Gorbatov star name in Spring Hurdle Ten horses remain in the Grade 1 Gain Spring Juvenile Hurdle, at Leopardstown next Saturday, with Aidan O'Brien’s Ivanovich Gorbatov heading the list. O’Brien has also left in Best Kept Secret but his entries are outnumbered by Willie Mullins who has three in the race, headed by the runaway Gowran Park winner Footpad. Mullins has also put Allbak Des Places and Let’s Dance in the €85,000 race. Another notable entry is the Gavin Cromwell-trained Jer’s Girl. The Grade 1 Deloitte Novice Hurdle has attracted nine entries with Willie Mullins responsible for five horses. Bellshill, a Grade 1 winner at Naas early last month, heads the Mullins quintet that also includes Thomas Hobson, a recent winner at Warwick and Yorkhill who is unbeaten in four starts for the champion trainer. The Gordon Elliott-trained Tombstone who was runner-up in the Grade 1 Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown at Christmas is another eye-catching entry as is Coney Island who landed a maiden hurdle at the venue for trainer Eddie Harty in December. A field of 12 horses stand their ground for the Grade 1 Flogas Novice Chase including Roi Des Francs and Pont Alexandre who fought out a thrilling finish in a Grade 2 at Naas recently. Outlander is another notable entry from the Willie Mullins stable while the Mouse Morris-trained Rule The World, Tony Martin’s Blair Peronne and Zabana from the Andy Lynch yard also stand out. Pat Keogh, Chief Executive of Leopardstown Racecourse, said, “Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown is a very special day every year. We are delighted with the quality of entries and the four Grade 1 races look particularly strong with plenty of the top horses competing. It promises to be another memorable day at Leopardstown.”
