Neptune Investment Hurdle Form

As the 2011/12 season progresses we shall be updating this section to reflect the Neptune Investment Hurdle main contenders. The Neptune Hurdle is somewhat unique as it is run over the middle distance between 2 and 3 miles and as such it is for the stayers amongst the Novice Hurdle brigade. One race that will feature in our review is the Ballymore Cheltenham Festival trial run at the January meeting as this is one of the best trials of the season.

Neptune Novices Hurdle Racecard/Form 2012

One who could take his chance in the Neptune this season is the Irish raider, Mount Benbulben. The Gordon Elliot horse hacked up to win the Monksfield Novice Hurdle in style over 2m 4f on slow ground, he stayed every inch of the trip and if we get rain at Cheltenham he could be a major threat.

Mount Benbulben was beaten next time out though when only second in the Grade 1 Navan Novice Hurdle with the progressive Boston Bob claiming an impressive win for Willie Mullins. Boston Bob could go down the Neptune or the Albert Bartlett route at the Festival with connections still to decide but either way he could be a star of the season. The Willie Mullins horse recorded his third straight win this season in the Synergy Solutions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown in some style recently on heavy ground. Boston Bob looks to be a progressive sort and the Neptune is now his likely target at Cheltenham according to connections although the Albert Bartlett remains an option.

Phillip Hobbs and Richard Johnson have unearthed a real star in Fingal Bay this season and he could be a Neptune horse this season. He has been massively impressive so far this season with four consecutive wins to his name, his class 1 win at Sandown ahead of Simonsig perhaps his best form with the two horses well clear. His latest win came at Newbury on New Years Eve as he won the the Challow Novices Hurdle in style and remains an ante-post Cheltenham favourite for various races. There are some doubts about his best trip at this stage which is a warning to ante post punters, it appears that connections will have to choose between the Neptune and Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle but either way he looks a class act.

Noel Meade has confirmed that his star novice hurdler, Monksland, will be targeted towards the Neptune at Cheltenham after he won at Naas recently. The horse has won three races this season with his last effort in the Slaney Novice Hurdle particularly taking as he quickened in style to take the win on slow ground.

• Neptune Novices Hurdle 2011 Form Guide and Race Card

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