Jason The Militant marches home at 25-1 as favourite Andy Dufresne disappoints

The decision to bypass the Cheltenham Festival with Andy Dufresne had already been taken, but had it still been in the balance his performance in the Grade 2 Paddy Power Betting Shop Novice Hurdle would certainly have made up connections' minds for them.

The 6-5 favourite was well beaten in third, four lengths behind
25-1 winner Jason The Militant and runner-up Beacon Edge, with no apparent excuses.

Watch the replay of the Grade 2 novice hurdle at Naas

Jason The Militant made all under Rachael Blackmore, who gave her mount a lovely ride from the front. The son of Sans Frontieres looked vulnerable to a number of challengers early in the straight, including the favourite, but found a length or two when he kicked on again and it proved crucial as he just held off Beacon Edge by a nose.

Rachael Blackmore: executed tactics to perfectionCredit: Patrick McCann

Winning trainer Henry de Bromhead said: "We were disappointed with him at Leopardstown last time. He just didn't let himself down on the ground there and I think he just wants it soft.

"His owner Peter Michael came up with the tactics; he suggested we try to nick a few lengths at the start if nothing wanted to go on, and Rachael executed them brilliantly."

De Bromhead added: "He had been third to Envoi Allen in a bumper last season. That just seemed to jar him up a bit and he took a while to come back. I pulled him out of Cheltenham and I think he will go wherever we can get some soft ground.”

Asterion Forlonge form boosted with Jason The Militant triumph

Who saw that coming? Jason The Militant caused a 25-1 shock when making all to land the Grade 2 Paddy Power Betting Shop Novice Hurdle, a result that provided a huge form boost for Supreme and Ballymore contender Asterion Forlonge, who beat him by 89 lengths last time out.

Connections will hope the winner can follow in the footsteps of previous winners of this race; Go Native (2009), Felix Yonger (2012) and Annie Power (2013), all of whom went on to score at Grade 1 level.

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