Tag Archive for: Ile Atlantique

Connections hoping ‘very exciting’ times are ahead with Poniros

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Punchestown or perhaps Royal Ascot are pencilled in for Poniros after his shock success in the JCB Triumph Hurdle.

The four-year-old was purchased for Tony Bloom for 200,000 guineas at the Tattersalls horses in training sale last October, leaving the ownership of Amo Racing after a Flat career when based with Ralph Beckett.

On his final start for Beckett he left the stalls as favourite for the valuable Cambridgeshire handicap at Newmarket, though he was ultimately unsuccessful when hindered by the draw.

He was one of 11 runners for Willie Mullins’ stable in the Triumph, making his hurdling debut at 100-1 as a seemingly lower ranking member of the Closutton string under Jonjo O’Neill jr.

Poniros returns victorious under Jonjo O'Neill jr
Poniros returns victorious under Jonjo O’Neill jr (PA)

His victory over the well-fancied duo of Lulamba and East India Dock came as a huge surprise then, and distinguishes the Golden Horn gelding as a real prospect under the National Hunt code.

He may not be quite finished on the Flat, however, with more than one option on the table for the rest of the year.

“We bought him at the horses in training sales in Tattersalls and I was really keen on him,” Sean Graham, racing manager to Bloom.

“Tony had a horse called The Reverend who won at Ascot in September and Poniros was fourth behind him having probably not had the clearest passage. I thought ‘there’s a horse that stays and will likely jump a hurdle’.

“He actually started the 6-1 favourite for the Cambridgeshire, but a mile to a mile and a quarter is probably on the sharp side for him.

“He was beaten by the draw so we put a line through that run and didn’t even judge him on it. He’d run eight times over two years so we knew he must be a tough horse.

Poniros in his days on the Flat after winning well on debut
Poniros in his days on the Flat after winning well on debut (PA)

“We bid on a couple of other horses at the sales that we didn’t get, and with the way things have transpired it was probably very fortunate because we’ve ended up with what could be a very, very exciting horse going forward.”

Should Poniros fare well in the coming weeks then Punchestown looks likely, but if he needs more downtime then Royal Ascot could come into the picture in June.

“I spoke both with Willie and David Casey (assistant trainer) and for both of them their initial thoughts were Punchestown, but we’ll just have to see how the horse comes out of the race because that was his first run over hurdles,” Graham said.

“We don’t know how much that has taken out of him, but if he tells us he’s fighting fit and healthy then I can see no reason we wouldn’t go to Punchestown with him.

“If he’d only jumped all right (at Cheltenham), completed the course and finished mid-division we’d have still been delighted, and the top two horses in the market were second and third behind him, so I don’t think there was any fluke about it.

“We’ll try not to get too excited, hopefully we’ll go to Punchestown now but if not we’ll maybe think about Royal Ascot.”

Ile Atlantique set to be seen over longer trips in the future

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A step up in trip appears on the cards for Ile Atlantique, as conditions could dictate where he is next seen.

Owned by Brighton & Hove Albion chief Tony Bloom and trained by Willie Mullins, the seven-year-old made an excellent start to his chasing career, impressing with cut in the ground at both Wexford on chasing debut and when dropped to the minimum trip to win a Naas Grade Two.

Kept at that distance for a clash with Triumph hurdle hero and stablemate Majborough at the Dublin Racing Festival, he failed to sparkle in quicker conditions, trailing home fifth of six and some 30 lengths adrift of the winner.

After electing to skip the Cheltenham Festival, Ile Atlantique is now enjoying a quiet time as his team revert to the drawing board, with both extra yardage and suitable underfoot conditions deemed imperative for his future outings.

“There’s no doubt he was disappointing at Leopardstown, but it was that poor it was clearly not his true running,” said Sean Graham, Bloom’s racing manager.

“The horse is having a short break and I’d say I would be surprised if we ran him over two miles again and I think we will step him up to two and a half miles, maybe even further.

“The ground at Leopardstown on the chase track was quicker than what it was on the hurdles track that weekend and the ground was against him, but really he just couldn’t go the two-mile gallop that Majborough set.

