D-Day for Latest Exhibition as Paul Nolan bids to get back in the big time

Nathaniel Lacy & Ptnrs Solicitors "50,000 Cheltenham Bonus For Stable Staff" Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m6f | 5yo+ | RTE2/RTV & RTE 2

Saturday is judgement day for Paul Nolan and his team as Latest Exhibition bids to bridge a six-year gap to when the stable last landed a top-level triumph, and the market suggests he is capable of delivering on the biggest stage.

Latest Exhibition, the only horse to inflict defeat on Andy Dufresne, earned plenty of plaudits for the way in which he took that noteworthy scalp in a Grade 2 at Navan in December.

Despite making a mess of the sixth flight, a mistake that would have ended a lot of horse's chances, Latest Exhibition was driven back up to eyeball Andy Dufresne, who he out-stayed on the run-in.

A bumper winner over 2m3f, Latest Exhibition was always going to come into himself over further, which he proved at Navan over 2m4f, and the extra couple of furlongs should play to his strengths once again.

Fury Road represents last year’s winning connections and, with stamina assured after a faultless display in a heavy ground Limerick novice hurdle over 2m7f, he is a big danger to Latest Exhibition.

Elixir D’ainay brings one of the best pieces of form to the table, having run crack novice Envoi Allen to within three and a half lengths in a Grade 1 at Naas last month, where he had Longhouse Poet - who reopposes - over three lengths behind back in third.

Cobbler’s Way could be the potential joker in the pack. A good winner of his maiden hurdle over 2m4½f at the track over Christmas, the form of that effort has since been well advertised, and Henry de Bromhead’s charge is sure to get better the further he goes.

Home By The Lee and Assemble, Joseph O'Brien's pair, will need to progress if they are to get involved while Aircraft Carrier appears well out of his depth.

What the stats say

Joseph O'Brien [Tower Bridge] and Gordon Elliott [Commander Of Fleet] may have supplied the past two winners of this race. However, this has traditionally been a contest champion trainer Willie Mullins has farmed.

Mullins won six runnings on the trot between 2012 and 2017, with five of those winners starting as favourite at 9-4 or shorter.

What the trainers say

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Assemble and Home By The Lee
Assemble should enjoy the step up in trip and the ground. It's a good race but hopefully he can pick up some prize-money. Home By The Lee won his maiden well and he's earned his spot in the race. Whatever happens, they will learn plenty from the experience.

Henry de Bromhead, trainer of Cobbler's Way
He stepped up a good bit from his first run over hurdles for us and won his maiden nicely over Christmas, the form of which has since been given a boost. We'll see how this goes but he's a horse we like a lot.

Paul Nolan, trainer of Latest Exhibition
We were delighted with him at Navan and were relieved to see Andy Dufresne go and frank the form in the Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle. He’s very well at home and we’re looking forward to running him. Hopefully he can continue to progress. We think the step up in trip should suit him and we have the Albert Bartlett on our minds.

Martin Brassil, trainer of Longhouse Poet
Longhouse Poet probably needs the experience of another outing in this sort of grade in order to have him as sharp as possible if he's to go to Cheltenham. The Albert Bartlett is the race we're aiming for. If he can run as well as he did at Naas and finish in the first three we'd be very happy.

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