Shadow Catcher looks poised to follow up
Well backed for his debut, he pulled hard early but Paul Carberry rode him with confidence and he picked up really well to get the better of Darroun in a tight finish.
At the post, he was quite comfortably on top and he left the impression that there was plenty more to come.
Runner-up Darroun did the form no harm when beating another of tomorrow's runner, Hisaabaat, in a maiden hurdle at Leopardstown a fortnight ago.
What I liked most about that particular performance was the way he galloped all the way to the line to see off Dermot Weld's runner.
He had shown similar resolve in his previous race and that makes me believe that Shadow Catcher's performance was well above average.
I can't say I'm particularly keen on any of the British raiders, though Countrywide Flame clearly has the best form of the three.
Three-time runner-up Hisaabaat has links that ties the form of many of the home runners together and he may well have given Ut De Sivola a real scare but for a last-flight mistake at Leopardstown's Christmas meeting.
The latter is still a horse of some potential and probably the one to beat but there is not a whole lot between most of the runners.
Shadow Catcher made a real impression first time over hurdles, should have plenty more to come and I can't see him being far away. A case can be made for many of them, but odds of 9-2 about Gordon Elliott's horse look too good to pass up.
