1.40 Tattersalls Ireland 50th Derby
Sale Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m
Absurde: High-class operator on the flat, winning last year’s Ebor before running a cracker to finish seventh in the Melbourne Cup. Hurdling form not so strong, though given a pass for disappointing in the Future Champions here over Christmas given how testing the ground turned. More needed in any case. This run makes him eligible for Cheltenham Festival handicaps.
Ballyburn: Described by Willie Mullins as being among what we believed were his top three novice hurdlers entering this season (alongside Mirazur West and juvenile Ethical Diamond). Came up short on hurdling debut against the classy Firefox at Fairyhouse but made amends with a bloodless 25-length maiden hurdle win here over Christmas. The runner-up and 50-length fourth have each won maiden hurdles since.
Boher Road: Useful sort but rating of 127 leaves him with bundles to find here. Last seen finishing mid-field in the Lartigue Handicap Hurdle at Listowel in September when hanging and jumping right.
Daddy Long Legs: Notched an easy 12-length win on his hurdling debut at Thurles over the same rival who finished a 25-length second to Ballyburn here in December. Failed to back up that promise when pulled up in the Future Champion at the Christmas Festival, a disappointing effort given he was the pick of Paul Townend and sent off 9/4 favourite. Champion jockey felt he never travelled so perhaps ground turned too testing for him on that occasion.
Farren Glory: Likeable Royal Bond winner was travelling smoothly and trading as low as 1/5 in the in-running markets when crashing out at the second last in Aintree Grade 1 novice hurdle on December 26th. This is surely a deeper affair and more will be required but has done little wrong and is fully entitled to be in the shake-up again.
Fascile Mode: Promised a great deal when hosing up on his Christmas Festival debut here last season but hasn’t been able to make his mark when trying Grade 1 company. Needs to find plenty of improvement to cause an upset.
Gold Dancer: Interesting French recruit who was assigned a Timeform rating of 116+ for his hurdles win at Compiegne - the second and most recent start of his career in April 2023. Half-brother to the smart Al Dancer retains the tongue-tie he wore on both starts, and now makes first start for top connections after €250,000 sale. In the deep end for stable debut and entitled to improve for the experience.
Jit Langy: Runner-up to the smart but ill-fated Gust Of Wind on his final start in France before readily accounting for the 128-rated Samui in a Tipperary maiden hurdle last May. Absent for 262 days and has to make a big leap up in class. Can probably be expected to step forward from whatever he does here.
King Of Kingsfield: Turned over at 2/5 and 8/11 on first two starts over hurdles this term (beaten five and a half lengths by Slade Steel on latter occasion) but back on track when runner-up to Farren Glory in the Royal Bond. Capitalised on Mirazur West’s waywardness to win a maiden hurdle here in December, with more patient tactics helping to bring out improvement in him. Could run well at an each-way price but probably more likely to be placed than win, and Jack Kennedy prefers Farren Glory.
Slade Steel: Third to Ballyburn (beaten seven and three quarters of a length) at last season’s Punchestown Festival but has really gone the right way over hurdles, beating King Of Kingsfield readily on his return at Naas before seeing off subsequent Grade 1-placed Lecky Watson in a Grade 2 at Navan. Intriguing to see connections drop him in trip given he was effective over two and half miles last time. Talented sort.
Conclusion:
A top-price of 5/1 about Ballyburn for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle will disappear if he does what many expect him to do here. He makes plenty of appeal as Willie Mullins bids for a remarkable 11th win in the space of 12 runnings of this race. Slade Steel probably has the potential to improve past the likes of Farren Glory and King Of Kingsfield, and can finish closest to the selection.