’LADE TO MEASURE Elliott ace eyes confidence boost

BACK over hurdles, Brelade should be tough to beat in today’s Munster Hurdle in Clonmel.

The Gordon Elliott-trained six-year-old competed in Grade 1 company last season and, having failed to hit the target in five attempts over fences in recent months, has been found a good opportunity to earn a confidence-boosting success over the smaller obstacles.

Brelade’s hurdle form included a second to Saturnas in the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) and a third to Bacardys in another Grade 1, the Deloitte, also at Leopardstown.

Probably not ideally built for jumping fences in testing winter ground, the selection has bumped into two very talented novices, Petit Mouchoir and Footpad, over fences.

But he disappointed last time when finishing third to Castlegrace Paddy at Fairyhouse.

With a hurdle mark of 141, Brelade – the mount of Keith Donoghue – sets the standard in today’s race.

He gets the nod over some interesting novices, his stable companion Poli Roi, which faded alarmingly to finish last of five behind Next Destination in a Grade 2 in Navan before Christmas, the Willie Mullins-trained course winner Draconien and both Ministerforsport and Beyond The Law, maiden hurdle winners at Limerick over Christmas.

With Paul Townend suspended, David Mullins will hope to seize his opportunities on Pietralunga and Giant Spirit, for his uncle Willie in the maiden hurdle.

French import Pietralunga, winner of her only start in Dieppe last July, won’t have to be a star to land the opening mares event.

Giant Spirit, let down by his jumping on his first start for the stable after the retirement of previous handler Sandra Hughes, appeals in the Monroe Maiden Hurdle.