRESSO 6 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
13-2 DOUBLE PRIDE 6 Trevor Hemmings Alan King
13 DR LIVINGSTONE (IRE) 5 Longmoor Holdings Ltd Charles Egerton
11 DR WHIZZ (IRE) 6 J P McManus Tom Mullins IRE
2110 DUKE OF LUCCA (IRE) 5 Mrs L Field Philip Hobbs
013PU1 ELYSIAN ROCK 6 Michael O'Flynn Mouse Morris IRE
1-11 ENTERPRISE PARK (IRE) 6 Elizabeth Tumelty/Rose Boyd Willie Mullins IRE
1-13 FINIAN'S RAINBOW (IRE) 7 Michael Buckley Nicky Henderson
1-1113 FIONNEGAS (IRE) 6 Eamonn Duignan Willie Mullins IRE
052 FIRM ORDER (IRE) 5 The Syndicators Paul Webber
0 FIULIN 5 Robin Geffen Evan Williams
3211 FLAT OUT (FR) 5 M O'Riordan Willie Mullins IRE
211-243 FRASCATI PARK (IRE) 6 Barry Connell Nigel Twiston-Davies
3 FULLY FUNDED (USA) 5 More The Merrier Syndicate Noel Meade IRE
11-12 GENERAL MILLER 5 Henry Ponsonby Nicky Henderson
1111 GET ME OUT OF HERE (IRE) 6 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
GHIMAAR 5 Nicky Henderson Nicky Henderson
1121 GHIZAO (GER) 6 The Johnson & Stewart Families Paul Nicholls
641 GIFTED LEADER (USA) 5 Gifted Leader Partners Ian Williams
32-01 GUS MACRAE (IRE) 6 Quicksilver Racing Partnership Rebecca Curtis
24-5114 HOLLO LADIES (IRE) 5 R Heaney Noel Meade IRE
1301 HORSFORD (IRE) 6 Brian Kilpatrick David Pipe
1250-11 KERADA (FR) 6 Turf Club 2008 Nicky Henderson
161 KILLULTAGH QUEEN (IRE) 6 Elizabeth Tumelty/Rose Boyd Willie Mullins IRE
0P1 LLAMA FARMER 5 Mrs A Timpson Paul Webber
11121 LOOSEN MY LOAD (IRE) 6 Ann & Alan Potts Partnership Henry de Bromhead IRE
0540-14 LORD RAGNAR (IRE) 7 Richard & Lizzie Kelvin Hughes Nicky Henderson
1-23 LUSH LIFE (IRE) 5 Michael Buckley Nicky Henderson
3014F1 LUSKA LAD (IRE) 6 Magestic Syndicate John Hanlon IRE
1310 MANYRIVERSTOCROSS (IRE) 5 Mrs M C Sweeney Alan King
411 MASTER OF THE HALL (IRE) 6 Martin Landau & Jonathan Duffy Nicky Henderson
10-021 MEATH ALL STAR (IRE) 7 Martin Lynch Gordon Elliott IRE
203 MIDNIGHT TUESDAY (FR) 5 Tony Eaves Nigel Twiston-Davies
4226 MISALA (IRE) 6 Rachael O'Neill John Hanlon IRE
1-0542 MISTER WALL STREET (FR) 5 Mrs C McKeane Ferdy Murphy
153-11 MORNING SUPREME (IRE) 7 Henry Murphy Willie Mullins IRE
PP4F21 MR CRACKER (IRE) 5 Gigginstown House Stud Michael Hourigan IRE
215 MY SHAMWARI (IRE) 6 Julie Phillips Ben de Haan
43123 NAJAF (FR) 5 The Johnson & Stewart Families Paul Nicholls
42-3(2)2 OH NO NOT HARRY (FR) 5 Tony Eaves Ian Williams
122121 ON BORROWED WINGS (IRE) 7 Andrew Wates Alan Fleming
6-F326F ONAJET (AUS) 8 Mrs R N Cosgriff & D J Cosgriff Anthony Cosgriff AUS
42/-11 PAUL KRISTIAN 7 Derrick Mossop Willie Mullins
111 PEDDLERS CROSS (IRE) 5 Tim Leslie Donald McCain Jnr
05-1 PERSIAN RUN (IRE) 6 Gale Force One Colin Tizzard
312 PISTOLET NOIR (FR) 4 The Roy & Stewart Families Paul Nicholls
12-016 QUADRILLON (FR) 6 Mrs M McMahon Willie Mullins IRE
111 QUANTITATIVEEASING (IRE) 5 J P McManus Nicky Henderson
3/2-116P QUARTANO (GER) 7 Malcolm Denmark Warren Greatrex
14-1112 QUEL ESPRIT (FR) 6 Red Barn Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
20/6/-532 QUINTESSENTIALLY (IRE) 8 Malcolm Denmark Warren Greatrex
20121 RESTLESS HARRY 6 Richard Whitehead Robin Dickin
326-121 REVE DE SIVOLA (FR) 5 Paul Duffy Diamond Partnership Nick Williams
412-123 RHYL ACCORD (IRE) 8 Rose Boyd Willie Mullins IRE
32-3331 RICK (FR) 6 J P Dunne Dessie Hughes IRE
113-41 RITE OF PASSAGE 6 Dr Ronan Lambe Dermot Weld IRE
4-510 RIVER D'OR (FR) 5 Clive Smith Paul Nicholls
3-35 ROYAL COLLONGES (FR) 5 Ann & Alan Potts Paul Nicholls
P1-2312 RUBI LIGHT (FR) 5 Bill Hennessy Robbie Hennessy IRE
04F15 SHANE ROCK 5 Michael O'Flynn Michael Morris IRE
12-15 SHERWANI WOLF (IRE) 6 Charles Davies Nigel Twiston-Davies
110-11 SHINROCK PADDY (IRE) 6 Barry Connell Paul Nolan IRE
633 SLEEPY HOLLOW 5 Lady Blyth Hughie Morrison
3-20 SMOOTH CLASSIC (IRE) 6 Malcolm Denmark & Callum Denmark Warren Greatrex
2-12226 SOME PRESENT (IRE) 7 Mrs Paul Duffin/F N Doyle Tom Mullins IRE
23 SPIRIT OF ADJISA (IRE) 6 Darr, Johnson, Weston & Whitaker Alan King
111253 START ME UP (IRE) 6 Gigginstown House Stud Charlie Swan IRE
0521 STONEMASTER (IRE) 5 Gigginstown House Stud Dessie Hughes IRE
2-611 STONEY'S TREASURE 6 Fred & Sue Welch Alan King
342114 SUMMIT MEETING 5 Howard Spooner Jessica Harrington IRE
5-131B1 SURE JOSIE SURE (FR) 5 Mrs Jo Tracey David Pipe
313-561 SWANSBROOK (IRE) 7 Favourites Racing & Andrew Gemmell Alan King
111 TELL MASSINI (IRE) 6 Mr & Mrs R Cornock Tom George
12 THE BETCHWORTH KID 5 Henry Ponsonby Alan King
52-15 THE GIANT BOLSTER 5 Simon Hunt David Bridgwater
212131 THE HURL (IRE) 7 J P McManus Mouse Morris IRE
11 THE KNOXS (IRE) 7 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
U11P THEGREATJOHNBROWNE (IRE) 6 Martin Doran Noel Meade IRE
4 THIS MASQUERADE 7 Malcolm Denmark Warren Greatrex
12 TILT 8 The Seasiders Brian Ellison
1-31 TOCCA FERRO (FR) 5 Prior Syder Emma Lavelle
1-4442 TRUCKERS HALL (IRE) 7 Power Panels Electrical Systems Ltd Tom George
11-01 TURBO ISLAND 5 C Davidson J Crichton L Burnett D Waugh James Ewart
22-4 VERY EDGY (IRE) 6 Bailey-Carvill Equine Charles Egerton
21-031 VINO GRIEGO (FR) 5 C E Stedman Gary Moore
22 WAYWARD PRINCE 6 T J & Mrs H Parrott Ian Williams
1226- WHISTLEJACQUET 5 Mrs Peter Prowting Alan King
2-11 WISHFULL THINKING 7 Diana Whateley Philip Hobbs
10 YOU'RE SO VAIN 7 Malcolm Denmark Warren Greatrex

