Battleoverdoyen Vying for Cheltenham Favouritism after Naas Win

Despite main market rival Tornado Flyer pulling up and not playing any part in the race, Battleofdoyen has been slashed for the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham after an impressive victory in the Lawlor’s of Naas novice hurdle. The Grade One contest was billed to be a matchup between the two exciting youngsters, but we only saw one perform anywhere near what was expected.

He won the race by just under three lengths and it was only inexperience that prevented him from winning by a wider margin. The horse is still a very big baby, with plenty of room to grow into the frame he has, and he still doesn’t really know what he is doing when racing, and how to put a race to bed in style. Despite all of that, he is a Grade One winner on just his second start over hurdles, and looks to be one of the big Irish prospects for the Cheltenham Festival. He is only going to improve for this, and as he gains more experience, there is a good chance that this horse can go to the top of the game, especially when he goes over the bigger obstacles next season.

Coming from the point to point background, it is no surprise that he already looks like a chaser, and it is in that sphere where we will see the very best of him. However, despite that he certainly looks like he can make up into a nice hurdler and you can expect to see him out again once more before the Cheltenham Festival, where he will run in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.

He is likely to go up against Champ in that race, who is vying for favouritisim with him right now, setting up a fascinating UK vs Ireland clash.