13:30 Cheltenham

Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle 2023 Runners

Hermes Allen

Hermes Allen cost connections a cool £350,000 after winning his second start between the flags and that currently looks money spent given that he that has won all three of his starts for Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls culminating in a smooth success in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury.

The hugely exciting six-year-old also boasts a course and distance victory on his ever growing CV having readily dispatched six rivals in the Grade 2 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham’s November Meeting.

The fact that he is proven both on this track and at this grade is impressive and it certainly warrants his place in the betting.

The Irish challenge will undoubtedly be strong and this will naturally be the sternest test of Hermes Allen’s short career. However, his slick jumping and smart engine could make him a tough nut to crack.

Impaire Et Passe

Willie Mullins is never short of a runner in the graded novice hurdles and his team for this contest will be led by the intriguing Impaire Et Passe, who won his solitary start in France before boarding the ferry to Ireland.

The French-bred son of Diamond Boy has maintained his unbeaten status through two starts for team Mullins and he created a favourable impression on both occasions, firstly when scoring by 18 lengths at Naas and latterly when landing the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle in the manner of a smart performer.

Willie Mullins has often used the Moscow Flyer as a steeping stone to Cheltenham - albeit his previous winners of the race have often lined-up in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle - and although that race is contested over the minimum distance his victory at Naas was achieved over two-miles-and-three-furlongs on soft ground, which allays any fears regarding stamina.

Impaire Et Passe eased clear of previous dual scorer The Model Kingdom at Punchestown and he rates an exciting prospect both tomorrow and beyond.

Gaelic Warrior

Gaelic Warrior was all the rage for the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle last year following reports that he was upwards of stone well-in. While that gamble ultimately fell short, the Rich Ricci owned five-year-old has demonstrated his class this year and he could easily go one place better.

The imposing son of Maxios is 3-3 this year and he proved himself to be more than a mere handicapper when readily defying a mark of 143 at the Dublin Racing Festival last month.

Gaelic Warrior defeated solid yardstick Blue Sari on his penultimate outing at Clonmel and he could easily find further improvement now stepping-up to two-and-a-half-miles.

That said, he has displayed a tendency to jump out to his right on occasions and he can’t afford to concede ground in a race of this nature. I therefore expect his jockey will look to get cover throughout the race and ideally make his challenge after successfully negotiating the final flight of hurdles.

Good Land

It’s fair to say that Good Land made an inauspicious start to his hurdling career when unseating his rider at the first flight of hurdles at Fairyhouse in November. 
However, he has won both of his subsequent starts in the manner of a classy horse horse and the latter success came in Grade 1 company, when landing the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival last month.

The Blue Bresil gelding outpointed the 138 rated Absolue Notions on that occasion and he galloped all the way through the line, suggesting that he could develop into a smart stayer in time.

That race is contested over two-miles-and-six-furlongs and the recent rainfall will be to his liking, as it will place a greater emphasis on stamina.

Champ Kiely

Champ Kiely ran out the smooth winner of a maiden hurdle at Galway in July and confirmed that promise when easily accounting for last year’s Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle hero Brazil in Grade 3 company at Tipperary.

Willie Mullins seven-year-old was sent off a shade of odds-on for his next assignment in the Grade 1 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle and was arguably slightly disappointing in finishing fourth. 

However, he bounced right back to form when returning to two-and-a-half-miles in the Grade 1 Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle in January and he, like his aforementioned stablemates, rates a big player in this contest.

That race has been a good trial for Cheltenham in recent years as both Envoi Allen and Bob Olinger triumphed at Naas before landing the Ballymore in 2020 and 2021 respectively. While Willie Mullins landed the double with Mikael D’haguenet back in 2009.

The form of this years renewal doesn’t exactly jump of the page. However, Champ Kiely won with an air of authority and it would be foolish to underestimate him in such an open renewal.

Ho My Lord

Ho My Lord took a heavy fall when over-jumping at just the second flight of hurdles on his Irish debut at Leopardstown and a fall such as that could have easily left a mark. However, he bounced right back with a smart success at Navan six weeks later and connections clearly feel that he has the talent to contest this race.

The form of that race probably doesn’t amount to much and Ho My Lord clocked a time three seconds slower than the other two hurdle races over the same course and distance that day.

It would probably be foolish to hold that against the promising grey as he didn’t need to be fully extended in order to triumph, and the fact that he looks set to run here suggests that connections feel an extra half mile will suit him better.

His lack of experience is far from ideal, especially against this level of opposition. However, we are yet to find out just how good he is and he therefore should not be underestimated.

American Mike

It’s fair to say that American Mike hasn’t lived up to expectations this year as he was once a short priced contender for this contest and will now line-up as an outsider after failing to qualify for handicaps.

Gordon Elliott’s six-year-old chased home Facile Vega in the Champion Bumper 12 months ago and he made the perfect start to his hurdling career at Down Royal in November, when defeating formerly smart bumper performer Letsbeclearaboutit.

However, he appears to have regressed with each subsequent start and it hard to envisage him featuring prominently in this race.

Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle 2023 Tips & Prediction

Hermes Allen hasn’t put a foot wrong this year the form of his Challow Hurdle victory is working out well.

The Poliglote gelding has displayed a nice blend of speed and stamina and boasts winning course and distance form, which is obviously advantageous.

Gaelic Warrior was only narrowly touched off in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle last year and there was plenty to like about the manor of his handicap success last month.

However, he does have a tendency to jump out to his right which could see him losing ground at every flight of hurdles, which is costly at this level.

Good Land warrants respect as a Grade 1 winner and the recent rainfall is certainly a bonus for Barry Connell’s charge, who will relish a proper test of stamina. 

While the same can be said of Champ Kiely, who landed the Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle in January, which has been a good trial for this race in recent years.

However, while achieving less on paper to date, IMPAIRE ET PASSE has shaped with significant promise and looks just the type to excel in this race.

Willie Mullins’ five-year-old landed a maiden hurdle over two-miles-and-three-furlongs before dropping back in trip for the Moscow Flyer Novices’ Hurdle, where he beat a solid yardstick in fine style and proved that he wasn’t short of gears.

Impaire Et Passe jumped slickly on both occasions and this race typically suits a horse who can travel comfortably in the pack before injecting speed in the closing stages.