Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle Tips: 'Gordon Elliott can do no wrong at the moment' Punchestown hosts the Moscow Flyer Novice hurdle on Sunday and it’s usually a race to look out for, as it’s often used as a Supreme trial by Irish trainers. Hopefully whoever wins it this year will be Cheltenham-bound and it’s sure to be a cracker. Run over an extended two miles, five and six-year-olds have won all of the last 10 renewals and favourites have tended to fare well in recent years too. They will jump nine hurdles in total and the ground is currently described as yielding, yielding to soft in places. Only four runners have been declared for this Grade 2 event and our expert has picked out their strongest fancy and a next best tip to follow. By Clive Gildon Willie Mullins goes for five-in-a-row Willie Mullins has farmed this race in recent years, winning six of the last 10 renewals, and each of the last four. He trains two of the four runners here and will be bidding to make it five-in-a-row. The bookies fancy him to do it and his runners fill the first two spots in the betting. Sober has only had one start over hurdles so far and he came out on top in a Killarney novice hurdle over 2m4f in May. He then headed to Royal Ascot for a spin on the Flat, which resulted in a very impressive Queen Alexandra Stakes victory, and he hasn’t been seen since. Clearly the seven-year-old has plenty of class but the age trend for this race is against him and two miles over hurdles will be plenty sharp enough. Mullins’ gelding could be vulnerable to a speedier two-miler and is worth taking on with that in mind. Maiden hurdle winner Frankie John runs for Denis Hogan and you would imagine he has a bit to find at this level. The son of Walk In The Park finished fifth in the Grade 1 Ballymore Novice Hurdle at Naas on Friday and is unlikely to turn out again here. Exile could be on the road to victory Gordon Elliott can do no wrong at the moment and the winners continue to flow. Jack Kennedy takes the ride on ROAD EXILE here and the form of his maiden hurdle win at Navan looks pretty strong. He managed to get the better of the useful bumper performer Copacabana. Making most of the running that day, if positive tactics are employed once again here, Kennedy can take control of the race and ensure that it’s run to suit. Elliott’s gelding was third at Down Royal before that and the winner was a head away from winning the Royal Bond next time. Obviously he’ll need to progress again but he’s entitled to do so and the yard is currently operating at an impressive strike-rate of 24 per-cent, with 22 winners in the last fortnight. Mullins’ second string can show the right spirit No trainer has been a more effective handler of French imports than Willie Mullins over the last decade or so and he appears to have another smart one on his hands here. FREE SPIRIT hasn’t run in Ireland yet so it’s quite telling that he’s been thrown straight into a Grade 2. He battled well to get off the mark on his second start over hurdles at Dieppe for Daniela Mele in June and has been purchased privately since. Danny Mullins is on board and he’s potentially more of a two-miler than stablemate Sober. Betfred is rolling out a fantastic upgrade to its Best Odds Guaranteed offer - now offering Best Odds Guaranteed on ALL UK and Irish horse races online and in all shops