Ile Atlantique has always been a smart performer
Ile Atlantique has always been a smart performer (Niall Carson/PA)

“He beat Firefox five lengths at Naas with his head in his chest and Firefox has turned the form round remarkably if that was supposed to be a true running.

“Willie did think some of his horses who ran in the deep ground at Naas that weekend then under performed at the Dublin Racing Festival so maybe that weekend just came too quickly for him.

“I think it will be ground dependent where we go next and we would want to go somewhere where it was soft. Whether that is Aintree, Fairyhouse or Punchestown, we will go where we can get the ground and we think that is key to him.”

Options open for Ile Atlantique at the Dublin Racing Festival

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Connections of Ile Atlantique are happy to leave Dublin Racing Festival running plans for their exciting novice chaser to Willie Mullins.

Owned by Brighton & Hove Albion chief Tony Bloom, Ile Atlantique created a taking impression when scooping Grade Two honours over the minimum distance at Naas earlier this month, downing a useful field that included Grade One-winning hurdlers Firefox (second) and Inthepocket (third).

However, he also made a faultless chasing debut over an extended two and a half miles earlier in the season, with his versatility meaning he has been handed entries for both the Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase and Ladbrokes Novice Chase over an intermediate trip at Leopardstown early next month.

A decision on which race he tackles will be made by the master of Closutton, but the Ile Atlantique team would not be afraid of sticking at the minimum trip given the slick jumping he advertised superbly at Naas.

“Willie probably won’t make up his mind until declaration stage, but we’re fine with that and we’re happy for the horse to go in the best possible race to suit him,” said Sean Graham, Bloom’s racing manager.

“It was a very pleasing performance at Naas and I wouldn’t be put off going for the Arkle at the DRF and seeing if we have an Arkle horse because he jumps so well and the one thing that will keep him involved in these races is his jumping

“The horse won over almost two-miles-six at Navan on chasing debut and that is a really stiff track. Willie said Leopardstown at Christmas would come a bit soon for him and when I saw he was entered over two miles at Naas I raided my eyebrows a bit and wondered if he would have the speed to win over two.

“I thought coming down to two out that Inthepocket would do us for a turn of foot, but Paul (Townend) said he jumped the last two fences well and on the run-in all he had to do is flick the reins at him and he ran away from them.”

Always held in high regard by those closest to him, Ile Atlantique was a regular at Grade One level during his season novice hurdling and despite some criticism regarding his end-of-year results, it came as no surprise to see him bounce back to his very best.

Graham added: “I think people were a bit hard on the horse last year saying he was a bit soft and what not, but he was only a shell and a frame and although his form did tail off in the spring, that was when the ground dried out and he would definitely prefer some juice in the ground – the softer the better.

“He’s a horse we won’t be over-racing this year and maybe he will turn out to be a two-miler, a three-miler or maybe even both. But we know he is versatile and on soft ground I think we would be happy running him over any trip.”

‘Efficient jumping’ helps Ile Atlantique stay unbeaten over fences

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Ile Atlantique looks set to take high rank over fences judged on a dominant display in the Racing Post Novice Chase at Naas.

Twice placed in Grade Ones over hurdles last season, including a narrow defeat in the Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle on this card 12 month ago, the Willie Mullins-trained gelding made a fine start to his chasing career at Navan and was a 13-8 chance to follow up at Grade Two level under Paul Townend.

Ile Atlantique’s supporters will have had few concerns, with the seven-year-old travelling strongly throughout the two-mile journey before moving into the lead in the back straight.

With the stands’ rail to help, Townend always looked happy he had the chasing trio covered from the home turn and he was pushed out from the final fence to score by five lengths, with Firefox second and 11-10 favourite Inthepocket only third.

Mullins said: “His efficient jumping won it for him. He loves that ground and from an early stage you could see he was jumping more efficiently than everything else.

“He’s matured a lot and got stronger than last year, which is a big help, and fences might just be the making of him. Paul says when he sees a fence, he measures it himself and it just seems natural to him.”

Coral cut Ile Atlantique to 8-1 from 20-1 for the Arkle at Cheltenham in March and the Irish equivalent at next month’s Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown could be next on his agenda.

