1.55 DELOITTE NOVICE

HURDLE (GRADE 1)

2M 2F

Bellshill: The winner of the Grade 1 bumper at the Punchestown Festival last season, he has won all three of his starts over hurdles this season, most recently the Grade 1 Lawlor’s Hotel Novice Hurdle at Naas. This less testing surface will suit and he is the one to beat.

Tombstone: The winner of two bumpers and a maiden hurdle, he stepped right up in class to contest the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting and was arguably unlucky to be beaten by Long Dog having met with trouble in running. The first-time hood should help him settle.

Bleu Et Rouge: Won a maiden hurdle at Cork on his Irish debut before finishing a solid fourth in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting. Has to reverse form with two that finished in front of him that day, but is entitled to improve having endured a wide passage last time.

Coney Island: Has improved with each of his three starts over hurdles, most recently winning a maiden hurdle at at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting. This is a big step up in class and significant improvement will be needed for him to feature.

Petit Mouchoir: The winner of a point-to-point, bumper and maiden hurdle, he improved to finish a close third in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting. He didn’t get the clearest of runs on that occasion and it wouldn’t surprise to see him go very close in this.

VERDICT

This is the toughest test of the season thus far for Bellshill and the Gordon Elliott-trained Tombstone might just improve enough for the application of a hood to get the better of him.