ILE BE SAILING PAST SOME BIG FANCIES

Ben Morgan reckons Ile Atlantique can gain avenge his Naas defeat for Willie Mullins

Baring Bingham Novices Hurdle

Ballyburn seems to be the novice on everyone’s lips going into this Festival and although it seems likely that he will line up in the 2m race on the Tuesday, he still heads the ante post market for this race.

The horse he beat last time out, Slade Steel is the likely favourite and he boasts solid claims. He pulled nicely clear of third that day and most eagle eyed punters immediately had him marked down for this race. He might look a little too obvious for my liking and I’m not entirely sure what I think of his current price of 9/2.

Willie Mullins has a very strong hand of novices this term and I have already touched on potentially the best one but I think there are a couple lurking in behind him which would be standout novices in what you would call a ‘normal’ year. Readin Tommy Wrong took the Lawlors of Naas novice Hurdle, just getting up in the shadows of the post to extend his unbeaten run. I love horses who keep on winning by small margins and especially ones who do it in such a determined manner.

The horse he wore down in that Naas race, ILE ATLANTIQUE was a hot favourite that day and he probably wasn’t suited to how the race panned out as he had to go out and make all the running. He was a sitting duck towards the last 100 yards or so and his strong staying stable mate made the most of that and took aim at his rear end. In a race like this where his jockey can ride a race on him I think he could be the one to be on.