Ile Atlantique with connections after winning at Naas
Ile Atlantique with connections after winning at Naas (Alan Magee/PA)

“We just have to keep that improvement in him for the season. His season tapered off a bit last year and maybe it was because of the drying ground in the spring,” Mullins added.

“He’s one that we can now go two miles or two-and-a-half. We’ll look at the Dublin Racing Festival and see which direction we go.

“Majborough would be in the two-mile race (Irish Arkle) and maybe he could go along with him. We have a few for the two-mile-five-furlong race, which would look the place where Ballyburn would go”

Ile Atlantique carrying high hopes on second chasing start

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Ile Atlantique returns to Naas on Sunday with the opportunity to enhance his chasing reputation and erase the demons of 12 months ago.

Willie Mullins’ seven-year-old has always been held in high regard and was sent off the 6-4 favourite for this card’s feature Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle last year, agonisingly headed late in the piece by stablemate Readin Tommy Wrong.

However, he made a near foot-perfect start to life over the larger obstacles when a nine-length winner at Navan last month and connections are hopeful he can combat the drop back to two miles as he returns to graded action in the Racing Post Novice Chase.

“The plan has always been to look for a nice race after Christmas, having won well at Navan,” said Sean Graham, racing manager to owner Tony Bloom, the Brighton & Hove Albion chairman.

“That was obviously over a much longer trip and now we’re dropping back to two miles, but there are very few races to run in and once you have won your beginners’ chase it is hard to find these better races.

“We would have preferred it to be over a longer distance, but the horse doesn’t lack speed and he jumps fluently. It’s a big ask, but the only way you are going to find out about these horses is running in the races and that’s what you have to do.

“If the race was two and a half miles you might be a bit more confident, but it is what it is and he’s in great form since he ran first time out.”

Ile Atlantique after winning at Navan
Ile Atlantique after winning at Navan (Michael Graham/PA)

Ile Atlantique spent the spring of 2024 battling some of the best novice hurdlers around, but he has always been stamped with the ‘chaser in the making’ moniker, with both his performance at Navan and visible growth during the off season suggesting he could make his mark over fences this term.

“He probably came up short at Cheltenham behind Ballyburn and his season tailed off after that, but he has come back a bigger, stronger horse this year,” continued Graham.

“I spoke to Paul Townend both before and after the race at Navan and he felt he’s got bigger and grown and also felt he is a stronger horse than last year. He’s just a big horse who needed time to fill into his frame.

“He did a lot of the donkey work at Navan out in front and there was some good horses behind him that day and we go to Naas hopeful.”

Firefox (left) and Ile Atlantique (right) in action at Fairyhouse
Firefox (left) and Ile Atlantique (right) in action at Fairyhouse (Healy Racing/PA)

Ile Atlantique is set to clash with Gordon Elliott’s Firefox once again after the duo first clashed in a Fiaryhouse bumper and also went toe-to-toe over hurdles last term.

Owned by Elliott’s long-time supporters Noel and Valarie Moran of Bective Stud, the Grade One-placed hurdler made a successful fencing bow at Down Royal before narrowly falling short when third in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse.

He is another dropping in distance for this Grade Two event, but the likely favourite is Henry de Bromhead’s Inthepocket, who was ultra-impressive when opening his chasing account at Wexford.

That was the eight-year-old’s first outing following almost a year on the sidelines and with high-level hurdling form to his name, his camp are looking forward to the outing.

Owner JP McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry said: “Inthepocket came out of his last race good, Henry is very happy with him and we’re looking forward to running him on Sunday.

“Hopefully all goes well with him, as he’s had his little issues, but touch wood all is good with him at the moment.”

Berry also confirmed that Triumph Hurdle winner Majborough, who was among the initial entries for this contest, would “probably go to Leopardstown” for the Dublin Racing Festival following what was an imposing chasing bow last month.

Ile Atlantique team weighing up January options

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Ile Atlantique will be aimed at a second chasing start next month after a near-flawless debut over fences at Navan last weekend.

The six-year-old, who is trained by Willie Mullins, made a notable start to his hurdling career last season when winning on debut by 19 lengths before finishing just a neck behind the winner in the Grade One Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle.

He then contested a string of further top-level events, but did not hit the same heights when a distant third at the Cheltenham Festival and fifth and seventh respectively at Aintree and Punchestown.

