Grade Two Naas BetVictor Novice Hurdle Guide 2022

A winner of an AQPS race over a mile and a half in France with ease, he was picked up by Rich Ricci and sent over to Willie Mullins for training in Ireland. 

Clearly thought highly of as a 3 year old he debuted in a Grade 2 race for Mullins but struggled to lay up with Zanahiyr.

He was then pitched in at Grade 1 level for only his second start over hurdles but was beaten miles by Quilixious at the Dublin Racing Festival. 

Narrowly beaten in a maiden hurdle on his first run of this season, he managed to shed his maiden tag when last seen at Fairyhouse.

Obliging at odds of 1/4 to win with bundles in hand. Again the form hasn’t really been tested so its hard to assess how good it is but visually it was very impressive. 

A 7 year old gelding for P M Doyle who was picked up off the back of a good 2nd in the point to point sphere. A winner in both of his bumper runs, he looked right at home on really soft ground to seal both of his wins. 

Given a seemingly insurmountable task on hurdle debut, he couldn’t live with Dysart Dynamo and was beaten nearly 30 lengths by the Supreme fancy. He then bumped into another decent one of Mullins’ in 5 year old Bronn and he had to settle for 3rd. 

Finally getting off the mark at the end of last month, he was ridden more aggressively and sat handier to be a runaway winner at a short price.

The form has yet to be tested but he looked to have improved bundles for his first two runs and probably has a bit of improvement left in him for winning. 

Only seen once for connections running in a maiden point to point where he failed to complete over 2 years ago. 

Very little to assess as his only run saw him pull up and he’s already a mammoth price for his first run over hurdles here. The 6 year old doesn’t look to have much chance being thrown in the deep end here. 

A 14 year old trained by Gearoid Brouder, he’s a strange addition to proceedings here having poor form and not winning in any of his runs in bumpers, point to points or under rules. 

Coming here with a lowly rating of 80 gives him bundles to find and he last seen being beaten 130 lengths in a handicap hurdle in October at Thurles. 

Refusing to run in a point to point before pulling up in his next start between the flags doesn’t inspire confidence and he’s been beaten out of sight in all of his starts over hurdles. 

Gordon Elliott’s 5 year old Hiaou has only been seen three times on course in his career having debuted back in November of last year. 

Running well over 2 miles and 3 furlongs behind Eric Bloodaxe, he shaped well in 3rd on hurdle debut and wasn’t beaten too far behind a rival who’s gone on to score in graded company since. 

Sent for a maiden hurdle at Leopardstown at Christmas, he was travelling well into proceedings over 2 miles when favourite State Man fell and brought down Hiaou 2 from home. He’d just moved into 4th when being brought down and looked to be going well.

He confirmed that promise he was showing when winning at Punchestown over 2 miles last month. Sent off favourite, he just got the better of Goven late on.

Despite being headed he rallied and came back valiantly to win. Interesting to note he had Killer Mode back in 3rd who finished ahead of Flame Bearer at Naas. 

A very prolific bumper runner for Oliver McKiernan, 5 year old Meet And Greet made six appearances in bumpers but only won one of runs in bumpers. Having had a run over hurdles over 2 miles and 5 furlongs at the start of the campaign, he dropped back into bumpers for the rest of the season. 

Only seen twice this season, he made his reappearance at Naas in a maiden hurdle and ran well to be 3rd behind a couple of decent rivals. Meet And Greet took a big step forward from debut to win when last seen at Naas again.

Taking a maiden hurdle on soft ground only a couple of weeks ago, he finished powerfully and looked better the further he went. 

The form of his win has yet to be tested but it was a solid course and distance win he scored last time out.