Back In Front can make it five
He produced an extraordinary performance at Cheltenham to win the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, unextended by ten lengths from Kicking King.
The five-year-old returned to action at this meeting on Tuesday and, while nowhere near as impressive as at Cheltenham, still managed a more than competent effort. Norman Williamson powered him ahead on the approach to the final flight to beat the progressive Limerick Boy a comfortable two and a half lengths.
If there is a danger then it is likely to manifest itself in the shape of the tough Quazar, succcessful here a year ago. He’s enjoyed a good campaign, appearing not to see out the two and a half miles at Aintree last time when fourth behind Sacundai.
O’Grady’s Pizarro gets the nap to retrieve previous losses, in the Menolly Homes Champion Novice Hurdle. His jumping is obviously a minor worry, considering he fell at the fifth in the contest won by Iris’s Gift at Aintree.
Previously, Pizarro went off a heavily backed market-leader when third, subsequently promoted to second, to Hardy Eustace and ill-fated Coolnagorna in the SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. You could argue that was mildly disappointing, but it is still the best piece of form facing into this contest!
A third O’Grady possibility is Farranfore, runner-up behind fellow newcomer Dizzy’s Dream at Leopardstown in February, in the Bumper.
Niall Madden’s Live Our Dreams, beaten into second by Howaya Pet at Navan last month, has been knocking on the door for a while and can oblige in the Flogas Ireland Handicap Hurdle.