This term he stepped up to the larger obstacles and started out at Navan earlier in the month, lining up for the QuinnBet Beginners Chase amongst a competitive field that included Barry Connell’s Good Land and Waterford Whispers.

Ile Atlantique made all the running under Paul Townend and, barring a single mistake, jumped well to come home a comfortable nine lengths ahead of the latter horse, with Good Land a further length and a half back.

“He attacked his fences, he’s a much bigger, stronger horse this year,” said Sean Graham, racing manager to owner Tony Bloom.

“Christmas will probably come too soon for him so we’re looking at a novice chase in mid-January, maybe mid-to-late January. No decision has been made on it just yet.

“He jumped very well, he did all the hard work himself and that’s a big ask.

“We couldn’t have asked for any more from him, and the right horses chased him home in second and third.

“It was a very hot race, he was the top-rated hurdler so he was probably entitled to win on paper, but when you go chasing you have to prove that you can jump the fences and handle it, so the way he jumped was a huge plus.”

Ile Atlantique makes seamless transition to fences

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Ile Atlantique made a perfect start to his chasing career when landing the QuinnBet Beginners Chase at Navan.

Willie Mullins’ six-year-old was placed at Grade One level over hurdles and was graduating to the larger obstacles under Paul Townend in a field of 18.

The gelding was the 5-4 favourite to land an informative race over a trip just in excess of two and a half miles, with Good Land, Mahon’s Way, No Flies On Him and Waterford Whispers among his rivals.

He was well able to deal with them all, however, and made a real impression with an educational round of jumping that led to a nine-length triumph from Waterford Whispers with the returning Good Land running a promising race in third after missing the whole of last season.

“I just let him learn today on it, he had to figure it out a bit himself,” said Townend.

“We could have gone out and winged everything, but he would learn more if he could do it himself.

“He rides a stronger horse this year. There were question marks of him seeing out his races before, but I think he has just needed all the time. A fence will help him with that as well, and maturity.

“He’s fast from one side to the other. Hopefully, he is going to have a good novice chase season.

“I like him a lot – I loved him last year and he didn’t fulfil what I thought he was going to do. I just think sitting on him, he’s so big this year, and he has taken this much time.”

Baring Bingham looking favoured test for Ile Atlantique

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Tony Bloom’s Ile Atlantique is “95 per cent sure” to line up in the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, after a weekend where more clues were on offer in the novice hurdling division.

The Brighton & Hove Albion supremo has seen his flagship horse Energumene land the Queen Mother Champion Chase the past two years, while Penhill is another to carry Bloom’s blue and white silks to success at Prestbury Park, in both 2017 and 2018.

Also trained by Willie Mullins, Ile Atlantique appeared a prime candidate to add to Bloom’s Festival tally when bolting up on his first start over hurdles at Gowran and lost little in defeat when headed close home by Readin Tommy Wrong in the Grade One Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle last month.

A muddling race saw the six-year-old having to cut out most of his own running in the hands of Paul Townend and with connections bypassing the option of running at Leopardstown’s Dublin Racing Festival, they are content to remain at an intermediate trip.

“I think the Baring Bingham is going to be his race at the Festival” said Bloom’s racing manager, Sean Graham.

“I did speak to Willie (on Tuesday) and even though he has an entry in the Supreme Novices’, I think we are 95 per cent sure we will go for the two-mile-five race which makes sense because that is the trip he wants anyway.”

He went on: “His run at Naas was only his second run over hurdles and he was left doing the donkey work which wasn’t the plan.

“The plan was for the horse that Patrick (Mullins, Chapeau De Soleil) rode to be in front, but he sort of walked his way through the first few hurdles and because Ile Atlantique jumped the first two so well, he was left in front and Paul thought there is no point taking a pull and he may as well let the horse go on.

“Paul was very happy with him and we probably set the race up for the winner as we gave him something to aim at.

“He’s run so well in that race without things going to plan and you would be hopeful there would be some improvement from then. He’s had a long break and held an entry at the Dublin Racing Festival, but after Naas, Willie’s first reaction was we won’t run him again and go straight to Cheltenham.”

