Half-brother to Grade 2-winning hurdler and chaser Angels Breath to debut on NYD

Harry Fry is set to take the wraps off Ben Bulben, a Yeats half-brother to Grade 2-winning chaser and hurdler Angels Breath, in the concluding bumper at Exeter (4.05) on New Year's Day.

Ben Bulben, who will turn five on Saturday, was bred by Mrs B D Byrne and sold to Tom Chadney for just €10,000 at the 2017 Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale as a foal.

The gelding is the sixth foal out of Mystic Masie, a Turgeon half-sister to Newton Novices' Hurdle winner Toubab, who was also runner-up to Sprinter Sacre in the 2013 Maghull Novices' Chase for Paul Nicholls, last year's December Novices' Chase second Milanford, and Prix Congress runner-up Narock.

Ben Bulben is in turn a well-bred sort, being a half-brother to the smart Angels Breath, the winner of the Noel Novices' Chase and Kennel Gate Novices' Hurdle for Nicky Henderson. The gelding, who was also third in the Mersey Novices' Hurdle, has returned to training after a serious leg injury in the Noel two years ago.

Fry's charge is also related to Outofthisworld, a dual winner under rules for the same trainer, and Fairy Gem, who made a winning start for Fry when landing a Plumpton bumper in mid-December.

The Tom Chadney and More Friends-owned Ben Bulben will face eight rivals on his racecourse debut, including Mountain Grey, Seamus Mullins' Mount Nelson full-brother to the Listed-placed hurdler Nelson's Touch and a half-brother to another black-type hurdler in The Pink'n, and Dom Bosco, placed on his first start for Tom George and from the family of Rising Stars Novices' Chase scorer Junction Fourteen.

Cheltenham's Listed bumper (3.50) features a number of interesting types, including King Power Racing's Beyond Boundaries, an Australia full-brother to stakes winner and Vertem Futurity Trophy third Western Australia; Royal Max, a Maxios close relation to the Flat Listed-placed Royal Fox; and Alazwar, a 300,000gns purchase by Shadwell from Book 1 and a half-brother to dual Australian Group winner Vengeur Masque.

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