2011 Neptune Investment Hurdle Form

Race OverviewWillie Mullins won this race in 2008 and 2009 and can strike again with SO YOUNG who has been highly impressive in both his hurdling starts. First Lieutenant and Oscars Well help give the Irish a strong hand with Tornado Bob, from last year's winning yard, appealing most of the home team.[Adrian Cook]

Odds provided by Paddypower

No.		Runner	Details	Rating
1		Accordintolawrence (IRE) Felix De Giles C Longsdon	5 yrs / 161 lbs 5-6161	118

CommentAccordintolawrence

Faces tall order on what he has achieved so far

Date	Race Conditions	Weight	Jockey	Race Outcome
28/01/11	FON 18GSCl4 NvHd,2K	156 lbs	Kielan Woods	1/14 2 1/4l, Cottage Acre[7/1]11-5
01/01/11	EXE 19GSCl4 NvHd,3K	159 lbs	Felix De Giles	6/16 32l, Filbert[11/2]10-12
19/11/10	EXE 17HyCl4 NvHd,3K	152 lbs	Felix De Giles	1/16 Nk, The Chazer[16/1]10-12
16/10/10	CHL 16Gd 4-6yCl4 NHF,4K	147 lbs	Peter Carberry	6/8 32 1/2l, Lets Get Serious[12/1]11-0
23/02/10	STH 16GS 4-6yCl6 NHF,2K	147 lbs	Paddy Brennan	5/13 24 1/2l, Quousko De L'Isop[16/1]11-9

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2

Aikman (IRE) Harry Haynes J Ewart

7 yrs / 161 lbs -1F211

136

CommentAikman

Gifted early lead when beating Minella Class at Huntingdon

Date	Race Conditions	Weight	Jockey	Race Outcome
24/02/11	HUN 20SftCl2 NvHd,10K	157 lbs	Harry Haynes	1/5 3l, Minella Class[16/1]11-11
11/02/11	MUS 20SftCl5 MdHd,2K	155 lbs	Harry Haynes	1/6 8l, Rupert Lamb[4/6F]11-4
26/01/11	MUS 16GdCl4 NvHd,2K	155 lbs	Harry Haynes	2/12 1 1/4l, Waldvogel[11/4]11-4
14/01/11	MUS 16GSCl4 MdHd,2K	156 lbs	Harry Haynes	F/14King Fingal[9/4F]11-5
13/05/10	PER 16GF 4-6yCl6 NHF,2K	149 lbs	Mr T Davidson	1/15 8l, Priceless Art[20/1]11-9

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3

First Lieutenant (IRE) D N Russell M Morris

6 yrs / 161 lbs 1-4131

142

CommentFirst Lieutenant

Leading contender on Leopardstown win over Zaidpour

Date	Race Conditions	Weight	Jockey	Race Outcome
29/12/10	LEO 16HyNvG1Hd,46K	164 lbs	D N Russell	1/5 Nk, Zaidpour[16/1]11-7
03/11/10	FAI 20SftNvHd,10K	164 lbs	D N Russell	3/9 7 1/2l, Aughnacurraveel[8/11F]11-10
13/10/10	PUN 20GdMdHd,6K	166 lbs	Andrew J McNamara	1/23 2 1/2l, White Star Line[1/2F]11-12
25/09/10	NAV 16Y/SftMdHd,6K	166 lbs	Andrew J McNamara	4/30 4l, Oneeightofamile[100/30]11-12
06/03/10	GOW 18Y/Sft 4-7yNHF,5K	168 lbs	Mr R P McNamara	1/15 7l, My Boy Paddy[4/5F]11-7

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4

Habbie Simpson R Thornton A King

6 yrs / 161 lbs 4-1133

136

CommentHabbie Simpson

Defeats here expose him as short of necessary standard

Date	Race Conditions	Weight	Jockey	Race Outcome
29/01/11	CHL 20GSCl1 NvG2Hd,14K	163 lbs	Robert Thornton	3/10 11 1/4l, Bobs Worth[9/1]11-12
01/01/11	CHL 20GSCl3 NvHd,6K	166 lbs	Robert Thornton	3/15 4l, Bobs Worth[11/1]11-8
17/11/10	WAR 21GSCl4 NvHd,3K	159 lbs	Wayne Hutchinson	1/17 6l, Youralltalk[100/30]10-12
29/10/10	WET 20GdCl4 NvHd,2K	152 lbs	Wayne Hutchinson	1/11 11l, Front Of House[4/1]11-5
17/04/10	AYR 16Gd 4-6yCl4 NHF,5K	163 lbs	Robert Thornton	4/12 28 3/4l, Sprinter Sacre[8/1]11-4