Despite Ile Atlantique’s Festival destination looking more inked in than pencilled, there are still a few more weeks for his place in the Closutton pecking order to be determined – a picture that became slightly clearer at Leopardstown.

All three Grade Ones for the inexperienced hurdlers went the way of Ireland’s champion trainer and although chief Baring Bingham threat Ballyburn may now be destined to run in the opening Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, the victory of outsider Dancing City highlights the strength of opposition amongst Ile Atlantique’s stablemates.

Tony Bloom with jockey Paul Townend after Cheltenham Festival glory with Energumene
Tony Bloom with jockey Paul Townend after Cheltenham Festival glory with Energumene (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Graham continued: “There are so many owners and horses to take into account that Willie is probably going to have three in each race that are first, second and fourth/fifth in the betting or something like that and he will obviously go into the races with a strong hand.

“Ballyburn looked so good over two miles on his last two runs you would be saying to yourself ‘if it isn’t broke, why fix it’ and if someone offered me evens which race he runs in, I would be backing Supreme anyway.

“They all look hot races and I looked the other day and I think Ile Atlantique was a 10-1 chance to win it.

“It would be great if Paul chose Ile Atlantique as it would show where he was thought of in the pecking order, but even if he doesn’t, it was shown at the weekend Willie can still win with his second or third string and I think we definitely go there with a chance.”

Bloom’s Festival hand will also contain Bunting, who is set for a crack at the Triumph Hurdle having finished a respectable fourth in Grade One company at Leopardstown.

An impressive winner at Limerick on his stable bow, he was sent off 15-2 for a race in which Mullins saddled the first four home and although ultimately beaten just over two lengths, connections are now keen to take a shot at Nicky Henderson’s highly-regarded market leader Sir Gino.

“It was only his second run over hurdles and he went straight from a maiden hurdle to a Grade One,” continued Graham.

“After jumping the last, when Brian Hayes went to go left, he got his path blocked and had to switch. He wouldn’t have beaten the winner, but maybe could have got third.

“I discussed it with Willie and he’s thinking we may as well go for the Triumph. With Nicky’s horse (Sir Gino) being so impressive at Cheltenham, the race might cut up a bit and in the past there has been only six and eight runners – you don’t get the 25 runners you used to get.

“So he’s on course for the Triumph, but we will need the horses to stay sound between now and Cheltenham. You see it every year, they get stone bruises, they pull muscles, so you need a fair bit of luck to get two horses there in one piece.”

Ile Atlantique takes Grade One leap in eagerly-awaited Naas feature

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Ile Atlantique faces the acid test of his Cheltenham Festival credentials as he leads the four-strong Willie Mullins-trained team into battle in the rearranged Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle.

The race fell victim to the fog that descended on the Kildare track on Sunday, but thankfully the ultra-competitive Grade One event has been saved and Mullins will be bidding for a record-extending ninth win in the contest, 19 years after first striking with Homer Wells.

Closutton stable jockey Paul Townend has elected to link up with Ile Atlantique after the duo sauntered to a 19-length success on hurdles debut at Gowran.

The six-year-old brings smart bumper form to the table – including a narrow defeat by chief market rival Firefox – but connections appreciate this is a huge leap up in class on just his second start over obstacles.

Ile Atlantique after winning on hurdles debut at Gowran
Ile Atlantique after winning on hurdles debut at Gowran (PA)

“He’s going from winning a maiden hurdle to a Grade One and it’s a big ask, but Firefox is doing the same and so are a few other horses in the race,” said Sean Graham, racing manager to Ile Atlantique’s owner Tony Bloom.

“You don’t know how much improvement a horse can find after winning a maiden hurdle, but then are they good enough to win a Grade One?

“The bumper form has held up well and we’re hoping he’s as good as everyone thinks he is, but it’s only his second run over hurdles and its a big ask going straight in there at Grade One level. I asked Willie if there was any chance of giving him another run before going into Grade One company and Willie said those races don’t exist anymore.

“He’s a classy horse and he works with all the best horses Willie has, but until he goes and does it, you are not quite sure. If we run on Friday and finish fifth or sixth, then you’ve got to think maybe Cheltenham isn’t on the cards then, so it will be a learning curve for us as well as the horse. We’re just hopeful he will run his race.”

