Irish-trained runners have landed five of the last seven renewals of the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and this year there are 46 entries from across the water, headed by the Jessica Harrington-trained Cork All Star.
Last year’s Grade One Weatherbys Champion Bumper winner made a successful start over hurdles before finishing second to fellow entry Muirhead in the Grade One Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse in December.
Oliver McKiernan’s Whatuthink finished third in that race, but the six-year-old gelding had Cork All Star back in third when triumphing in the Grade Two Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown on December 27, with fellow entry Forpadydeplasterer, trained by Thomas Cooper, separating the pair.
Last year’s Grade One Weatherby’s Champion Bumper second Sophocles could also return to The Festival. James Levy’s five-year-old gelding recorded a good victory in a competitive maiden at Leopardstown in December on his second start over hurdles.
Willie Mullins, who added to Tourist Attraction’s victory in this race in 1995 with Ebaziyan last year, has five entries including progressive hurdler C’Est Ca and last year’s Grade One Weatherby’s Champion Bumper fifth Fiveforthree, while fellow dual winner Edward O’Grady (1978 Golden Cygnet, 2003 Back In Front) could run Indian Spring, who finished second in the Grade One Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown on December 27.
Colm Murphy has engaged Megans Joy, who was a good winner of a Grade Three Novice Hurdle at Down Royal in November before finishing fourth behind Muirhead at Fairyhouse, while Gordon Elliott may run Harper Valley, who won the Boylesports.com Best Odds Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on December 15.
Nicky Henderson, who has won the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle twice before with River Ceirlog in 1986 and Flown in 1992, has made 14 entries, including impressive Newbury introductory hurdle scorer Khyber Kim, Working Title, who was an impressive 25-length winner on his hurdling debut, as well as Binocular, Zebra Crossing, Dave’s Dream and Doubly Guest, who have all enjoyed a winning start over the smaller obstacles.
The familiar Jim Lewis colours could be represented by the Paul Nicholls-trained Breedsbreeze, who was a convincing winner of the Grade One Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown on January 5. The champion trainer, successful in this race with Noland in 2006, has six entries in total, including Cheltenham scorers I’msingingtheblues, victorious in the Grade Two Anglo Irish Bank Private Banking Novices’ Hurdle in November, and Five Dream, who scored in the Brightwells Cheltenham Bloodstock Auctions Handicap Hurdle on January 26.
Alan King has engaged his star hurdler Francheok among his 10 entries. The four-year-old gelding, winner of the Grade One Future Champions Finale Hurdle at Chepstow over Christmas, has twice won round Cheltenham this season, including an impressive display in the Grade Two Wragge & Co Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle on Festival Trials Day on January 26.
The Barbury Castle handler could also be represented by the third from that race, Squadron, useful flat performer Group Captain, recent Grade Two second Theatre Girl, and Oh Crick, who beat a host of older rivals under top weight in the Club 16-24 Annual Big Bash “National Hunt” Novices’ Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.
Philip Hobbs has engaged three horses, including Royal Country Zen, who finished second to I’msingingtheblues on his hurdling bow before winning his next two starts, including a three-quarter length victory over Andrew Turnell’s smart performer and fellow entry Blue Bajan.
The Minehead-based handler could also run Snap Tie, who chased home I’msingingtheblues in the Grade Two Anglo Irish Bank Private Banking Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in November, and former useful flat performer Cutting Crew.
Another decent flat performer, Numide, who won a Group Two at Longchamp before joining Gary Moore, could also take his chance. The five-year-old gelding has made an impressive start to his hurdling career, winning both his outings this season by wide margins.
Evan Williams has entered his classy six-year-old Deep Purple, who was an impressive winner of a Grade Two Novices’ Hurdle at Ascot before chasing home Breedsbreeze at Sandown in January, while compatriot Peter Bowen has engaged Grade One Challow Novices’ Hurdle victor Souffleur.
Howard Johnson, who won the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle with Arcalis in 2005, has four entries, including Striking Article, who was an easy winner at Wetherby in December on his only start over hurdles, expensive Irish import Logans Run, and flat Listed-winner Scriptwriter.
Ferdy Murphy may run his exciting six-year-old Kalahari King, who was a facile winner over hurdles at Musselburgh in December, while Kahlil Burke has entered Lemon Silk, who finished third behind Francheok in The Grade Two Cleanevent Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in November before scoring in a Grade Two Junior Hurdle at Lingfield the following month.