Jockey Nick Scholfield said afterwards that Irving would be “much better on better ground” (it was soft at Kempton).
First Mohican (Alan King) had looked good in a novices’ hurdle event at Doncaster earlier this month but finished 13 lengths behind Irving in the Dovecote. He didn’t build upon his performance at Doncaster and did not jump fluently.
Vautour is unbeaten in three races this season and was last seen winning the Deloitte Novices’ Hurdle at Leopardstown at the start of February. He beat The Tullow Tank that day by three lengths but the Deloitte runner-up seems unlikely to take part in the Cheltenham Festival opener.
Another of Mullins’ entries is Wicklow Brave, who has won both of his starts over hurdles. His most recent win was in a listed novices’ hurdle at Punchestown (2 February). The runner-up that day was Lieutenant Colonel (4.25 lengths), who was also beaten by Vautour (5.5 lengths) at Navan last December.
Favourites do not have a good recent record in the race. The last favourite to win was Brave Inca (7/2) in 2004 and last year’s winner Champagne Fever (5/1) was the shortest-priced SP winner since Brave Inca.
