The Howden Insurance Brokers Mares Novice Hurdle (Listed Race)

5 All About Lucy (Ire)

Owned by: John Sayers

16 f Bay by Fame And Glory - Way Back When (Phantom Breeze)

TStrap, 6 11-04

Colours: DARK BLUE, emerald green diamond, emerald green diamond on cap

R Deegan

Bred by: R Lynch Eoin Christopher McCarthy LIMERICK 120-331

RACING POST VERDICT Got off the mark in a Cork maiden hurdle over 2m3f last time; has to take a major step-up Probable SP: 25/1

Career record 4 runs, 1 wins, 3 places Strike-Rate 25 % Prize-money earned €9,220

All About Lucy 1 N.H. win €7,375.00

3rd to Lot Of Joy 11.7 FAIR 8 FEB 15rn mdn hdl 2m Yld

6 Ladybank (GB) 40 5 11-04

Owned by: Kenneth Alexander f Bay by Balko - Wendy du Berlais (Loup Solitaire) Colours: LIGHT BLUE, white spots, striped sleeves, light blue cap, white spots

Rachael Blackmore

Bred by: Mr J L Lightfoot Henry de Bromhead WATERFORD 8-10

RACING POST VERDICT Won a 2m4f maiden hurdle here; poor at Cheltenham but seems yard first-string here Probable SP: 12/1

Career record 3 runs, 1 wins, 1 places Strike-Rate 33 % Prize-money earned €4,875

Ladybank (GB) 1 N.H. win €4,875.00 C

A. Coleman 11.2 17L 13th of 21 to You Wear It Well (GB)

40/1 Rachael Blackmore 11.7 D/h for first pl with Princess

7 Lucy Van Pelt (Ire)

-51053-

195

Owned by: McCann & Woods Partnership f Bay by Getaway - Howaboutthis (Oscar)

Colours: EMERALD GREEN, white star & sleeves, emerald green cap

8 11-04

Bred by: Edmond Coleman Peter Maher

RACING POST VERDICT Won a C&D handicap hurdle last summer but is out of her depth in this company Probable SP: 100/1

Career record 15 runs, 1 wins, 3 places Strike-Rate 6 % Prize-money earned €8,671 win €6,195.00 C -- Handicap Rating

8 Night And Day (GB) 16

Owned by: Simon Munir & Isaac Souede f Bay by Sea The Moon - Distinctive Look (Danehill)

6 11-04

Colours: EMERALD GREEN, dark green sleeves, dark green cap, emerald green spots

Paul Townend

Bred by: Wertheimer & Frere W P Mullins CARLOW 2/-9-1p

RACING POST VERDICT Clonmel maiden hurdle winner couldn’t cope in Grade 1 company since; Townend’s pick Probable SP: 9/4

14 % Prize-money earned €16,817

Popova (Ire)

Owned by: David Maughan f Chesnut by Ruler of The World - Meon Mix (Kayf Tara)

Colours: YELLOW, emerald green star, striped sleeves & cap

Bred by: Pier House Stud

RACING POST VERDICT hurdle winner whose best run since was when runner-up in a handicap there Probable by

Owned by: M J Hanrahan f Bay by Malinas - Culmore Girl (Chevalier)

Colours: BLACK, red star, yellow sleeves, black & red quartered cap

MEATH 111-326

Bred by: Damien Duncan

RACING POST VERDICT Solid fifth in the Grade 2 Mares’ novice at Cheltenham; has a decent shout down in grade Probable SP:

Career record 5 runs, 2 wins, 4 places Strike-Rate 40 % Prize-money earned €22,304 Shecouldbeanything 2 N.H. wins €13,865.00 -- Handicap Rating 128

11

Still Ciel (Ire) 40

Owned by: Graiglore Limited f Bay by Westerner - Graigace (Milan)

Colours: ROYAL BLUE & LIGHT BLUE CHEVRONS, striped cap

6 11-04

Shane Fitzgerald

Bred by: Breandan Long Henry de Bromhead WATERFORD 221-050

RACING POST VERDICT Won a Thurles maiden hurdle in October but has been well-held in stronger company since Probable SP: 25/1

Career record 8 runs, 1 wins, 3 places Strike-Rate 12 % Prize-money earned €10,533

