Grade One Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle Guide 2023

Facile Vega

Louis Moir | @LouisMoir99

Leopardstown - February 05 2023
Leopardstown 15:40
3
J J Slevin

High Definition

J: J J Slevin
T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien
N/A
Age: 5
Weight: 11-12
OR: N/A
Days: 41

High Definition is a very intriguing runner as this 5-year-old son of Galileo was previously seen 14 times on the flat before joining the Joseph Patrick O'Brien stable last year.

He made his hurdling debut for the yard over course and distance winning a 27-runner maiden hurdle. He had the beating of the well-fancied Willie Mullins runner Parmenion as he came third and won really well considering it was his first start over the smaller obstacles.

I am sure there is more to come for this horse, but this race looks strong with the unbeaten Facile Vega heading the top of the market.

Still capable of running a decent race and could follow the favourite home in second.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
14/03/23CHL16.5Sft11-77
05/02/23LEO16Y11-12UR
26/12/22LEO16Sft11-71
01/10/22ASC12GS9-67
11/09/22LON12Sft9-25
Leopardstown - February 05 2023
Leopardstown 15:40
1
Daryl Jacob

Dark Raven

J: Daryl Jacob
T: W P Mullins
N/A
Age: 6
Weight: 11-12
OR: N/A
Days: 41

One of three for trainer Willie Mullins in this and Dark Raven comes into this race unbeaten off the back of three wins one of which was his hurdling debut over course and distance.

He beat the Gordon Elliot trained Doctor Bravo by 3 lengths and that horse has since gone on to win next time out so the form is there, but regardless of that, it is still a tough ask in this sphere.

Could make more progress here, but for win purposes, it is impossible to go against the favourite.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
14/03/23CHL16.5Sft11-76
05/02/23LEO16Y11-123
26/12/22LEO16Sft11-121
04/04/21FAI16Y11-61
07/03/21LEO16Y11-71
Leopardstown - February 05 2023
Leopardstown 15:40
5
Rachael Blackmore

Inthepocket

J: Rachael Blackmore
T: Henry De Bromhead
N/A
Age: 6
Weight: 11-12
OR: 137
Days: 47

Another in here who has good form that has been franked, but it remains a tough task for all to get anywhere near the favourite in this.

Trainer Henry De Bromhead will be looking to have a decent weekend at the Dublin Racing Festival and he sends Inthepocket here which means he steps down in trip from last time out.

Won with a lot in hand on debut and then backed that up on his latest outing beating Three Card Brag by just a neck over 2m4f at Naas.

This 6-year-old son of Blue Bresil looks promising, but in much deeper waters here, and will likely find it difficult compared to what he has been used to so far in the early stages of his career.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
14/03/23CHL16.5Sft11-74
05/02/23LEO16Y11-122
20/12/22NAA20Sft11-31
30/10/22WEX16Hy11-41
Leopardstown - February 05 2023
Leopardstown 15:40
6
Davy Russell

Irish Point

J: Davy Russell
T: Gordon Elliott
N/A
Age: 5
Weight: 11-12
OR: 143
Days: 28

Irish Point is a horse who I have been impressed by so far and he definitely has a lot of potential due to what he has shown on the racecourse in his first three starts for trainer Gordon Elliot.

He bolted up on debut over 2 miles at Cork and was then thrown into two Grade 1 contests where he finished second on both occasions.

Considering he was 18/1 at Fairyhouse in December, he just got narrowly beaten by Marine Nationale. Both races were run on heavy ground too so he may be able of even better again here.

One at a bigger price that could go close and will most likely finish second or third to Facile Vega.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
05/02/23LEO16Y11-124
08/01/23NAA20Sft11-102
04/12/22FAI16Sft11-122
20/11/22COR16Sft11-71
26/11/21SAI12.5Hy9-111
Leopardstown - February 05 2023
Leopardstown 15:40
2
Paul Townend

Facile Vega

J: Paul Townend
T: W P Mullins
N/A
Age: 6
Weight: 11-12
OR: 153
Days: 40

The hugely exciting Facile Vega heads the market yet again and is bound to extend his unbeaten run here in what would be another Grade 1 success.

Course and distance winner who continues to shine and is already a short-priced favourite for this year's Supreme at the Cheltenham Festival.

Does not seem to mind what ground he runs on so he will be near on impossible to beat if he carries on with what he has been doing in his last few starts, especially over hurdles.

Could be a matter of how far he wins by here because he is a very impressive individual.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
14/03/23CHL16.5Sft11-72
05/02/23LEO16Y11-125
27/12/22LEO16Sft11-121
03/12/22FAI16Gd/Y11-121
27/04/22PUN16.5Gd/Y12-01
Leopardstown - February 05 2023
Leopardstown 15:40
4
Danny Mullins

Il Etait Temps

J: Danny Mullins
T: W P Mullins
N/A
Age: 5
Weight: 11-12
OR: 144
Days: 40

The last of the Willie Mullins trio and one horse who got somewhat close to Facile Vega last time out.

Il Etait Temps managed to finish just 4 lengths behind his superstar stablemate when they last met in the Grade 1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle over course and distance.

Might find it hard to get that close again today as the favourite himself will probably progress further, but he cannot be ruled out to running into another place here.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
14/03/23CHL16.5Sft11-75
05/02/23LEO16Y11-121
27/12/22LEO16Sft11-122
24/11/22THU16Y/Sft11-41
30/04/22PUN16Y11-04
Leopardstown - February 05 2023
Leopardstown 15:40
7

No Looking Back

J:
T: Oliver McKiernan
N/A
Age: 5
Weight: 11-12
OR: N/A
Days: 38

No Looking Back is 2-2 over hurdles, but they were very weak contests which included him just beating one other rival last time out.

He finds himself in much deeper waters here and will be out of his depth. A double-digit price and one that can be easily ignored in a race such as this, especially when coming up against horses such as Facile Vega.

The jockey and trainer are not in the best of form either which cannot be a positive.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
29/12/22LIM16Hy11-01
01/12/22THU16Y11-71
17/04/22FAI16Y11-14
19/03/22THU15.5Gd11-21