Guinness Novice Hurdle

1st

1

Salvador Ziggy

J: Davy Russell

T: Gordon Elliott

7/2 (Won)

Win: £8.10
Place: £1.60

Form: 178-11 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: —

Form & Verdict

Winner and twice placed in bumpers for his original trainer, for whom he had his first two runs over hurdles; unbeaten in two starts since joining Gordon Elliott; backed up maiden win from Another Choice at Punchestown with rated success at Roscommon; further progress feasible.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
2nd 1	16th Mar 2023 Soft 2m 7f 213y Class 1	14:10 Cheltenham Salvador Ziggy 12st 0lb J: Aidan Kelly T: Gordon Elliott	Had minor bumper form on soft; won first four starts for Gordon Elliott, all on good ground, the latest of them when upped to 3m; ran well in defeat when fourth in a C&D qualifier in October, even if unable to sustain his effort in the closing stages; should still have some improvement in him but has more to prove than some on this slower ground.	12/1
4th 1	22nd Oct 2022 Good To Firm 2m 7f 208y Class 2	15:50 Cheltenham Salvador Ziggy 12st 0lb J: Jack Kennedy T: Gordon Elliott	midfield, headway after 3 out (usual 4 out), went fourth 2 out, soon ridden, switched right approaching last, went second run-in, no extra and lost two places final 110yds	7/1
1st 1	26th Aug 2022 Good 3m 0f 0y	19:00 Down Royal Salvador Ziggy 11st 6lb J: Jack Kennedy T: Gordon Elliott	in touch with leaders, headway on inner and went second 3 out, soon pushed along, led 2 out, ridden and faced strong challenge towards finish, all out	4/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

2nd

1

16th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

12st 0lb

Had minor bumper form on soft; won first four starts for Gordon Elliott, all on good ground, the latest of them when upped to 3m; ran well in defeat when fourth in a C&D qualifier in October, even if unable to sustain his effort in the closing stages; should still have some improvement in him but has more to prove than some on this slower ground.

12/1

4th

1

22nd Oct 2022

Good To Firm

2m 7f 208y

Class 2

12st 0lb

midfield, headway after 3 out (usual 4 out), went fourth 2 out, soon ridden, switched right approaching last, went second run-in, no extra and lost two places final 110yds

7/1

1st

1

26th Aug 2022

Good

3m 0f 0y

11st 6lb

in touch with leaders, headway on inner and went second 3 out, soon pushed along, led 2 out, ridden and faced strong challenge towards finish, all out

4/1

OUR TIP

2nd

7

Hors Piste

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

15/8

Place: £1.10

Form: 2183-1

Last run: 76 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 135

Form & Verdict

French import has achieved her two wins against very weak opposition; however, she has a clear chance at this level based on her third placing behind stablemate Brandy Love and British-trained favourite Love Envoi in a 2m4f mares' Grade 1 at Punchestown.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
2nd 7	28th Jul 2022 Good 2m 4f 156y	16:30 Galway Hors Piste 11st 0lb J: Paul Townend T: W P Mullins	led, reduced lead and faced challenge 3 out, went clear going easily after 2 out, ridden run-in, headed towards finish	15/8

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

2nd

7

28th Jul 2022

Good

2m 4f 156y

11st 0lb

led, reduced lead and faced challenge 3 out, went clear going easily after 2 out, ridden run-in, headed towards finish

15/8

3rd

5

The Friday Man

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

9/2

Place: £1.70

Form: 55-411

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: —

Form & Verdict

Fair form in bumpers at Clonmel and Navan last year for Tim Hyde; stepped up from Killarney fourth on stable debut with wide-margin Tramore bumper win; backed that up with 2m1f maiden hurdle success at Bellewstown; a lot more on his plate now.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
2nd 4	23rd Oct 2022 Yielding To Soft 2m 5f 0y	14:25 Limerick The Friday Man 11st 2lb J: Davy Russell T: Gordon Elliott	midfield, headway 9th, ridden and pressed leaders before 2 out, went second approaching last, kept on, always held	6/4
1	2nd Oct 2022 Good To Yielding 2m 0f 0y	15:00 Tipperary The Friday Man 11st 8lb J: Davy Russell T: Gordon Elliott	Has been making hay over hurdles, winning for third time in four starts when taking 2m6f Navan novice on latest, despite jumping right on occasions; stiffest task yet conceding weight here but softer ground no problem, as is drop in trip.	11/2
1st 3	17th Sep 2022 Good To Yielding 2m 5f 150y	16:55 Navan The Friday Man 11st 6lb J: Kieren Buckley T: Gordon Elliott	jumped right on occasions, prominent, tracked leader from 2nd, not fluent when jumped slightly right 6th, disputed lead before 2 out, ridden when led clearly approaching last, went clear run-in	7/4

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

2nd

4

23rd Oct 2022

Yielding To Soft

2m 5f 0y

11st 2lb

midfield, headway 9th, ridden and pressed leaders before 2 out, went second approaching last, kept on, always held

6/4

1

2nd Oct 2022

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 0y

11st 8lb

Has been making hay over hurdles, winning for third time in four starts when taking 2m6f Navan novice on latest, despite jumping right on occasions; stiffest task yet conceding weight here but softer ground no problem, as is drop in trip.

