The Cheltenham festival is less than one month away and with that in mind we have picked out an ante-post each way selection for the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle Final on the Thursday of the four day meeting.
Dunboyne for Gordon Elliott is one of five or six that could enter the race for the experienced trainer, but we think this seven year old holds leading credentials.
A second season hurdler, the gelding in his first season over timber was tried at 2m, 2m4f and 3m, placing twice and going on to land a Maiden Hurdle over the furthest trip.
A much more experienced horse this term and staying over the smaller obstacles, he finished eighth of 18 in a decent Handicap hurdle at Naas off a mark of 129.
Off the same mark he stepped up in trip to three miles finishing 11th of 23 and then over the same trip at Leopardstown at Christmas off the same mark was a much better fifth.
Off 1lb lower he was last seen at the Dublin Racing Festival when cruising into contention in the three mile Handicap Hurdle, but was bumper and knocked back in the field and turning the bend his race was run.
Before that he was running a huge race, on the bridle and ready to use his stamina to go close.
This makes him extremely dangerous for the festival, with it being a big stamina test and his current mark of 128 won't be that different in the Pertemps, which sees him get some serious weight off the field.
Dunboyne, overall fits many of the key stats for this race with 10 of the last 13 winners being aged between six and eight and 10 of the last 15 winners hadn’t run at the previous years’ festival and he fits both those bills.
Currently a best price of 10/1 he should not be far away if getting a clear run.