2.20 Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 3f 212yds

Affordale Fury: Belclare point winner went two from two on his first track starts, winning his bumper and maiden hurdle at Galway, notably beating Monbeg Park at the latter. He stepped up to Grade 2 in the Monksfield Novice Hurdle at Navan last time and looked to be getting the better of odds-on American Mike when taking a tired fall at the last. Unlikely he’d have repelled the late challenge of Dawn Rising there, but a good run in the circumstances. Not ruled out.

Champ Kiely: A 21-length winner of his maiden hurdle at Galway (two miles and five furlongs) in July and then earned Cheltenham quotes with a smooth win over Brazil back over two miles in the Grade 3 Joe Mac. Sent off at odds-on for the Royal Bond and though he finished fourth, it was still a good run, with the front four well clear. The step back up in trip makes him interesting again.

Dawn Rising: Rated 102 after four runs on the flat and though no match for Champ Kiely on his hurdling bow at Galway, he improved from that to score easily in a Listowel maiden hurdle. He looked up against it in the Monksfield, but came from a most unpromising position to pick up the odds-on favourite late on. That may have been down to circumstance, with the front two going too hard, and it also may indicate he’d be better over further, but he deserves to take his chance here.

Grangeclare West: Cost £430,000 after his Lingstown point win in 2020 but has only run twice since, winning his bumper in May 2021 and when making his hurdles debut in November, scooting clear late on there. He travelled well through that race and rated an impressive winner. It’s likely that there is plenty more to come.

Imagine: Punchestown bumper winner in February and has gone well over hurdles so far, winning at Wexford before finishing close seconds in both a Grade 3 at Navan and useful-looking novice hurdle at Gowran Park - just touched off by Inothewayurthinkin. He might have got the run of the race at Gowran and so it could be difficult for him to reverse form now.

Inothewayurthinkin: Looked smart when getting the better of Lot Of Joy in a Cork maiden hurdle in November and there was a lot to like about the way he got past Imagine in a slowly run novice hurdle at Gowran Park. Both of those wins came over two miles but he appeals as one who could improve over this trip, so there could be more to come.

Irish Point: Won a Grade 1 AQPS bumper in France before being recruited here and has looked smart so far, winning a Cork maiden hurdle in good style before stepping up significantly when just touched off by Marine Nationale in the Royal Bond. That looks the best form on offer here and though this step up in trip is new territory, he has to be a big player.

Kalanisi Star: Caught the eye when running out a 16-length winner of a Gowran Park bumper last March and got his hurdling career off to the perfect start when two lengths too good for Pink In The Park at the same course in November. That form has been let down a little by the runner-up, and he was disappointing in the Grade 2 two-mile-seven-furlong novice hurdle at Limerick over Christmas, so he has something to prove now.

Monbeg Park: A Cork bumper winner last term who has acquitted himself well so far over hurdles, finishing second to Affordale Fury at Galway before winning a Punchestown maiden hurdle. Third to Hiddenvalley Lake on his latest start, in a Grade 3 at Cork, was a good run, but this looks much harder now so he has plenty to do.

Conclusion

Grangeclare West looks a top prospect after his smooth Navan win but Irish Point will be difficult to beat if he improves for this step up trip. He already has the best form in the race after his close second in the Royal Bond and it’s significant that he is replied upon by Gordon Elliott, who has won this race four times in the last six years.