High-class novice hurdling prospects Ile Atlantique and Firefox look set to do battle in the eagerly anticipated rearranged Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle at Naas on Friday.
The Grade 1 prize was unfortunately forced to be abandoned as the track fell victim to thick fog last Sunday, but the two-and-a-half-mile contest will now take place on tomorrow's Naas card.
Impressive maiden hurdle winners Ile Atlantique and Firefox head the betting as 7/4 joint-favourites, with both taking the plunge straight into Grade 1 company. The former was narrowly denied by Firefox in a Fairyhouse bumper last season but created a favourable impression when cruising clear to make a winning Irish hurdling debut at Gowran Park in November. However, connections are more than realistic about the task he faces stepping up to Grade 1 level as he bids to give his trainer Willie Mullins a record-extending ninth success in the contest.
Sean Graham, racing manager to Ile Atlantique's owner Tony Bloom, said: "He's going from winning a maiden hurdle to a Grade 1 and it's a big ask, but Firefox is doing the same and so are a few other horses in the race,"
"You don't know how much improvement a horse can find after winning a maiden hurdle, but then are they good enough to win a Grade 1?
The bumper form has held up well and we're hoping he's as good as everyone thinks he is, but it's only his second run over hurdles and it's a big ask going straight in there at Grade 1 level. I asked Willie if there was any chance of giving him another run before going into Grade 1 company and Willie said those races don't exist anymore.
He's a classy horse and he works with all the best horses Willie has, but until he goes and does it, you are not quite sure. If we run on Friday and finish fifth or sixth, then you've got to think maybe Cheltenham isn't on the cards then, so it will be a learning curve for us as well as the horse. We're just hopeful he will run his race."
Although this will be the first time the Mullins-trained son of Coastal Path will race beyond two miles, connections believe the two-and-a-half-mile trip should be well within his compass and earmarked the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham in March his likely target should things go smoothly at the Kildare venue tomorrow afternoon.
Graham added: "We always felt on his bumper form he would need further, but when Paul rode him at Gowran Park, he more or less said he wasn't a slow horse,"
"We didn't think three miles would be his trip this year and the Albert Bartlett would be too far for him, but the Ballymore is in his stretch. That is not to say next year he won't get three miles, or further over fences in the future.
"We're hoping he will run well, and the Ballymore is his most likely target, but Friday will tell us a lot more."
Ile Atlantique will face a stern test from his bumper conqueror Firefox, who got the better of the highly touted Ballyburn over hurdles at Fairyhouse in December, with the runner-up that day going on to a wide-margin maiden hurdle success over the Christmas period to give the form some notable substance.
Elliott, who has landed the race in recent years with the likes of Death Duty (2017), Battleoverdoyen (2019), Envoi Allen (2020) and Ginto (2022), will also be represented by the Giggingstown Stud-owned Croke Park.
He said: "We're looking forward to both of our horses and we hope they'll run well,"
"Firefox was good the last day and I don't think stepping up in trip will be a problem to him.
"Croke Park is a good horse as well and hasn't done much wrong."
The Henry de Bromhead-trained An Tobar will also be stepping up to two and a half miles for the first time following his pleasing third-place finish in the Grade 1 Royal Bond at Fairyhouse.
Robbie Power, race planner for de Bromhead, said: "He ran very well in the Royal Bond on what was only his second-ever start over hurdles. With that experience and the step up to two and a half miles, this looked like a good race to go for.
"The Fairyhouse race looked like a strong Grade 1, as the winner, Farren Glory, looked like he was going to win another Grade 1 at Aintree over Christmas (before falling) and the runner-up, King Of Kingsfield, was very impressive winning at Leopardstown over Christmas, so it is strong form."
The strong field of seven will also include three further contenders from Willie Mullins' stable, with Chapeau De Soleil (Patrick Mullins), Lecky Watson (Danny Mullins) and Readin Tommy Wrong (Daryl Jacob) all throwing their hat into the ring.
