1.50 Gannon’s City Recovery & Recycling Services Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m

Bacchanalian: Off the mark over hurdles earlier this month, but this looks beyond his abilities.

Hello Neighbour: By dual Derby winner Harzand and a half-brother to the 2020 winner of this race, this 97-rated flat horse justified connections’ decision to pitch him at Grade 2 level on his hurdle bow over course and distance. He raced keenly then, so a hood should help, and he looks the one to beat.

Sony Bill: Twice a winner and listed-placed in France, he made a promising start for new connections after a 201-day absence, finishing seven lengths behind Hello Neighbour. He should improve from that, but unlikely to reverse the placings

Wendrock: Convincing winner here at Christmas, but his trainer then described him as “more of a Fred Winter horse than a Grade 1 horse”, and subsequent runs by the third and fourth suggest it wasn’t the hottest maiden.

Willy De Houelle: Runner-up in a Grade 3, but failed to reverse the placings when the winner carried a penalty, the pair still well-beaten by Hello Neighbour and by a lesser distance by Sony Bill. Wears a tongue-tie for the first time.

Galileo Dame: Beaten two lengths by Wendrock on her hurdle debut, when he had one more hurdle run under his belt. She may reverse the placings today, but has work to do.

Lady Vega Allen: The main danger to Hello Neighbour, given the short head between them last month. She was ridden more patiently than the keen winner, who wears a hood today, and it remains a close call.

Sainte Lucie: Paul Townend’s choice today was described by Willie Mullins as “one out of the top drawer” after her wide-margin win at Punchestown, though some may doubt his claim given the low calibre of her strung-out rivals.

Conclusion:

Judging by last month’s Grade 2, it’s hard to see past the closely-matched winner and second, Hello Neighbourand Lady Vega Allen. Preference is for the former in a first-time hood. Paul Townend sides with Sainte Lucie, and, though his opinion is respected, he has chosen the wrong horse for the past two years.