Supreme hope Impaire Et Passe bids to follow in footsteps of Vautour and Douvan

Sunday: 12.10 Punchestown
SkyBet Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle (Grade 2) | 2m | 5yo+ | RTV

Impaire Et Passe has big boots to fill. The roll of honour for this Supreme trial includes Vautour and Douvan, who both went on to win the opener at the festival, as well as Min, who found only Altior too good at Cheltenham.

It has been a stepping stone to stardom in the last decade and most eyes will be on the wide-margin Naas maiden hurdle winner attempting to give Willie Mullins his seventh win in the last ten years.

There were four hurdles omitted at Naas due to low sun, meaning Impaire Et Passe didn't have any jumping to do inside the final four furlongs of the contest and the form has been let down since as Artiste D'Ainay (third) was beaten almost 20 lengths on his next start when just 15-8 for a novice hurdle at Newcastle.

That said, Impaire Et Passe could only beat what was put in front of him and he did that with consummate ease. The turn of foot he showed from where the second-last would usually be to the line was very easy on the eye and he won by 18 lengths. It is hard to do much more than that.

Firms have very different opinions about Impaire Et Passe's Supreme chances. He is as big as 12-1 with bet365, but only 7-1 and 8-1 elsewhere. You would imagine he will need to win this and win this well to shorten further for the festival opener.

Impaire Et Passe received an RPR of 143 for that Naas win and that is 10lb more than what his two main rivals have achieved.

The Model Kingdom certainly has pace and earned an RPR of 133 for her course-and-distance win in November, while Shecouldbeanything got an identical figure for her win in a maiden hurdle at Limerick over Christmas.

Impaire Et Passe has to give them both 7lb so it won't be a stroll in the park at Punchestown, but he ought to have too many aces for the pair of mares.

Mullins confident favourite can step up

Willie Mullins was delighted with what he saw from Impaire Et Passe on his Naas debut and is hopeful his jumping will pass a more rigorous test than the one he encountered there, when four hurdles were omitted

Mullins said: "He was very impressive on his first run for us at Naas, albeit there was four hurdles missing due to low sun. He jumps well, though, and this race is always informative for Cheltenham.

"I'm hoping Impaire Et Passe can improve, keep his jumping together and be a very strong contender for this prize."

Willie Mullins: 'This race is always informative for Cheltenham'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Impaire Et Passe will be ridden by Paul Townend, who said in his Ladbrokes-sponsored blog: "He made a big impact when he won his maiden hurdle at Naas. It probably wasn’t the strongest of races, but the way he won it was very impressive.

"He’s a lot better on the course than he shows us at home and that is no problem. That is the way you want them to be. His maiden was over 2m2f, but he is back to two miles here and I don’t think that is going to cause a huge issue for him.

"We have to give 7lb to three of our rivals, but if he’s going to be the horse that we think he could be, I think he can handle that. I’m really looking forward to getting back on him and he is my best ride of the day."

Gordon Elliott takes on the favourite with Shecouldbeanything and said: "She’s a nice mare who won well at Limerick last month. She’s done nothing wrong so far and I was delighted with the way she won the last day.

"This is a big step up in class and Willie’s horse will be hard to beat, but she’s handled conditions and we’re hoping for a good run."

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