Grade One Royal Bond Novice Hurdle Guide 2022

Has struggled in his grade three hurdle outings to date, finishing outside the top three on three out of four occasions.

Won comfortably at Listowel in September in a grade B handicap contest but this is a different test. His most recent form isn’t too bad but others may have too much here.

He is looking for his fourth win in as many races after his three successes at Limerick, Galway and Tipperary. His last success came in a grade three contest over this distance, beating Brazil by 4 ½ lengths.

A lot of runners here are in good form but he looks in good shape for a push for victory in the step up in grade.

One of Willie Mullins’ four horses here who won her maiden hurdle outing at Naas last month, beating Kansas City Star by 1 ¼ lengths. Boasts a victory in a NH Flat outing at Aintree before her hurdling debut.

Jumped pretty well during that win at Naas in the field of 25 but runs into a couple of good horses here. It could be a tough race for her but don’t be surprised if she’s there or thereabouts.

Impressively won a maiden hurdle at Galway in October over 2m at 15/8f. He won a flat race at 14/1 before that in April and has high hopes here.

He cannot be ruled out but Champ Kiely’s class one grade three success feels hard to beat.

Won his maiden hurdle impressively by five lengths at Cork over this distance in November in a field of 23. Has also won at Saint-Cloud in a NH Flat contest over 1m 4f.

Tough to predict chances here but won his maiden hurdle pretty comfortably which bodes well for a good run here.

This is a race with several Willie Mullins horses and we have another one here with Polo Lounge, who is on the back of a maiden hurdle success, much like a lot of the other horses in this race, where he won easily by nine lengths at Limerick in October.

That is his only hurdle race so far after four flat runs but after winning that comfortably, Mullins will be hoping for another step up.

Has won two NH Flat races at Punchestown and Killarney and added a maiden hurdle success to those wins last time out at the former over 2m, beating Viceregent by four lengths.

He’s in good form and the signs are there for more progress here after his impressive unbeaten run.

Won a novice hurdle at 11/10f at Navan in November, winning by ¾ lengths. He won his maiden hurdle the run before at Tipperary in a field of 19, beating Ferdinand Star by sixteen lengths.

He was disappointing at Leopardstown in December last year but seems to have put that behind him to produce two good runs and cannot be ruled out here.