Still Ciel 1 N.H. win €5,900.00 -- Handicap Rating 113 Shane Fitzgerald 11.2 25L 15th of 21 to You Wear It Well (GB) to

Walk With Paul (Fr) 30 TStrap, 7 11-04

Owned by: Mrs T Gaffney & Mrs Barbara Murphy f Bay by Walk In The Park - Polyfirst (Poliglote)

Colours: RED, black seams, black star on cap

Bred by: E A R L Haras de la Gisloterie

RACING POST VERDICT Limerick maiden hurdle winner has run well in defeat since; needs to step-up on that form

Career record

13

Dame Rapide (Ire)

Owned by: f Bay by Footstepsinthesand - River Beau (Galileo)

Colours: LIGHT BLUE, large black spots, black spots on cap

Bred by: Danny Coogan James M Barrett KILKENNY

RACING

VERDICT Satisfactory hurdling debut for this yard recently; will need to step up hugely today

5 11-00

Owned by: Mrs A F Mee f Bay by Invincible Spirit - Saoirse Abu (Mr Greeley) Colours: EMERALD GREEN & MAUVE HALVED, slvs. reversed, quartered cap

Bred by: Godolphin John Joseph Hanlon CARLOW 833312-

RACING POST VERDICT Well-bred mare won five times for Mark Johnston up to 1m4f; tough ask on hurdling debut Probable SP: 40/1

Career record 18 runs, 5 wins, 15 places Strike-Rate 27 % Prize-money earned €127,123

Enfranchise 5 flat wins €40,333.90

Andrew Breslin 8.3 1 1/2L 2nd to Get Shirty 9.8 HAYDOCK PARK 2 JUL 22 17rn hcp 1m 3f 175yds Sft

Andrew Breslin 9.3 won 1 1/4L hd from Approachability (GB) 8.12 and Haunted Dream 8.9 PONTEFRACT 19 JUN 22 7rn hcp (0-95)1m 4f 5yds Gd /Frm 2min 38.6sec

Andrew Breslin 9.2 1L 2L 3rd to Lord Protector (GER) 9.11 SANDOWN PARK 10 JUN 22 5rn hcp (71-90)1m 1f 209yds Gd

TONGUESTRAP ON No. 4, 5, 12

LAST YEAR 1st Party Central, 2nd Instit, 3rd Brides Hill

TRAINER Gordon Elliott WEIGHT 11-7 TIME 4 min. 2.7 sec GOING Good - Yielding

BETTING FORECAST 9-4 Night And Day, 5 Saylavee, Shecouldbeanything, The Model Kingdom, 6 Nikini, 12 Ladybank, 14 Henning, 16 Popova, 20 Walk With Paul, 25 All About Lucy, Still Ciel, 40 Dame Rapide, Enfranchise, 100 Lucy Van Pelt

Race 1 Predictor

The Predictor is a ‘Computer Generated’ predicted outcome of the race in visual form, generated by an algorithm of key factors (including eg current form, ratings and going.)

Race Verdict

As the pick of Paul Townend, Night And Day has to be respected even though she did a lot wrong last time in a Grade 1. However, there will be better value options here and THE MODEL KINGDOM is one of those. She saves her best form for this track and her Cheltenham run can be ignored. Nikini, Saylavee and Shecouldbeanything are similarly on comeback missions from Cheltenham. [Tyrone Molloy] Source: Racing Post

SELECTION: THE MODEL KINGDOM

Next Best: Night And Day

Trifecta

The KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle of €125,000 (Grade 1)

(Generously sponsored by KPMG) KPMG will present a trophy of no intrinsic value to the winning owner, trainer, jockey of this race and €130 to the groom in charge of the best turned out horse. Distance 2m100y

Winner €73,750 Second €25,000 Third €12,500

Fourth €6,250 Fifth €3,750 Race conditions A novice hurdle for five years old and upwards.

