Mullins Dominates Neptune Investment Management Novices` Hurdle Market

Outlander is the slight favourite for the Neptune Investment Management Novices` Hurdle, tomorrow`s Cheltenham Festival opener (13:30) but will have to fend off a number of worthy challengers should he scoop the prize for Willie Mullins and Gigginstown. The 4/1 shot (Numerous) is looking to give Mullins his fifth win of the Festival already and will be ridden by Bryan Cooper.

The seven-year-old is already a Grade Two winner after picking up a 20f Leopardstown Hurdle, though will be up against a number of opponents with Gloucestershire experience, something that this mount is lacking. The Stowaway-sired shot was just a slight runner-up over 3m at Limerick, suggesting that he should stay the 21f though he may also prefer ground softer than what`s on offer tomorrow. In spite of this, nobody would be surprised to see him cross the line in front tomorrow.

Nichols Canyon is the current second-favourite in the market, another Mullins charge and is the choice of Ruby Walsh. The 9/2 chance (32red, 888sport) is one of the youngest in the field at five-years-old and will need to take a step up in trip, the furthest he has travelled being 18f in the Deloitte Novices` Hurdle at Leopardstown. That was a Grade One, a race he won by over three lengths, so he should manage the 21f distance and is a strong second string for the wannabe leading trainer.

Windsor Park is available at 5/1 (Numerous) for Dr Ronan Lambe, Dermot Weld and Davy Russell, the team behind last season`s Gold Cup winner Lord Windermere. The six-year-old Galileo-sired charge has three lengths to find on Nichols Canyon following his defeat in the Deloitte but is proven at a further distance and could be in a good enough position to reverse the form. Whether or not he can do the same against Outsider, whom he was beaten by in the Leopardstown Grade Two is another matter.

AP McCoy will be hoping that Parlour Games will be able to give him his first winner of his final Festival. The John Ferguson entrant is the highest rated horse in the field at 148 and is a course and distance winner after picking up a trial for this race back in November. This Bloomfields runner may be the Irishman`s best chance of the day at 6/1 (Numerous).

Vyta Du Roc is relatively unexposed after only five runs at hurdles but can be backed at odds of 8/1 (ladbrokes, Stan James). A four time winner, two of these wins came at Grade Two level but these were also at 16f and he struggled to grind out a win when a neck behind Parlour Games in a Newbury Grade One at this distance. If connections are expecting an easier ride here they`ll get no joy.

A number of bookmakers have Beast Of Burden at 12/1 for Rebecca Curtis and Paul Townend. This pair teamed up to lead Irish Cavalier over the finish line in front on day one. The distance won`t be a problem for this six-year-old following his victory over three miles at Bangor. What is a cause for concern is class and this may be one step too far.

Both paddy Power and Stan James have Ordo Ab Chao at 14/1 for the win tomorrow and this looks over-priced. The son of Heron Island picked up a class one trial for this back in November at the course and could do some damage with this experience under his belt.

The race`s outsiders consist of Snow Falcon at 33/1 (Numerous), Warrantor at 66/1 (Stan James) and Anteros at 150/1 (Numerous).

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10/03/2015     © Frixo 2026