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The Lawlor’s of Naas have been a good guide to the Cheltenham Festival, Bob Olinger and Envy Allen did so before claiming Cheltenham Festival honours.
This year’s running looks as good as ever, with Champion Bumper winner Jasmin De Vaux looking to back up a maiden win at Navan.
But he has strong opposition to contend with here.
Get all the latest horse racing odds and Cheltenham Festival Ante-Post markets here with the best online horse racing bookmakers.
Now it’s time for an in-depth look at the Grade 1 Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle runners and The best horse racing betting companies To help bet the winner
Last season’s winner of the Champion Bumper started his career over hurdles with a win at Navan over two miles (a second and a third have since won).
But, for all that his performance was impressive, he did not dominate the jumping department.
The increased speed at the trip is an obvious advantage, but he still needs to help his jumping in a field of promising contenders.
If she can get her jumper up, she’ll be bang on there, but Jasmin de Voe isn’t bulletproof.
Go on a journey
β
Champion shield winner
β Jumping needs improvement
Star rating: βοΈβββ
π Bet on Jasmin De Vaux with talkSPORT BET π
Yellow Clay enters here with an excellent three-from-three hurdle record and now tops the betting for the Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
He struggled in his last race to Navan, but his class paid off, and he managed to run Fleur in the Park in the shadows of the post.
The only slight concern here is that The Yellow Clay looked like he was hit by three quick runs, so will four weeks off be enough to get him back to his best?
If he gets back to his best, for me, he’s going to get beat here.
It jumps well
β
No complications
β Last time it ran without any problem
Star rating: βοΈββββ
π Bet on The Yellow Clay with Sky Bet π
Butch Cassidy re-enters here after winning the battle against Sermandzarak (well supported but not raced at Leopardstown since) and the Shuffle Th deck.
It was a good showing on his first start for Henry Day Bromhead, and he is likely to take another step forward today, but he will need to find some improvement to win here.
He’s an interesting horse for the future and one that could get close to him by the end of the season, but he may find that too soon.
β
In the first game, we found many things to win
It has a bright future
β You have to come a lot for this run
Star rating: βοΈββ
π Bet on Butch Cassidy with Paddy Power π
He had to find it with Butch Cassidy when they met at Punchestown, but Shuffle The Deck managed to win well on his next start at Naas.
It was an improved performance, but he will need to maintain that improvement to come within five lengths of runner Henry Du Bromhead.
Not without a chance either way, but he needs a chance or two to run short.
β He came forward to win for his seasonal return
β Has more than five lengths to find with Butch Cassidy
Star rating: βοΈβ
π Bet on Shuffle The Deck with Midnite π
In five career starts under the Rules, the wingman has never finished outside the top three.
Wingman, who won well on debut over hurdles at Navan, was sent to Cheltenham for a novice hurdle for the December meeting despite jumping to the right.
He dropped back in trip because of this, and it was clear from a distance that he was going to hit him for the pace, but he did well to meet his target and held on well to clear a clear second.
Falling back in trip is a clear positive here, but the jump to the right that was still there for everyone at Cheltenham is more of a concern than his ability to win here.
If Danny Gilligan can keep him firmly on the rail and negate his tendency to jump to his right, then there’s every chance the wingman could have a place here at worst.
There’s an engine there, but the wingman needs to be on his best behavior here.
β
It has never been outside the top three
β
He has the talent to play a role
It goes back in the journey
β Jumping out to his right is an issue
Star rating: βοΈββ
π Bet on Wingman with Betfred π
Close to Grade 1 winner Supasundae, Supersundae has already shown an acceptable level of ability in his short career.
His first start over hurdles for Willie Mullins saw him finish seventh in the Supreme Novice Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and since then he has had a maiden victory at Ballinrobe.
For me, he’s the best watch here, as many Willies need their first performance of the season.
He could be interesting on the handicap down the lane and should find a few very good ones here.
β He ran well in the dam of Supreme Nevis
β It is most likely to enter for this run
Star rating: βοΈβ
π Bet on Supersundae with bet365 π
Spasiba fought well to win on debut for Willie Mullins in November and interestingly he is the choice of Danny Mullins.
But in all known forms, he has to climb a mountain to seriously engage.
Another Mullins runner that is the best to watch today.
Struggled well to win on first start for Willie Mullins
β You can’t make jump mistakes here
β It requires a new level of form
Star rating: βοΈ
π Bet on Spasiba with SBK π
The nine-year-old son of Plantor was a late arrival on the hurdle scene when he had a winning start for Willie Mullins in August.
He had a fair performance on the flat to finish 90 and has since run well to finish fourth in the Grade 2 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle.
Plontier was second last, but his inexperience got the better of him and he still managed to finish fourth.
He strikes me as one of the players who might have a handicap target for him in the spring, so he might want to not get too involved at the end here.
Plantier is one to keep an eye on at the Spring Festival, but he won’t be participating today.
β It has moved well with the obstacle
β May have the spring festival disability plan on its horizon
Star rating: βοΈβοΈ
π Bet on Plontier with BetMGM π
This creates a sudden extension of Lawlor’s Of Naas with many live competitors, but Yellow clays Experience may be enough to get him off the line.
He has been unbeaten since the switch to hurdles, and if he can improve once again on the back of a short rest, he could establish himself as a firm favorite for the Cheltenham Festival.
Wingman can gain ground with prices.
Current betting: Jasmin De Vaux 7/4, The Yellow Clay 3/1, Butch Cassidy 11/2, Shuffle The Deck 6/1, Wingman 16/1, Supersundae 25/1, Spasiba 33/1, Plontier 40/1.
Andrew Halligan
My name is Andrew Halligan, horse racing expert and YouTube founder Finish Line Podcast. Horse racing is an exciting spectacle that captivates audiences around the world with its mix of drama and excitement. Whether you are a fan of jumps or flats, I will use my experience working in the horse racing industry to bring you the best the sport has to offer.
You can follow Andrew on X (@Halligan88).
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