13:45 Leopardstown

Friday 27 December 2019

All12:0512:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:30

Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

  • 4YO plus  |   Class 1  |   2m  |   Soft (Soft to Heavy in places)  |   4 Runners  |   Turf  |   Weighed In
  • Off time: 13:45  |   Winning time: 3m 55.7s
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1
Horse silk
Abacadabras26
Age: 5|  Weight: 11-10| J: J W Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR:  148| D
10/11
Won on hurdling debut in facile fashion at Gowran Park, and improved further when landing the Grade 3 For Auction at Navan. Found only Envoi Allen too strong in the Royal Bond last time, and should make a bold bid to score again.
3
Horse silk
Embitteredt26
Age: 5|  Weight: 11-10| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR:  140| D
5/1
Better effort over timber (won on debut) when 9¾L fifth of 9 to Envoi Allen in Royal Bond Novices' Hurdle at Fairyhouse last time, and clearly held by Abacadabras on that running.
4
Horse silk
Blue Sari41
Age: 4|  Weight: 11-7| J: M P Walsh| T: W P Mullins| D
6/4
Sole defeat came when close second to Envoi Allen in Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in March. Narrow winner on hurdles bow at Punchestown last month, but is capable of much better, and a big threat to Abacadabras now.
5
Horse silk
Heaven Help Us27
Age: 5|  Weight: 11-3| J: S W Flanagan| T: P Hennessy| OR:  126| D
25/1
Best effort over hurdles when winning at Cheltenham in October, but beaten twice since in mares' company, and looks to be biting off a bit more than she can chew against the top two here.

Non-Runners

2
Horse silk
Easywork1
Weight: 11-10|  Age: 5
T: G Elliott  J: K M Donoghue
NR

Forecasts

Abacadabras (10/11), Blue Sari (6/4), Embittered (5/1), Easywork (8/1), Heaven Help Us (25/1)

Verdict

In the likely absence of Thursday's Limerick winner Easywork, this should develop into a battle between Abacadabras and BLUE SARI. The former has the better hurdles form, but Blue Sari got closer to beating Envoi Allen at Cheltenham in March, and is an exciting and unexposed hurdler who could offer value in the circumstances.
  1. Blue Sari
  2. Abacadabras
  3. Easywork

Previous Winners

2018
Aramon
Weight: 11-10  |Age: 5
6/1

Prize Money

1st: €60,000.002nd: €20,000.003rd: €10,000.004th: €4,999.005th: €3,000.006th: €2,000.00

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