Weights 11st 12lbs. Mares allowed 7lbs

1 Diverge (GB) 42

Owned by: C Jones

Declared 5

Mr P W Mullins g Chesnut by Frankel - Sparkling Beam (Nayef)

Colours: MAROON & WHITE STRIPES, maroon cap, white hoop

TStrap, 5 11-12

Bred by: George Strawbridge W P Mullins CARLOW 22-6-13

RACING POST VERDICT Just 2.75l behind Facile Vega in the Supreme Novices’; further improvement is likely Probable SP: 3/1

Career record 10 runs, 2 wins, 9 places Strike-Rate 20 % Prize-money earned €66,623

Diverge (GB) 1 flat win €13,500.00 1 N.H. win €7,375.00 C -- Handicap Rating 147 Mr P. W. Mullins 11.7 (TS) 3 1/4L 2 3/4L 3rd to Marine Nationale 11.7 CHELTENHAM 14 MAR 14rn nov.hdl Grade 1 2m 87yds Sft

Coeur

Mullins 11.7 19L 6th of 27 to High Definition 11.7 LEP 26 DEC 22 mdn hdl 2m Sft

2

Paul Townend

Facile

Vega (Ire) 42 6 11-12

Owned by: Hammer & Trowel Syndicate g Bay by Walk In The Park - Quevega (Robin des Champs) Colours: RED, royal blue sleeves, red cap, royal blue star

Bred by: Hammer & Trowel Syndicate W P Mullins CARLOW 1111-52

RACING POST VERDICT Fine effort but just beaten by a better horse in the Supreme Novices’; the one to beat Probable SP: 5/6

Career record 8 runs, 6 wins, 7 places Strike-Rate 75 % Prize-money earned €267,575

Facile Vega 6 N.H. wins €244,218.10 C -- Handicap Rating 151

Paul Townend 11.7 3 1/4L 2nd to Marine Nationale 11.7 CHELTENHAM 14 MAR 14rn nov.hdl Grade 1 2m 87yds Sft

4/9Fav HR153 P. Townend 11.12 20L last of 5fn, 6rn to Il Etait Temps (FR) 11.12 LEP 5 FEB nov.hdl Grade 1 2m Yld

2/9Fav P. Townend 11.12 won 4L 5L from Il Etait Temps (FR) 11.12 and Ashroe Diamond 11.5 LEP 27 DEC 22 6rn nov.hdl Grade 1 2m Sft

3

Jordan Gainford

1-2-128

Found A Fifty (Ire)

Owned by: Bective Stud g Bay by Solskjaer - Fillmein (Gone Fishin)

11 6 11-12

Colours: WHITE & EMERALD GREEN CHEVRONS, red cap

Bred by: Thomas Fahey Gordon Elliott MEATH

RACING POST VERDICT Grade 2 runner-up was well below that form at Aintree recently and has to rebound Probable SP: 16/1

Career record 4 runs, 1 wins, 3 places Strike-Rate 25 % Prize-money earned €16,213

Found A Fifty 1 N.H. win €7,375.00 -- Handicap Rating 142

D. N. Russell 11.7 31L 8th of 12 to Inthepocket

4 Il Etait Temps (Fr) 42

Owned by: Hollywood Syndicate & Barnane Stud g Grey by Jukebox Jury - Une Des Sources (Dom Alco)

Colours: YELLOW, purple stars, purple cap, yellow star

Hood, 5 11-12

Danny Mullins

Bred by: Emmanuel Clayeux, S C Ecurie Couderc W P Mullins CARLOW 5412-15

RACING POST VERDICT Keen and didn’t jump well in the Supreme Novices’; better than that and can’t ignore Probable SP: 3/1

Career record 9 runs, 2 wins, 5 places Strike-Rate 22 % Prize-money earned €139,525

Il Etait Temps (FR) 2 N.H. wins €94,400.00 -- Handicap Rating 148

Daniel Mullins 11.7 (H) 9L 5th of 13fn, 14rn to Marine Nationale 11.7 CHELTENHAM 14 MAR nov.hdl Grade 1 2m 87yds Sft

14/1 HR144 D.E. Mullins 11.12 (H) won 9 1/2L nk from Inthepocket (GB) 11.12 and Dark Raven 11.12 LEP 5 FEB 6rn nov.hdl Grade 1 2m Yld

9/1 HR137 D.E. Mullins 11.12 (H) 4L 2nd to Facile Vega 11.12 LEP 27 DEC 22 6rn nov.hdl Grade 1 2m Sft