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5

Highland Valley (IRE) Jack Doyle Miss E Lavelle

6 yrs / 161 lbs 1-141

134

CommentHighland Valley

Promising but has to prove this quicker ground really suits

Date	Race Conditions	Weight	Jockey	Race Outcome
13/02/11	EXE 19HyCl4 NvHd,2K	165 lbs	Jack Doyle	1/14 2l, Araldur[EvensF]11-4
11/12/10	CHL 24GSCl1 NvG2Hd,14K	158 lbs	Sam Thomas	4/9 9 1/4l, Mossley[3/1C]11-4
09/11/10	EXE 21SftCl4 NvHd,3K	152 lbs	Sam Thomas	1/13 10l, Daring Origyn[5/1]10-5 tongue str
04/02/10	WCN 16Hy 4-6yCl6 NHF,1K	158 lbs	Jack Doyle	1/12 1 1/4l, Seismic Wave[9/4F]10-5

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6

Megastar J E Moore G L Moore

6 yrs / 161 lbs 1-1223

141

CommentMegastar

Ground will suit but has to settle better than latest up in trip

Date	Race Conditions	Weight	Jockey	Race Outcome
18/02/11	SAN 16GSCl4 NvHd,3K	163 lbs	Jamie Moore	3/5 7 1/4l, Topolski[4/11F]11-2
08/01/11	SAN 16HyCl1 NvG1Hd,17K	161 lbs	Jamie Moore	2/5 7l, Minella Class[9/2]11-7
29/12/10	NBY 16GSCl3 Hd,5K	159 lbs	Jamie Moore	2/12 6l, Rock On Ruby[2/1]11-0 tongue str
19/11/10	ASC 16GSCl2 Hd,7K	154 lbs	Jamie Moore	1/8 16l, Smokey Oakey[1/2F]11-0
10/04/10	Ain 17Gd 4-6yCl1 G2NHF,20K	158 lbs	Jamie Moore	1/20 1 1/2l, Dare Me[9/1]11-4

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7

Minella Class (IRE) B J Geraghty N Henderson

6 yrs / 161 lbs 12-112

148

CommentMinella Class

Latest Huntingdon defeat revealed some frailties

Date	Race Conditions	Weight	Jockey	Race Outcome
24/02/11	HUN 20SftCl2 NvHd,10K	165 lbs	Barry Geraghty	2/5 3l, Aikman[8/11F]11-3
08/01/11	SAN 16HyCl1 NvG1Hd,17K	161 lbs	Barry Geraghty	1/5 7l, Megastar[6/4F]11-7
15/12/10	NBY 16GdCl4 MdHd,4K	154 lbs	Barry Geraghty	1/22 3 1/2l, Red Merlin[4/1]11-0
14/03/10	LIM 19Y 5-7yNHF,6K	161 lbs	Mr M P Fogarty	2/11 2l, Acey[6/1]12-0
06/02/10	NAA 19Hy 4-7yNHF,7K	153 lbs	Mr M P Fogarty	1/12 1 1/2l, Current Resession[14/1]11-6

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8

Ohio Gold (IRE) J Tizzard C Tizzard

5 yrs / 161 lbs -33326

123

CommentOhio Gold

Unlikely to be playing more than a minor role

Date	Race Conditions	Weight	Jockey	Race Outcome
29/01/11	CHL 20GSCl1 NvG2Hd,14K	159 lbs	Joe Tizzard	6/10 22 1/4l, Bobs Worth[33/1]11-12
08/01/11	WCN 22SftCl4 NvHd,2K	160 lbs	Joe Tizzard	2/10 2 3/4l, Ballabriggs[5/4F]11-6
15/12/10	NBY 19Gd 4-6yCl4 NvHd,4K	152 lbs	Joe Tizzard	3/16 4 3/4l, Pride In Battle[100/30]10-12
26/11/10	NBY 16GSCl3 MdHd,6K	151 lbs	Sam Twiston-Davies	3/15 16l, Kid Cassidy[15/8]11-0
03/11/10	CHP 20GSCl5 MdHd,2K	154 lbs	Joe Tizzard	3/15 6 1/4l, Sonofvic[7/2]11-0

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9

Oscars Well (IRE) R M Power Mrs J Harrington

6 yrs / 161 lbs 0-2111

147

CommentOscars Well

Dual Irish Grade 1 winner in mud; ground the issue today

Date	Race Conditions	Weight	Jockey	Race Outcome
12/02/11	LEO 18HyNvG1Hd,45K	164 lbs	R M Power	1/10 5 1/2l, Zaidpour[7/1]11-9
18/12/10	NAV 20SftNvG1Hd,43K	164 lbs	R M Power	1/6 8l, Sweet Shock[9/4]11-10
14/11/10	PUN 20Sft/HyMdHd,9K	166 lbs	R M Power	1/14 9l, Red Tiger[5/2F]11-12
04/11/10	THU 18Sft 5yMdHd,5K	158 lbs	R M Power	2/18 1/2l, Gran Torino[12/1]11-4
23/04/10	PUN 18Gd 5-7yNHF,6K	163 lbs	Mr M Fahey	15/24 58l+, Auspicious Outlook[14/1]11-4

