Grade Two Boyne Hurdle Guide 2023

Extremely experienced hurdler at 11 years of age who has struggled somewhat lately since his win at 16/1 in the Grade One JRL Group Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree in April.

He has followed that with a fourth in the Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown, fifth in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan, fifth in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle in December at Fairyhouse and was pulled up in the Jack De Bromhead Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas.

His best days may be behind him, but he has the ability and must not be dismissed.

Extremely talented chaser who has also run well over hurdles in his career but last hurdle run was in 2018.

This is a race that Gordon Elliott used to send Tiger Roll to before Cheltenham, where he won his last hurdle contest in the Grade Three Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle in March 2018.

It is difficult to predict his winning chances as it could be a preparation run for the festival in March but his talent and ability is clear so must be respected.

Another experienced runner who won this race back in 2021, beating 11/8f Fury Road by a neck. That was his last win over hurdles before being sent chasing by trainer Noel Meade.

He has since switched back to the smaller obstacles where he was pulled up in the Jack De Bromhead Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas before finishing fourth in the Grade Two John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle last month, which was won by Teahupoo.

He may be difficult to back here on recent form and is one of the outsiders for this contest.

8-year-old gelding who makes his return to the hurdles following several runs on the flat in Ireland mainly but England too.

Last hurdle outing was actually in this race last year, where he finished eighth of nine in the hands of Paul Townend.

His last success dates back to January 2021, where he won the Grade Two Sky Bet Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle by three lengths, ahead of the Willie Mullins trained Ganapathi.

Slightly difficult to gauge where he is at following runs on the flat but he always seems to perform when returning to obstacles. Market price suggests otherwise, however.

Experienced hurdler before sent chasing by trainer Gordon Elliott which hasn’t brought the success he would’ve liked.

Grand Roi has finished second in a beginners chase before falling on his next run at Fairyhouse in October last year.

He was then pulled up in another beginners chase at Leopardstown over Christmas but was pretty decent over hurdles in 2020/21 so could bounce back returning over the smaller obstacles.

Returning after a 428-day break to defend his 100% hurdling success rate with three wins from three runs.

Those wins include a four-length victory in the Grade Two Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in December 2021, beating Gelino Bello.

He also won the Grade Two Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle a month before that ahead of the same horse and this run here could be a preparation for the festival in March.

He was an impressive novice hurdler and holds an entry for the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham so Charles Byrnes will be hoping for a good run before heading to the festival with this seven-year-old gelding.

Saint Sam has ran over fences and hurdles in his career for Willie Mullins, with his most recent run coming in the Tote Proudly Sponsoring At Punchestown Hurdle in December, where he impressively beat Any Second Now by six and a half lengths.

Had been sent chasing for a few runs before that where he was inconsistent after a win at Fairyhouse in a beginner’s chase.

He has ran well in graded company hurdle races and could follow up his previous victory here with a good run for a top stable.

Relatively experienced hurdler for Oliver McKiernan who has ran well on his last two outings. He finished third at 50/1 in the Grade One Jack De Bromhead Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown which was won by Home By The Lee.

He finished ahead of the likes of Flooring Porter and Bob Olinger that day and followed it up with a fourth in a Grade Three hurdle contest at Naas last month won by Echoes In Rain.

This horse is rated highly and has run well in graded company, one to watch out for.

Has shown decent form over hurdles before being sent over the larger obstacles by Noel Meade, where he finished third at Fairyhouse and was pulled up at the same course last month before five out from the finish.

He won a Grade Three Novice Hurdle at Naas in March last year after winning a maiden hurdle at the same course two months prior to that victory.

His form over hurdles has been good but this is a tougher test to what he’s faced previously. 50/1 in the market suggests it will be hard for him to replicate that form here.