1.25 Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m

Champ Kiely: Looked a novice hurdler worth following after 21-length win in two-mile-five-furlong contest at Galway before showing he has a turn of foot with smart performance in a Tipperary Grade 3 over two miles, comfortably taking care of Brazil, who franked that form next time out. Promising type for top connections so clearly respected.

Hercule Du Seuil: Put away after just one run last season (eighth in Leopardstown maiden) and has looked a much improved horse since, winning his maiden hurdle by 16 lengths at Tipperary before holding off similarly promising types Imagine and Three Card Brag in the Grade 3 For Auction at Navan. Will need to step forward again but that is plausible.

Irish Point: Grade 1 bumper winner in France who got his hurdles career off to a winning start when comfortably landing long odds-on quotes in a possibly below average maiden hurdle at Cork. Positive vibes about him but probably needs to take a bigger step up than some of his rivals.

Marine Nationale: Smart winner of two bumpers right at the beginning of the season in May and then looked very good in winning a maiden hurdle at Punchestown. That contest was only moderate but he won very easily, giving the impression his ceiling is quite high.

Path D’oroux: Noted when winning a Punchestown Festival bumper ahead of the well-regarded Built By Ballymore and got his hurdles career off to an impressive start when out-muscling Itswhatunitesus at Galway. That runner-up gave that form some substance with a good win at Cork next time.

Polo Lounge: Took four starts to win a bumper but looked as good/promising as any of these when a nine-length winner of a Limerick maiden hurdle, his first try in this sphere. This is a big step up now but well worth a go and, like all of these, he has the scope to improve again.

Prairie Dancer: Easily the most experienced of these as this will be his 14th start but he may have found his ceiling for now, as when well held by Brazil and Fil Dor in Fishery Lane Hurdle at Naas.

Ashroe Diamond: Impressive when taking the Grade 2 mares’ bumper at Aintree having previously been involved in the bunch finish to the Dublin Racing Festival equivalent - behind Lily Du Berlais. Made a winning start over hurdles at Naas but was made to work harder for it than was expected. Stable won this before with a mare.

Conclusion

A field mostly full of impressive maiden hurdles who could be anything at this stage makes this a difficult race to call, but it’s probably worth taking a chance away from the two the market have concentrated on - Champ Kiely and Marine Nationale. Of those in behind, Path D’oroux made as good an impression in his maiden hurdle as any and that form has passed the test since.