'He made a big impact' - exciting Impaire Et Passe set for first Graded test

Officials at Punchestown have taken the decision to move Sunday's SkyBet Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle to the first race on the card to ensure the best ground possible for the Grade 2.

Low sun has been an issue in important hurdles races in Ireland of late, with the field in last weekend's Grade 1 Lawlor's of Naas jumping just six of the scheduled ten obstacles, but the track's racing manager Richie Galway said that wasn't the reason for the switch.

Instead, Galway explained with two 22-runner divisions of the maiden hurdle taking place on ground already described as heavy, he had taken the decision in the interest of providing the best racing surface for a race that has been won by the likes of Vautour, Douvan and Min in recent years.

The Willie Mullins-trained Impaire Et Passe has earned something of a blink and you'll miss him reputation after a wide-margin success on his hurdling debut at Naas, and anyone tuning in at the previously advertised time of 12.40 will only have that feeling enhanced with the race now scheduled for 12.10.

“It’s not to do with low sun really,” said Galway. “There’s a small field entered in the Moscow Flyer and we’ve had to split the maiden hurdle into two divisions, which will have 22 runners each.

“We wanted to give the best possible ground to the race, given that the going is already heavy as it is. You never know what way the forecast will go and we thought it was prudent to begin with the smaller field instead.”

Impaire Et Passe, who is 10-1 with sponsors Sky Bet for the Supreme and a best-priced 10-1 for the Ballymore at the Cheltenham Festival in March, will face just four rivals as he steps into Graded company for the first time.

Paul Townend rides and said: “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."

Writing in his Ladbrokes blog he added: "We have to give 8lb 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.”

Gordon Elliott will hope that Shecouldbeanything can also maintain her unbeaten record, having won on hurdling debut at Limerick, while stablemate Imagine has not been declared but does hold two early entries for the Dublin Racing Festival next month.

Noel Meade has declared Grade 3 bumper winner The Model Kingdom, who has won on five of her eight starts and has never finished outside of the first three.

The Mullins family retain further interest with Tom Mullins's course-and-distance winner Hey Johnny and C'Est Rien completing the field.

Davy Russell could have a golden opportunity to bounce back with a Graded victory, as the returning jockey will ride Elliott's Minella Crooner in the Grade 3 Madigan Group Novice Chase (2.10).

Minella Crooner was narrowly denied Grade 2 success by Darrens Hope in the Florida Pearl Novice Chase here in November, but bounced back with victory over I Am Maximus at Fairyhouse.

Stablemate The Goffer is missing from the final field, having been declared for the Hampton Novices’ Chase at Warwick on Saturday.

Colm Murphy's stable star Impervious will run in the JP McManus silks for the first time, having captured the Grade 2 O'Flynn Group Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase on her last start.

Willie Mullins has two runners, including Ha D'Or, who won on his chasing debut at Fairyhouse three weeks ago. Glengouly also won on his debut over fences at Thurles last month, having seen off the Henry de Bromhead-trained Telmesomethinggirl. Jack Foley will take the ride on Glengouly with Paul Townend aboard Ha D'Or.

De Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore will hope Journey With Me can follow on from his first chasing victory at Naas, while Joseph O'Brien's Gracchus De Balme and John Berry's Francin completing the field of seven.

Davy Russell will also ride Ideal Vert and Sa Fureur on the card.

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