'He has a huge engine' - is Grangeclare West yet another ace for Willie Mullins?

Sunday: 2.20 Naas
Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m3f212y | 5yo+ | RTV

The last seven favourites have been successful in this Grade 1, including Envoi Allen and Bob Olinger who went on to win the Ballymore, and Grangeclare West will be the one trying to continue that sequence.

Willie Mullins has won this race eight times and had the option of running Boodles runner-up Gaelic Warrior, who won at Tramore by 86 lengths on his only start this season.

He is a notable absentee from the line-up and instead Mullins has gone for Grangeclare West to lead his challenge. The unbeaten seven-year-old scooted clear after the last for a 13-length win on his first start over hurdles at Navan in November. It looked a hot maiden at the time, but it isn't looking so hot now.

The second and third have been beaten since and, indeed, of the 12 horses who have come from the race and ran subsequently, none have won. But all Grangeclare West could do was win and he did that with aplomb.

The son of Presenting recorded a Racing Post Rating of 140 when scoring at Navan but that is 5lb shy of what Dawn Rising achieved for gunning down American Mike in the Grade 3 Monksfield Novice Hurdle on the same card.

What is most interesting is the time comparison. Grangeclare West won the 2m4f maiden hurdle in a time of 5min 17.20sec, but Dawn Rising was 3.8sec quicker. Make of that what you want. They were different races run in different ways, but it's still intriguing to see the Joseph O'Brien-trained six-year-old win in a much quicker time yet he's a much bigger price.

Dawn Rising looks an out-and-out stayer. The son of Galileo chased home Al Aasy in the Bahrain Trophy on his final start on the Flat and has a rating of 102 in that sphere. There looks to be plenty of pace in here, so expect him to be coming home strongly once again. He defied an in-running high of 499-1 on Betfair when swooping late to score at Navan.

Affordale Fury hit a low of evens in the same race when seemingly getting the better of his argument with American Mike, only to crash out at the last. Could he be the forgotten one here?

You could certainly argue the best piece of form is held by Irish Point. He was a stride away from winning the Royal Bond last time, only to be caught late by Supreme-bound Marine Nationale. That was a fine effort given it was only his second start over hurdles and he could be even better over this longer trip. He must have a massive chance for Gordon Elliott, who has won four of the last six runnings.

Townend nominates his chief threat to West

Grangeclare West brings an unbeaten record and a huge reputation to Naas and Paul Townend admitted his surprise with the manner of his victory in a maiden hurdle at Navan in November, describing his jumping as "brilliant".

Townend has won this race twice, with McKinley in 2015 and three years later on Next Destination, and the five-time champion jockey thinks Inothewayurthinkin could prove to be his biggest danger.

Grangeclare West's jumping on his hurdle debut impressed Paul TownendCredit: Patrick McCann

Townend said: "This is a hot race every year and fits in well with the calendar. Grangeclare West won a competitive maiden hurdle at Navan and the manner in which he won it surprised us after being off the track for so long. He jumped brilliantly that day and did things right. I think he has a huge engine. He missed a lot of time after winning at Punchestown in May of 2021 but he seems to be fine now and I hope we can make up for lost time."

Writing in his Ladbrokes blog, Townend added: "Irish Point was second in the Royal Bond and that is a high level of form to bring here. I do like Inothewayurthinkin. He beat me quite snugly at Cork when I rode Lot Of Joy and then did well to get up to beat Imagine at Gowran in a slowly run race the last day. I think the step up in trip will suit him as well. I hope I'm on the right one and it will be a cracking renewal."

What they say

Noel Meade, trainer of Affordale Fury
He's in good shape and I think he'll like the ground.

Willie Mullins, trainer of Champ Kiely and Grangeclare West
Danny Mullins is back on Champ Kiely and he looked too keen in the Royal Bond last time. That was over two miles and two and a half miles will suit him better. Grangeclare West was impressive in Navan and we couldn't have asked for any more. With normal improvement it would put him in here with a very good chance. It is a top-class race and it is usually a good pointer for the top novices going into the spring.

Frank Berry, racing manager to JP McManus, owner of Dawn Rising and Inothewayurthinkin
I don't think the ground will be an issue. They're nice horses and they've been doing their job nicely. This is a different level. We'll know more about them after this Grade 1, which always throws up a good winner.

Inothewayurthinkin: in good nick for Grade 1 assignmentCredit: Caroline Norris

Gavin Cromwell, trainer of Inothewayurthinkin
He's in good nick. The step up in trip should suit him. He's been staying on well and hit the line the last day at Gowran. It's a big step forward in a tough and competitive race, but we're very happy with him and he should go well.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Imagine and Irish Point
Imagine has been in good order since his last run. He deserves to take his chance in this calibre of race. Irish Point is a lovely horse. He did everything well on his first start for us at Cork when he won his maiden hurdle and then he went to Fairyhouse for the Royal Bond and just got beat. You're always disappointed when you don't win, but we were delighted with the run on only his second start over hurdles, so hopefully he learned a bit that day and can give a good account of himself.

Sean Doyle, trainer of Monbeg Park
We still hold him in high regard and his run the last day was better than it looked at firs. We were held up with the frost the week before and we just didn't get the work into him we'd have liked, and that told. The three miles might have stretched him at this stage of his career and dropping back to this trip might be ideal for him.

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