11/2

1st

3

17th Sep 2022

Good To Yielding

2m 5f 150y

11st 6lb

jumped right on occasions, prominent, tracked leader from 2nd, not fluent when jumped slightly right 6th, disputed lead before 2 out, ridden when led clearly approaching last, went clear run-in

7/4

4th

10

She Is Electric

J: J J Slevin

T: Norman Lee

50/1

Form: 02246-

Last run: 98 days

W: 10st 7lb

7 yo Mare

OR: —

Form & Verdict

Twice second in bumpers last season; faces a huge task in this company on hurdling debut.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
4th 5	29th Dec 2022 Soft 2m 0f 0y	14:20 Leopardstown She Is Electric 11st 5lb J: Robbie Geoghegan T: Norman Lee	raced wide early, led at fast pace, headed before last (usual 2 out)	200/1
8	21st Oct 2022 Good To Firm 2m 3f 200y Class 2	14:45 Cheltenham She Is Electric 11st 1lb J: Rachael Blackmore T: Norman Lee	Won Ballinrobe maiden (2m1f, good) last month, her third hurdling start, and displayed improvement to follow up under another very positive ride in Gowran Listed race (2m, yielding) three weeks later; respected.	3/1
1st 5	30th Sep 2022 Good 2m 0f 0y	15:52 Gowran Park She Is Electric 10st 7lb J: Robbie Geoghegan T: Norman Lee	disputed lead, led clearly 1st, not fluent 3rd, 7 lengths ahead before 4th, reduced lead 4 out, faced challenge 2 out, pushed along approaching last, ridden and kept on strongly run-in	14/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

4th

5

29th Dec 2022

Soft

2m 0f 0y

11st 5lb

raced wide early, led at fast pace, headed before last (usual 2 out)

200/1

8

21st Oct 2022

Good To Firm

2m 3f 200y

Class 2

11st 1lb

Won Ballinrobe maiden (2m1f, good) last month, her third hurdling start, and displayed improvement to follow up under another very positive ride in Gowran Listed race (2m, yielding) three weeks later; respected.

3/1

1st

5

30th Sep 2022

Good

2m 0f 0y

10st 7lb

disputed lead, led clearly 1st, not fluent 3rd, 7 lengths ahead before 4th, reduced lead 4 out, faced challenge 2 out, pushed along approaching last, ridden and kept on strongly run-in

14/1

5th

4

Falcon Eight

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: D K Weld

9/4

Form: 513- BF

Last run: 116 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 134

Form & Verdict

Last year's Chester Cup winner; has run only three times over hurdles; won a 2m7 Thurles maiden on second attempt and was not beaten far in third behind the Willie Mullins-trained Bronn in a Grade 2 contest at Fairyhouse in April; finished fifth in the Chester Cup and fourth in the Queen Alexandra; holds leading chance.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
14th 7	28th Dec 2022 Soft 3m 0f 0y	13:10 Leopardstown Falcon Eight 11st 3lb J: Michael O’Sullivan T: D K Weld	towards rear	12/1
2nd 3	29th Nov 2022 Yielding 2m 0f 57y	13:55 Punchestown Falcon Eight 11st 9lb J: Darragh O’Keeffe T: D K Weld	2021 Chester Cup winner, five-time Flat winner in all; 1-4 over hurdles, win gained over 2m7f at Thurles last season; good run in defeat when third in Grade 2 contest over 2m4f at Fairyhouse; ran creditably in valuable staying handicaps this year and took advantage of race conditions to win 1m4f Curragh race; questions to answer over this trip but respected in this grade.	3/1
8th 1 (22)	6th Nov 2022 Heavy 2m 0f 25y	16:27 Naas Falcon Eight 10st 4lb J: Oisin Enright T: D K Weld	Looked in trouble for a while but class prevailed at Curragh last time, beating his main market rival; that didn't prove he was in love with this ground but previous Curragh fifth brings him into it in this lesser race; draw a concern.	14/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

14th

7

28th Dec 2022

Soft

3m 0f 0y

13:10 Leopardstown

Falcon Eight

11st 3lb

J: Michael O’Sullivan

T: D K Weld

towards rear

12/1

2nd

3

29th Nov 2022

Yielding

2m 0f 57y

11st 9lb

2021 Chester Cup winner, five-time Flat winner in all; 1-4 over hurdles, win gained over 2m7f at Thurles last season; good run in defeat when third in Grade 2 contest over 2m4f at Fairyhouse; ran creditably in valuable staying handicaps this year and took advantage of race conditions to win 1m4f Curragh race; questions to answer over this trip but respected in this grade.

