Ballyburn heads eight declared for the Gallagher Novices' Hurdle.
13:45 Cheltenham
Wednesday’s opener looks a belter, with plenty of highly-promising prospects taking to the stage, including race favourite Ballyburn for Willie Mullins. Let's look at some of the leading runners.
Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle Runners
Ballyburn - 4/7
Connections are confident he will be fine over this longer trip. He has looked classy in winning his last couple of starts over hurdles at Leopardstown, including over two and a half miles, and in a Grade 1 race last time out, so he will be difficult to beat.
He has won four of his five starts, and the only time he’s gone beyond two miles resulted in an emphatic 25-length success at Leopardstown.
Ile Atlantique - 5/1
I rate this stablemate of Ballyburn’s chances very highly for this race. He beat a Grade 1-winning chaser on his bumper/stable debut at Leopardstown and was marginally denied in his next two starts, which is good form.
In the first of those two efforts, at Naas, he had Caldwell Potter in third, who is now a Grade 1 winner, before making Firefox battle all the way to the line at Fairyhouse.
Switched to hurdles, he bolted up by 19 lengths and then looked set to follow up in the Grade 1 Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle when stepping up in trip before losing out marginally to his stable companion Readin Tommy Wrong.
He travelled extremely well throughout, and although he was headed in the latter stages, he displayed a tenacious attitude and determined battling qualities under pressure to force a photo, and that will stand him in good stead next week.
Owner Tony Bloom has enjoyed great success at the Cheltenham Festival with horses such as Energumene and Penhill, and there’s every chance he can add to that with this high-class prospect, who is undoubtedly a major player.
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Predators Gold - 10/1
Gigginstown’s main hopeful. He won his first couple of starts, including on his rules debut in a bumper, prior to succeeding at the first time of asking in this sphere.
He couldn’t get to grips with Caldwell Potter in the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle, but he finished a clear second and filled that same spot in the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle last time out.
His best days will come when he’s faced with a set of fences, but with plenty more to come, he could also emerge as an each-way player. I can see him running very well at a decent price.
Handstands - 12/1
Made it three wins from three starts with a comfortable victory over Jango Baie in the Listed M1 Agency Sidney Banks Memorial Novices' Hurdle and could do best of the British-trained runners with room for progression.
Ben Pauling remains in good form, so that is always a positive factor, and the step-up in distance should suit. He has quite a find to find with a few of the Irish representatives, but he’s clearly useful and could go well.
Gallagher Novices' Hurdle Tips & Prediction
ILE ATLANTIQUE (tipped at 5/1) looks tailor-made for this race, and I expect him to improve considerably from his narrow defeat in the Grade 1 race he contested last time out.
His bumper form reads well, and he’s unlucky not to be unbeaten in two starts over hurdles. I am optimistic about his chances next week.
Ile Atlantique, 1.5pts WIN, 5/1
PREDATORS GOLD (tipped at 11/1) is the other one I have latched onto in the race. He is only rated 3Ib lower than Ballyburn at 150 and has finished second in two consecutive Grade 1 races since winning very easily on his hurdles bow. He has been targeted at the race by Willie Mullins and has been underestimated by firms.
