Morris hoping Gentlemansgame has too much up his sleeve for Grade 2 rivals

Colm Quinn BMW Novice Hurdle (Grade 2 ) | 2m4f | 4yo+ | RTV

He may lack experience but the Mouse Morris-trained Gentlemansgame has the best form in the book.

An easy winner of his maiden hurdle over 2m at Cork, he chased home subsequent Ballymore runner-up Gaillard Du Mesnil in a 2m6f Grade 1 at the Dublin Racing Festival. This trip and the better going may not be what Gentlemansgame wants and the fact that he has only raced twice under rules puts him at somewhat of a disadvantage.

However, he looked nothing short of a potential top-notcher on his rules debut at Cork and confirmed that impression at Leopardstown, meaning he should be very difficult to beat here.

Willie Mullins throws four darts at the board with Paul Townend opting to ride Egality Mans who, like Gentlemansgame, looks a lovely chasing prospect.

However, Grand Paradis would appear the biggest danger. A nice winner of a Grade 3 at Thurles last time, Sneezy Foster’s charge is improving steadily and deserves plenty of respect.

Gavin Cromwell enjoyed a week to remember at Cheltenham but one race he’d rather forget is the Martin Pipe. His strongly-fancied Gabynako was more or less brought down at the first but remains much better than that and is another with solid claims.

What they say

Mouse Morris, trainer of Gentlemansgame and Get My Drift
Gentlemansgame is well but is two and a half miles on good ground what he wants? His run at Leopardstown [when second in a Grade 1] is the best form on show here by a mile though. It’s only his third run of his life over hurdles and he lacks a bit of experience but we’re happy to give it a go and we’re hoping for the best. Get My Drift would need to improve a good bit to have any chance.

Mouse Morris on Gentlemansgame: his run at Leopardstown is the best form on show here by a mileCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Denise Foster, trainer of Grand Paradis
He's progressing very nicely. He was impressive in a Grade 3 at Thurles, but the ground will be a different ball game here. You'd like to think that on that run he would have a decent chance.

Gavin Cromwell, trainer of Gabynako
He was very unfortunate at Cheltenham – he was as good as brought down at the first in the Martin Pipe. He has come out of that race well and he has some good form to his name so we are hopeful of a good performance.

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