3/1

8th

1

(22)

6th Nov 2022

Heavy

2m 0f 25y

10st 4lb

Looked in trouble for a while but class prevailed at Curragh last time, beating his main market rival; that didn't prove he was in love with this ground but previous Curragh fifth brings him into it in this lesser race; draw a concern.

14/1

6th

2

Another Choice

J: B J Cooper

T: Matthew J Smith

8/1

Form: 231-21

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict

Won a Cork bumper last October on his third start; made a very promising hurdling debut at Punchestown in May, taking second behind Salvador Ziggy in a 21-runner contest; winning favourite at Downpatrick recently, but room for improvement in his hurdling technique.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
3rd 5	23rd Oct 2022 Yielding To Soft 2m 5f 0y	14:25 Limerick Another Choice 10st 12lb J: Jack Foley T: Matthew J Smith	prominent, dropped to midfield 2nd, headway 9th, ridden and made challenge when mistake and pecked on landing 2 out, soon lost second and no extra, weakened last	7/1
2nd 5	17th Sep 2022 Good To Yielding 2m 5f 150y	16:55 Navan Another Choice 11st 1lb J: Paul Townend T: Matthew J Smith	towards rear but in touch with leaders, mistake 4 out, prominent in chasing group when pushed along before 2 out, outpaced after 2 out, kept on run-in, went modest second towards finish	13/2
6th 2	28th Jul 2022 Good 2m 4f 156y	16:30 Galway Another Choice 11st 4lb J: B J Cooper T: Matthew J Smith	in touch with leaders, ridden and lost position after 3 out, no impression before 2 out	8/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

3rd

5

23rd Oct 2022

Yielding To Soft

2m 5f 0y

10st 12lb

prominent, dropped to midfield 2nd, headway 9th, ridden and made challenge when mistake and pecked on landing 2 out, soon lost second and no extra, weakened last

7/1

2nd

5

17th Sep 2022

Good To Yielding

2m 5f 150y

11st 1lb

towards rear but in touch with leaders, mistake 4 out, prominent in chasing group when pushed along before 2 out, outpaced after 2 out, kept on run-in, went modest second towards finish

13/2

6th

2

28th Jul 2022

Good

2m 4f 156y

11st 4lb

in touch with leaders, ridden and lost position after 3 out, no impression before 2 out

8/1

7th

6

Whatdoyawanttoknow

J: Gearoid Brouder

T: Mary Ellen Doyle

25/1

Form: 01

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: —

Form & Verdict

Tailed off behind Salvador Ziggy at Punchestown; long-priced Kilbeggan maiden winner last time, when the addition of tongue-tie seemed to do the trick; takes big jump in class now.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
7th 6	28th Jul 2022 Good 2m 4f 156y	16:30 Galway Whatdoyawanttoknow 11st 4lb J: Gearoid Brouder T: Mary Ellen Doyle	midfield, not fluent 4 out, jumped left 3 out, soon ridden and no impression	25/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

7th

6

28th Jul 2022

Good

2m 4f 156y

11st 4lb

midfield, not fluent 4 out, jumped left 3 out, soon ridden and no impression

25/1

8th

9

Beavis

J: Donagh Meyler

T: Denis Gerard Hogan

66/1

Form: —

Last run: —

W: 10st 9lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: —

Form & Verdict

Dam was a minor winner over hurdles; this is very ambitious for a newcomer; his trainer started the week on a winning note.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
9th 11	17th Aug 2022 Good 2m 4f 141y	18:30 Sligo Beavis 11st 0lb J: Jody McGarvey T: Denis Gerard Hogan	never better than mid-division, nudged along after 3 out, no impression when mistake and weakened 2 out	8/1
3rd 10	4th Aug 2022 Good To Yielding 2m 4f 50y	19:05 Sligo Beavis 11st 0lb J: Donagh Meyler T: Denis Gerard Hogan	towards rear, headway on inner after 2 out, ridden and went third run-in, not reach leaders	16/1
8th 9	28th Jul 2022 Good 2m 4f 156y	16:30 Galway Beavis 10st 9lb J: Donagh Meyler T: Denis Gerard Hogan	always towards rear, not fluent 5 out, detached from 4 out, tailed off	66/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

9th

11

17th Aug 2022

Good

2m 4f 141y

18:30 Sligo

Beavis