Bar One Racing Hatton’s

Grace Hurdle (Grade 1)

Buddy One: Rated just 102 when he won a maiden hurdle just less than a year ago at this track but has progressed remarkably since, hitting the frame six times in eight starts before finding a winning thread this season with back-to-back wins coming at Galway and Cheltenham. Both of this victories were achieved over further than today’s trip so that is a concern to go along with the obvious step up in class he is taking.

Impaire Et Passe: Bold call from connections to stay over hurdles but hard to argue with his sky-high potential - much too good for Gaelic Warrior on what was only his third start over hurdles in Ballymore. That race is so often a producer of top-class Champion Hurdle contenders, as is this one, and he already has the same mark as Teahupoo. With his potential to go further, he should have too much firepower for that stayer here.

Teahupoo: Announced himself as top prospect in staying hurdle division when he stayed on stoutly to deny Klassical Dream in this race last season (Honeysuckle back in third), which was more of an attritional affair on softening ground. Smart winner of the Galmoy after that and probably unlucky third in Stayers’ Hurdle - traffic problems late on. Still just a six-year-old so reasonable to expect more progress this term, while the softer the ground the better for him on this seasonal reappearance.

Zanahiyr: Four-time Grade 1 runner-up has started his season much better than last year, winning a slowly-run three-runner contest at Punchestown before finding a reinvigorated Bob Olinger a length too good in Grade 2 Lismullen, over today’s trip. Twice third to Constitution Hill last season and may well be better served at this trip and further if he is to make Grade 1 breakthrough, for all that he is open to improvement as well.

Ashroe Diamond: Grade 2 bumper winner was smart novice hurdler last season, notably at this course - playing a part in a crack renewal of the Royal Bond 12 months ago before returning in April to win Grade 1 for novice mares. That earned her a mark of just 140, so even with 7lb allowance here, she needs big improvement to trouble the principals.

Conclusion

Impaire Et Passe is a seriously exciting prospect for the season and he can get off to the perfect start with a win here. He should be able to outspeed last year’s winner Teahupoo.