112 Entries
37 Irish-trained
1 Australian-trained

2008-WINNER-FIVEFORTHREE 6-11-07 Owner-Olde Crowbars Syndicate; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-7/1
2ND-Venalmar 6-11-07 Owner-Michael O’Flynn; Trainer-Mouse Morris IRE; Jockey-Paddy Flood; SP-11/1
3RD-Trafford Lad 6-11-07 Owner-Butler Family Syndicate; Trainer-Eamon Sheehy IRE; Jockey-Tom Doyle; SP-9/1
15 ran, Time-5m 2.20s Dist-nk, 4; 4/1 Fav Aigle D’Or (13th)

1. The Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle was introduced to The Festival in 1971 as the Aldsworth Hurdle. Sun Alliance, who merged with Royal Insurance in 1996, took it on in 1974, together with the Sun Alliance Chase, having previously sponsored the Foxhunter Chase. Ballymore Properties sponsored the contest for the first time in 2007.

2. The Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle, along with the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle and the RSA Chase, are acknowledged as championship races for the staying novice hurdler and chaser.

3. Only one horse has won both the Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle and the RSA Chase. The West Awake took the hurdle race in 1987 and the chase event a year later.

4. The smallest field for the Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle was 14 in 2000, when there were three non-runners. Previously the lowest number of runners was 15 in 1973, the year of Willie Wumpkins, who later dominated the Coral Golden Hurdle Final at The Festival with three straight wins from 1979-81. There were also 15 runners in 2004, 2007 and 2008. The largest field was 29, achieved in 1979, 1984 and 1991. The current safety limit is 24.

5. The Irish-trained 1994 winner, Danoli, was the subject of a massive gamble and was sent off the 7/4 favourite. The shortest-priced winner was another Irish victor, Mr Kildare, at 8/11 in 1978. Favourites have been successful in 12 of the 36 runnings. The longest-priced winner was 40/1 chance Even Dawn in the second running in 1972.

6. The Irish have an excellent record in the Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle with 14 wins, including six consecutive victories from 1973-78.

7. Aidan O’Brien, Martin Pipe, Oliver Sherwood, Mick O'Toole, Edward O'Grady and Nigel Twiston-Davies have each won two Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdles. Oliver Sherwood and Dessie Hughes are the two trainers to have also won the race as jockeys. Sherwood was in the saddle on Venture To Cognac in 1979, while his training wins were with The West Awake (1987) and Rebel Song (1988). Dessie Hughes was twice successful as a jockey with Davy Lad (1975) and Parkhill (1976) and sent out Hardy Eustace (2003) to victory as a trainer.

8. The fastest time for the winning horse was 4m 52.0s set by Monsignor in 2000, beating the 4m 56.2s of Regal Ambition in 1990.

9. Istabraq (1997) and Hardy Eustace (2003) both won this race en route to victory in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle while Davy Lad (1975) went on to take the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.