Not only does Friday’s contest represent a step up in grade for Ile Atlantique, it is also the first time he will race beyond two miles in Ireland.

Despite that, he is already single-figure odds with the majority of bookmakers for the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and connections feel that is currently his most likely Prestbury Park target if all goes according to script.

“We always felt on his bumper form he would need further, but when Paul rode him at Gowran Park, he more or less said he wasn’t a slow horse,” continued Graham.

“We didn’t think three miles would be his trip this year and the Albert Bartlett would be too far for him, but the Ballymore is in his stretch. That is not to say next year he won’t get three miles, or further over fences in the future.

“We’re hoping he will run well and the Ballymore is his most likely target, but Friday will tell us a lot more.”

Trainer Willie Mullins will saddle four in the Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle
Trainer Willie Mullins will saddle four in the Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle (Brian Lawless/PA)

Joining Ile Atlantique from Closutton is easy Clonmel scorer Chapeau De Soleil, who will be the mount of Patrick Mullins, Navan runner-up Lecky Watson (Danny Mullins) and the four-timer-seeking Readin Tommy Wrong (Daryl Jacob).

If Mullins is the race’s most successful trainer, then it is Gordon Elliott who has dominated the recent history winning four of the last seven runnings.

Death Duty (2017), Battleoverdoyen (2019), Envoi Allen (2020) and Ginto (2022) have all struck for Elliott in the past and it is Firefox who carries the Cullentra House handler’s main hopes this time around.

Following his documented exploits in bumpers, which includes the defeat of Ile Atlantique, he has claimed the scalp of the highly-regarded Ballyburn since turning his attentions to hurdling – form that was given a timely boost over the Christmas period.

Elliott has a second string to his bow in the form of Croke Park, who arguably sets the standard on hurdling form, having landed the Grade Three Monksfield at Navan last time out.

“We’re looking forward to both of our horses and we hope they’ll run well,” said Elliott.

“Firefox was good the last day and I don’t think stepping up in trip will be a problem to him.

“Croke Park is a good horse as well and hasn’t done much wrong.”

The only runner not trained by Mullins or Elliott is Henry de Bromhead’s An Tobar, who steps up in trip after finishing third in the Grade One Royal Bond at Fairyhouse.

De Bromhead’s race planner Robbie Power said: “He ran very well in the Royal Bond on what was only his second ever start over hurdles. With that experience and the step up to two and a half miles, this looked a good race to go for.

“The Fairyhouse race looked a strong Grade One, as the winner, Farren Glory, looked like he was going to win another Grade One at Aintree over Christmas (before falling) and the runner-up, King Of Kingsfield, was very impressive winning at Leopardstown over Christmas, so it is strong form.”

Naas rematch possible for Firefox and Ile Atlantique

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Firefox and Ile Atlantique are on course to meet for a second time in the Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle on Sunday.

Gordon Elliott’s Firefox came out on top in a Fairyhouse bumper last April by three-quarters of a length from Willie Mullins’ Ile Atlantique.

Since then, Firefox has won another bumper at Down Royal in November before beating the highly-regarded Ballyburn, a winner recently, on his hurdling debut at Fairyhouse.

Ile Atlantique created a big impression on his first run over hurdles when winning by 19 lengths at Gowran.

Both trainers have other strong possible contenders, too.

Elliott has left in Croke Park and Jigoro, while Mullins could also run Chapeau De Soleil, Lecky Watson, Readin Tommy Wrong and Mystical Power, the son of Galileo and Annie Power.

The only other two possible runners are Tom Mullins’ Fascile Mode and Henry de Bromhead’s promising An Tobar.

The latter was last seen finishing third in the Royal Bond when sent off favourite. The winner, Farren Glory, looked like following up in the Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree until falling late on.

“An Tobar is in good form and goes to Naas on Sunday, all being well,” said De Bromhead’s race planner Robbie Power.

“It has been a great Christmas for An Tobar’s owners, Robcour and the Acheson team.

“We had An Tobar and Slade Steel kept over Christmas for this race at Naas but it is just going to come a bit soon for Slade Steel, so An Tobar will go and try to emulate what Bob Olinger did in 2021, before he went on to win the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.”