1.40 Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m
Ballyfad: Jack Kennedy’s unbeaten mount is an exciting prospect, but worrying that he appeared to enjoy yielding ground when impressing in a maiden hurdle here at Christmas.
Blake: Highly-rated flat horse went close last time out in the Royal Bond won by Koktail Brut. Proven on heavy ground on the flat, but this will be tougher
Davy Crockett: Bred in the purple, this son of Annie Power is unbeaten in three starts but his closest rival last time has done the form no favours.
King Rasko Grey: Should come on from last month’s winning hurdle bow, with runner-up Shuttle Diplomacy complimenting the form next time out, with the fourth horse also scoring subsequently.
Koktail Brut: Made it two-from-two over hurdles when winning the Royal Bond but bled from both nostrils when tailed off in a Grade 1 here at Christmas.
Le Divin Enfant: Needs to settle better, having been beaten 11 lengths after racing keenly in the Future Champions at Christmas. Impressive on Irish debut but struggled on heavy ground in France.
Mister Pessimistic: Won first three starts but looked outclassed in a Grade 1 last time out.
Starting Fifteen: A length behind Talk The Talk and clear of the third on hurdle bow, he progressed to win in good style on heavy ground next time, beating a well-backed horse of Willie Mullins’.
Talk The Talk: Probably the best horse in the field – won his first two starts over hurdles and was coming to win the Future Champions Novice Hurdle here at Christmas, but fell at the last. His jumping hadn’t given cause for concern until then, but the unknown now is the ground. His sire finished second in the Irish Derby on soft to heavy, and his dam won on very soft, so he might be okay.
The Reverend: Highly-rated flat horse made a perfect start over hurdles at the start of the month and while he won on heavy ground on the flat, may struggle in these testing conditions.
Tyson Fury: Talented flat horse made a promising start over hurdles here over Christmas. More required here and unproven on the ground.
Switch From Diesel: Useful based on her second to Echoing In Silence but doesn’t look up to Grade 1 level, having been beaten over 19 lengths last time out at Naas.
Conclusion
The week’s rain has a huge influence on selections throughout the meeting, but it’s particularly difficult to wager its effect on novices, given that many have yet to encounter ground as testing as this. Talk The Talk’s breeding suggests he will handle conditions and he has the strongest form in the book. King Rasko Grey’s promising hurdle debut puts him next in the reckoning, while Starting Fifteen looks overpriced.