Choice can boost festival prospects
He is a strong fancy for the forthcoming Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and is currently on offer at odds of between 10-1 and 14-1.
The six-year-old is likely to come into his own when meeting a decent surface, but has to come through this test nonetheless with flying colours if hopes of success at next month’s festival are to be considered in any way realistic.
He does handle testing conditions reasonably well, as evidenced by his display in the Grade 1 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle on this track in early December.
The selection stayed on quite nicely in the straight when beaten a length and a quarter into second by Sous Les Cieux and the fact it was a further 15 lengths back to the third was obviously encouraging.
Willie Mullins provides the main danger in the difficult to assess ex-French horse, Terminal. Successful in three bumpers in his native country, he made a satisfactory start in Ireland, and over jumps, when easily taking his maiden at Navan. That was a modest contest, though, and it will be surprising and disappointing should Galileo’s Choice fail to cope with him.
The nap vote falls on Francis Flood’s Valleymount in the Bobbyjo Bistro At Fairyhouse Maiden Hurdle.
Following two below-par efforts in bumpers, Valleymount then had her attentions turned to jumps, making a promising enough debut on this track last month when third to Mickelson and subsequent winner, Caolaneoin.
Again Willie Mullins supplies the biggest worry in Primroseandblue, runner-up behind Tom Foley’s Snow Spell at Gowran Park.
Three virtually impossible to solve handicaps have to be given the swerve, but the competitive bumper for mares might go the way of Kates Benefit.
Third over hurdles behind Willie Mullins’ hot-pot Marasonnien at Naas, she previously won a bumper at Punchestown by 18 lengths.
