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Runner-by-runner guide to the Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle

Last Updated: Thu 21 Dec 2023

You can wait ages for a Grade One race to turn up and then, at Christmas, they all arrive at once.

The Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle, run over 2m 4f, will be the fourteenth top-level contest in a week and it’s got quite a roll of honour, with the past two winners - Envoi Allen and Bob Olinger – going on to land the Ballymore at Cheltenham in March.

The past six renewals have all been won by the favourite. The unbeaten Hollow Games is the early market leader on this occasion and it will be interesting to see how he moves in the market given that Ginto, his stablemate, who is in the same ownership, is not far behind in the betting.

Here’s a guide to all seven runners.

1 CHURCHSTONEWARRIOR

Trainer: Jonthan Sweeney. Timeform rating: 141. Odds: 25-1

cork

13:10 Cork - Sunday December 5

He’s got a stack of experience and has scored at Sligo and Thurles this term. However, he seemed to have his limits exposed when beaten at Cork last time and, in all likelihood, we won’t see the best of him until he tackles staying chasers next season and beyond. The drop in trip seems unlikely to help (all his previous runs over hurdles have been over about 3m) and, at 7, he would be the oldest winner since Gagewell Flyer in 2011.

2 GINTO

Trainer: Gordon Elliott. Timeform rating: 150p. Odds: 9-4

navan

12:33 Navan - Saturday December 4

Changed hands for €470,000 as a four-year-old after winning on his point-to-point debut and is unbeaten in two starts over hurdles this term. I was slightly underwhelmed by his initial win at Navan but he was impressive when dishing out an 11-length drubbing to Eric Bloodaxe back at that track last time. The runner-up has done his bit for the form, too, by subsequently going one better in an ordinary Grade two contest. He’s an exciting prospect, not least for chasing next term, who should relish the demands of this stiff track.

3 GRAND JURY

Trainer: Henry de Bromhead. Timeform rating: 139p. Odds: 8-1

punchestown

13:35 Punchestown - Tuesday November 23

Represents the team who struck with Bob Olinger last year and his profile is not dissimilar in that he is fast-tracked to Grade One company after landing a maiden hurdle. Was no more than workmanlike when beating Ardla on his hurdling bow over 2m at Punchestown, although the runner-up has since gone one better in a similarly big field. The step up in trip promises to suit but he is going to have to raise his game to beat rivals who have achieved more plus may be a little more streetwise.

4 HOLLOW GAMES

Trainer: Gordon Elliott. Timeform rating: 146p. Odds: 13-8

navan

13:50 Navan - Sunday November 21

In the same ownership as Ginto and, like him, was a big-money buy after winning on his point debut. He is now 5/5, winning bumpers at Punchestown an Leopardstown before clicking at Down Royal and Navan (watch above) over hurdles. A feature of those wins is that they’ve all come in steadily-run races, making it tricky to get an exact steer on him, but Jamie Codd and Davy Russell have both been hugely complimentary. At this stage, he’s in the “could be anything” category. For what it matters, he will wear the second colours of his owner.

5 THE LITTLE YANK

Trainer: John Ryan. Timeform rating: 132+. Odds: 125-1

The good news is that he’s a two-time winner over hurdles; but the bad news is that it’s taken him 32 races to achieve that tally. He’s a Little Yank with Little Chance.

6 WHATDEAWANT

Trainer: Willie Mullins. Timeform rating: 142p. Odds: 9-2

fairyhouse

15:50 Fairyhouse - Sunday January 3

There was plenty to like about the way he beat Ginto (watch above) when the pair clashed on their respective debuts under Rules in a bumper at Fairyhouse almost a year to the day. He was then a distant third to Kilcruit, when unfancied, at Leopardstown before digging deep to win on his hurdling bow over 2m at Navan last month. The horse he overhauled, Harald Hadrad, had been a taking bumper winner, and this longer trip seems sure to suit him.

7 ANGELS DAWN

Trainer: Sam Curling. Timeform rating: 134. Odds: 66-1

She’s run some creditable races but, as the odds imply, is an ambitous runner as she’s still a maiden after 11 races. Finished about eight lengths third to Eric Bloodaxe at Limerick earlier in the week and that horse had previously been no match for Ginto.

ANDY’S VERDICT

A fascinating renewal, with Ginto, Hollow Games, Grand Jury and Whatdeawant all having bags of potential. It will be a surprise if this quartet do not dominate, with marginal preference being for GINTO after his emphatic defeat of Eric Bloodaxe last time.

Ginto 2. Hollow Games 3. Whatdeawant

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