Champion bumper fourth Abacadabras out to weave his spell in For Auction Hurdle

12.35 Navan
For Auction Novice Hurdle (Grade 3) | 4yo+| 2m | RTV

Successful with Labaik in 2016 and Mengli Khan two years ago, Gordon Elliott is represented by Abacadabras in this season’s running of an event which remembers the 1982 Champion Hurdle winner who was trained by Michael Cunningham.

Abacadabras boasted top-class bumper form last season, running fourth to stablemate Envoi Allen in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival before succumbing to Colreevy by a length in the Punchestown equivalent.

Elliott said of the five-year-old, winner of a maiden on his hurdles debut at Gowran Park last month: “He was a bit novicey at Gowran but has schooled very well since. He had good form in bumpers and was a bit unlucky when second in a Grade 1 at Punchestown. He’s a classy sort and has plenty of pace.”

Jack Kennedy and Gordon Elliott after winning with Abacadabras at Gowran ParkCredit: Alain Barr

Among his opposition is the talented Latest Exhibition, a bumper scorer who made a winning start over hurdles at Galway last month. Trainer Paul Nolan said: “He did the job well at Galway and, hopefully, the run will have brought him on.”

Nolan, who sent out Accordion Etoile to win the race in 2003, added: “He’ll stay further, but two miles on soft ground should be fine. This should tell us how he’s going to fit in.”

Fast Buck, the winner of two of his five starts over hurdles, finished second at Limerick last time and represents the Willie Mullins-Paul Townend alliance. Mullins has twice landed this prize in recent years, with McKinley in 2014 and Aramon a year ago.

Barry Murphy’s representative Pakens Rock, twice victorious at Galway, is the other dual hurdles winner in the line-up.

The John Halley-trained Foreign Secretary and Declan Queally’s dual bumper winner Uisce Solas, who was second to yesterday’s impressive Grade 3 Naas winner Surin on her hurdles debut at Wexford last month, complete the field.

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