Edward O'Grady holds strong chances with Sportsmaster and Cash And Go at Leopardstown on Sunday

Edward O Grady’s Sportsmaster is set to be tested as he steps up in company and takes his chances in the Grade One Spring juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Sportsmaster won his maiden hurdle nicely at Naas last time out and had been unlucky before that when brought down at the fourth hurdle at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival.

12 runners have been declared for Sunday’s Grade One and these include the Willie Mullins trained Ut De Sivola, Dermot Welds unlucky Hisaabaat, Gordon Elliott’s His Excellency and Kieran Purcell’s Gowran park winner His Excellency.

All twelve runners have won before and ¼ of the field has a presence from England with Asaid, Countrywide Flame and Crafty Roberto aiming to raid the €45,000 first prize.

Speaking to AtTheRaces Sportsmaster trainer Edward O’Grady seemed very happy but said “It was his first race over hurdles in many respects as he was an early casualty first time out. I’m not sure what the race was like, though. They went no pace and it was a bit of a sprint finish, so although the second horse Hisaabaat gives us a bit of a form line, I’m not taking that form too literally.”

O‘Grady also runs Cash And Go in the Grade One Deloitte Novice Hurdle and he face stiff opposition from the supplemented Nicky Henderson runner Captain Conan and the Willie Mullins trained Sous les Cieux.

Cash And Go was an impressive winner of the Paddy Power Future Novices Hurdle at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival and seems to on the way up.

BoyleSports go 5/2 for Cash And Go and captain Conan with Sous Les Cieux currently trading at 11/4.

Liam Glynn

Jim Culloty hopes Lord Windermere can step up in company in Sunday's Grade One Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Former Gold Cup winning jockey and now trainer Jim Culloty hopes that his horse Lord Windermere can run a true race in the Grade One Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

The decision will be made after Sunday’s race whether Lord Windermere is good enough to travel over to Prestbury Park in March.

The six year old cost £75,000 at the sales in December 2010 and disappointed when falling on his hurdling debut at Cork but since has won his last two hurdle starts.

He battled well in testing conditions at Punchestown to beat the Noel Meade trained Dylan Ross in  a Listed Race in December and Dylan Ross was just touched off in a Grade One Hurdle race at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival.

Speaking to AtTheRaces trainer Jim Culloty said “Obviously it’s a step up from a Listed race to a Grade One, but he may be a Cheltenham contender, so we might as well go and see if he’s good enough. He’s a big, green and laid-back kind of a horse, so he finds plenty off the bridle.”

“I’ve liked him from the word go and he’s one of those horses who you think has a fair engine, but you don’t actually know how good he is because he doesn’t do that much at home but he goes and does it at the races and we’ve never even nearly got to the bottom of him.”

Culloty also said “The two races he has won so far have been on heavy ground but he’s a really good-moving horse and I have no doubt he’ll be better on better ground.”

Jim Culloty has made steady progression as a trainer in Ireland and is best known for steering Best Mate to victory in the 2002, 2003 and 2004 Gold Cups.

Lord Windermere is priced at 33/1 for the Supreme Novice Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and also holds an entry in the Neptune Investments Novice Hurdle.

Liam Glynn

Deloitte Novice Hurdle (grade 1)

€79999.00 added, 5yo plus, 2m 2f, €52000.00 penalty

8 runners

• JUST ONE WINNER IN THE LAST TEN YEARS HAD A PRICE BIGGER THAN 11/4
• FAVOURITES HAVE TAKEN SEVEN OF THE LAST TEN RUNNINGS
• SIX YEAR OLDS HAVE TAKEN THIS RACE SEVEN TIMES IN THE LAST TEN RENEWALS
• NINE OF THE LAST TEN WINNERS HAD RACED NO  MORE THAN FOUR TIMES THAT SEASON
• SEVEN OF THE LAST TEN WINNERS HAD THEIR LAST RACE BETWEEN 41 AND 55 DAYS
• ONLY TWO WINNING MARES IN THE LAST TEN RUNNINGS
• EIGHT OF THE LAST TEN WINNERS HAD A RPR OF 131+
• THE LAST TEN WINNERS WERE IRISH BRED
• THE GRADE ONE FUTURE CHAMPIONS NOVICE HURDLE AT LEOPARDSTOWN BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR HAS PRODUCED FOUR WINNERS AND A SECOND IN THE LAST TEN YEARS
• SEVEN OF THE LAST TEN WINNERS SIRES WERE U.S.A. BRED

SHORTLIST

DUNGUIB

FIONNEGAS

Tony McCormick

If there is one horse to test Dunguib on Sunday and put his sometimes sketchy jumping under pressure it is likely to be Oliver McKiernans, Whodoyouthink, who was a hugely impressive winner of a maiden hurdle over the course at Christmas. With the early departure of Sundays rival Mr Cracker, he may not have had much to beat,but the way he went about his business really impressed. Making most,he had his field in trouble a long way from home and finished on the bridle. If he is allowed a similar easy lead here then he could make a bold bid from the off.

The presence of Saludos tempers confidence on advising an eachway bet on Whodoyouthink. Jessica Harringtons charge was disappointing last weekend but went close to making all in a grade one at Christmas and if he attempts the same again then himself and McKiernans inmate could cut each others throats setting it up for a late closer like Dunguib. Also I believe that Some Present is better than he showed last time and while Dunguib should again have his measure he is capable of making the frame thus only leaving the one place for those seeking eachway returns.

Summary: Dunguib is impossible to oppose and should take this comfortably. Whodoyouthink is the dark horse in the lineup and if he is not taken on early or settles in behind Saludos then he can make the frame at an eachway price.