THE Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle has been a largely predictable race, even before it was elevated to Grade 1 status; since 2000, and prior to last Friday, there have been 10 winning favourites and only one winner sent off bigger than 7/1.

That shock winner was McKinley at 33/1 in 2015, and he had some similarities with Readin Tommy Wrong as he beat a much better-fancied stablemate, his price influenced by his being pulled up on his last start little more than a week beforehand.