14.00
Soft To HeavyLawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)
- Prize money: £52212.39
- 2m 4f 2y
- 8 runners
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Runners: 8 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Partly cloudy
Abandoned
Form: 13 BF
Last run: 35 days
W: 11st 12lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 1 |
28th Dec 2024 Good To Yielding 2m 5f 70y |
11st 12lb |
in touch with leaders |
10/1 |
|
6th 1 |
28th Dec 2024 Good To Yielding 2m 5f 70y |
11st 12lb |
in touch with leaders |
10/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 20-1 D
Last run: 31 days
W: 11st 12lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 4 |
23rd Jan 2025 Soft 2m 4f 0y |
11st 12lb |
Signed off last season with Listed handicap hurdle success at the Punchestown Festival; finished just in front of Quai De Bourbon on last month's return but Townend seemingly prefers that stablemate again; ground versatile. |
4/1 |
|
2nd 4 |
23rd Jan 2025 Soft 2m 4f 0y |
11st 12lb |
Signed off last season with Listed handicap hurdle success at the Punchestown Festival; finished just in front of Quai De Bourbon on last month's return but Townend seemingly prefers that stablemate again; ground versatile. |
4/1 |
|
2nd 5 |
28th Dec 2024 Good To Yielding 2m 5f 70y |
11st 12lb |
led, not fluent 6th, pecked on landing 10th |
4/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 211 D
Last run: 49 days
W: 11st 12lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
18th 6 |
10th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 5f 19y Class 1 |
11st 4lb |
Won two Grade 1 novice chases in December 2024 (2m4f/3m, yielding/good to yielding); he hasn't kicked on this term and was well beaten in a handicap at Leopardstown (2m5f, soft) in February, but getting back on better ground may help and he can go well if tapping back into last season's promise. |
20/1 |
|
13th 1 |
1st Feb 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 5f 107y |
11st 12lb |
Dual hurdle winner turned into a top-class novice chaser last season, winning two Grade 1s including over 3m at this track; was also a fine runner-up in a Grade 1 over C&D at this meeting last year; hasn't been at that level in four starts since, but drops in grade with a 5lb claimer aboard, so has to be respected. |
16/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 211-11
Last run: 36 days
W: 11st 12lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
16th 8 |
11th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 4m 2f 74y Class 1 |
11st 4lb |
Tongue tied on last two starts; Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown (3m, soft) in February was also the first time he went beyond 2m5f, when 33-1 and spending most of the race out the back but running on into fourth of 12, beaten 14l; some encouragement might be derived from that but he didn't see it out so well when confronted by 3m2f in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham. |
50/1 |
|
6th 2 |
13th Mar 2026 Good 3m 2f 70y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
He's performed respectably in defeat at the last two Cheltenham Festivals and won a Grade 2 at Down Royal (2m3f, good to yielding) in November; 14l fourth when upped in trip in the Irish Gold Cup (3m, soft) last month and he'll be doing very well if he improves upon that finishing position today. |
33/1 |
|
4th 4 |
2nd Feb 2026 Soft To Heavy 3m 0f 100y |
11st 10lb |
Smart performer over shorter distances; ended last season with second to Spindleberry in 2m4f Grade 1 at Fairyhouse; made winning reappearance in five-runner Grade 2 event at Down Royal (2m3f, good to yielding) in November; outpointed by Iroko at Ascot last month; first time beyond 2m5f and tongue-tie tried; vulnerable. |
66/1 |
Abandoned
Form: /122-1
Last run: 57 days
W: 11st 12lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 4 |
10th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 5f 19y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
His form/jumping have been in and out since his Grade 2 novice chase win at Naas last January, soundly beaten in a handicap at Leopardstown latest; however, two starts ago he followed Heart Wood home in a 2m7f Grade 3 at Tramore; could have a big say for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend. |
15/2 |
|
8th 2 |
1st Feb 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 5f 107y |
11st 12lb |
Hurdle winner and won twice over fences last season, including a Grade 2 at Naas; however, his form then fell away and twice failed to complete; signs of a resurgence when second to Heart Wood at Tramore last time and can go well if building on that. |
9/1 |
|
4 |
29th Apr 2025 Yielding To Soft 3m 0f 213y |
11st 10lb |
held up in rear, mistake 3rd, slightly hampered 5th, fell 10th |
16/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 245-12
Last run: 29 days
W: 11st 12lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
11 |
11th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 4m 2f 74y Class 1 |
11st 2lb |
Unraced beyond 3m2f; came into his own as a novice last term, notably in the 3m Grade 1 at Cheltenham Festival which he won by 4l from Stellar Story; no impact at the top level in Ireland this season and he clambered over the final fence on his way to a heavy defeat behind several of today's rivals in a Grade 3 last time, so current prospects don't look so bright. |
33/1 |
|
8th 1 |
21st Feb 2026 Heavy 3m 2f 0y |
11st 12lb |
Leading novice chaser last season, unbeaten in three completed starts; beat Stellar Story by 4l in the Brown Advisory but fell at the fifth at the Punchestown festival; never sighted in the John Durkan on return and soundly beaten in the Savills (ahead of Stellar Story but behind Grangeclare West); pulled up in the Irish Gold Cup last time; top-weight looks up against it. |
14/1 |
|
10 |
2nd Feb 2026 Soft To Heavy 3m 0f 100y |
11st 10lb |
A leading novice chaser last season when unbeaten in three completed starts; took advantage of Ballyburn's failure to beat Stellar Story in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham; fell at the fifth in a 3m1f Grade 1 event won by Champ Kiely at the Punchestown festival; never involved in the John Durkan on reappearance; soundly beaten in the Savills. |
33/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 11
Last run: 160 days
W: 11st 12lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
11 |
13th Mar 2025 Good To Soft 2m 7f 213y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Second in last year's Supreme Novices' (2m) before 2m Grade 1 wins at Aintree and Punchestown; while he takes a big step up in trip today, his dam Annie Power was second in this race and last term's promise isn't forgotten; however, he's been extremely lacklustre in 2m Grade 1s the last twice. |
16/1 |
|
6th 4 |
29th Dec 2024 Yielding 2m 0f 0y |
11st 12lb |
Sole defeat last season when second in the Supreme Novices' at Cheltenham, made amends with Grade 1 wins at Aintree and Punchestown; never going well on his reappearance in the Fighting Fifth; likely second-best of Mullins squad. |
12/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 111
Last run: 42 days
W: 11st 12lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10 |
15th Mar 2024 Soft 2m 7f 213y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Made heavy weather of justifying short odds in his maiden (2m, soft) but benefited enormously from the step up to 2m4f when coming from last to first in the Grade 1 Lawlor's at Naas (outsider of seven; Lecky Watson staying on in third); hasn't been foot-perfect over his hurdles but that can improve with experience and there are 3m winners in his family; big shout. |
2/1 |
Verdict
Based on the last nine editions of this race, the score reads Willie Mullins 5, Gordon Elliott 4. The two stables supply all but one of the eight runners. Despite the champion trainer’s numerical edge FIREFOX (nap) can take this for Elliott by upholding last season’s bumper form with Ile Atlantique. An Tobar, third behind an Elliott-trained pair in the Royal Bond, could be a strong force at this trip. Mystical Power should not be dismissed lightly. [Alan Sweetman]
Selections
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