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10

Rock On Ruby (IRE) D Jacob P Nicholls

6 yrs / 161 lbs 11-112

147

CommentRock On Ruby

Looked outstayed when second upped in trip here latest

Date	Race Conditions	Weight	Jockey	Race Outcome
29/01/11	CHL 20GSCl1 NvG2Hd,14K	166 lbs	Harry Skelton	2/10 2 1/4l, Bobs Worth[6/1]11-12
29/12/10	NBY 16GSCl3 Hd,5K	154 lbs	Harry Skelton	1/12 6l, Megastar[4/1]11-5
14/11/10	CHL 16GS 4-6yCl1 LisNHF,7K	158 lbs	Noel Fehily	1/15 5l, Laveroque[11/4J]11-4
06/03/10	NBY 16GS 4-6yCl5 NHF,2K	163 lbs	R Walsh	1/13 2 3/4l, Karasenir[4/1]10-1
02/02/10	TAU 17GS 4-6yCl5 MdNHF,2K	158 lbs	R Walsh	1/12 3/4l, Karasenir[6/4F]10-8

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11

So Young (FR) R Walsh W Mullins

5 yrs / 161 lbs 211-11

140

CommentSo Young

Demolished opposition in both hurdling starts; fine prospect

Date	Race Conditions	Weight	Jockey	Race Outcome
09/02/11	PUN 16HyNvHd,8K	165 lbs	P Townend	1/6 5l, Big Game Hunter[1/6F]11-11 cheekpiece
28/12/10	LEO 20Sft/Hy 4yMdHd,7K	161 lbs	P Townend	1/24 16l, Harpsy Cord[7/4F]11-7
22/04/10	Sai 12GS 4yNHF,13K	143 lbs	Thomas Huet	1/5 1 1/2l+, Saint Gratien[2/1]10-3
09/03/10	Nan 12GS 4-5yNHF,7K	139 lbs	Thomas Huet	1/3 [13/5]
02/11/09	Nan 12H 3yNHF,20K	141 lbs	Thomas Huet	2/4Star Conti[8/5F]10-2

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12

Tornado Bob (IRE) J M Maguire D McCain

6 yrs / 161 lbs -12112

143

CommentTornado Bob

Going right way and should handle the quicker ground

Date	Race Conditions	Weight	Jockey	Race Outcome
19/02/11	ASC 19SftCl2 NvHd,7K	162 lbs	Jason Maguire	2/8 2l, Sonofvic[13/8F]11-5
25/01/11	LEI 20SftCl4 NvHd,2K	166 lbs	Jason Maguire	1/8 8l, Lord Liath[EvensF]11-5
31/12/10	UTT 20HyCl5 MdHd,2K	154 lbs	Jason Maguire	1/11 13l, Herdsman[EvensF]11-0
26/11/10	NBY 16GSCl3 MdHd,6K	154 lbs	Jason Maguire	2/15 15l, Kid Cassidy[6/1]11-0
14/05/10	COR 16GF 4-7yNHF,5K	165 lbs	Mr P Roche	1/21 4 1/2l, Tim's Approach[5/1]11-11

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We had a cracking run from Minella Class at Sandown recently and he now enters the Neptune Investment Hurdle picture for Cheltenham. The Nicky Henderson horse won the excellent Tolworth Hurdle at the start of January over 2 miles and now looks in a good position for the Festival. Henderson has indicated he will prefer the extra trip of the Neptune and after his comfortbale 7 length win over Megastar he took the step up in class in his stride and looks a potential star.

Paul Nicholls has Al Ferof in his yard this season and he looks ideally suited to a big run over the Neptune Novices Hurdle this season having been in ireland with Willie Mullins in the past. One of the most impressive runs of Al Ferof's season so far was when he hacked up at Taunton in the European Breeders Novice Hurdle, it was a good run after he fell the time before at Cheltenham. He picked up another good win last time out at Newbury and looks to be improving through the season which is interesting with Cheltenham in mind.

Nicky Henderson looks to have another ideal type for the Neptune on his hands this season with Bobs Worth winning twice at Cheltenham so far in 2011. He won the Neptune Management Novces Hurdle on New Years day and followed that up with another win in the Neptune Novices Hurdle again on Festival Trials day last time, he beat a good field that day including the likes of Backspin and Rock On Ruby and now looks to be a real contender in this market.

Willie Mullins has yet another potential star on his hands in So Young who after coming over from the flat in France has taken well to hurdling in Ireland. He won his first race over 2m 4f at Leopardstown on heavy ground after Christmas and has followed that up with another impressive win at Punchestown recently when winning the Punchestown.com Festival Offers Novices Hurdle over 2 miles. That was once again on heavy ground and it is worth noting that he also holds entries to the Supreme Novices Hurdle and the Albert Bartlett at the Festival.

Ireland have a strong hand in this years Neptune and another one to add to that mix is Oscars Well who seems to be an improving type this season and could run be capable of running a big race. He picked up a good win at Navan just before Christmas but his most impressive run of the season was last time out when he won well the Deloitte Novices Hurdle at Leopardstown. He was very impressive beating the likes of Zaipour and Shot From The Hip in some style and if he likes better ground looks a real threat.

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