Sportsmaster steps up to Grade 1 company Sportsmaster tests the water at Grade One level for the first time in what promises to be an informative Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday. Each of the 12 declared runners are previous winners and the presence of British raiders Asaid, Countrywide Flame and Crafty Roberto add further spice. Sportsmaster only made it as far as the fourth on his hurdling debut at this track in December but atoned for that mistake by winning readily at Naas. "We were quite happy with him last time," said trainer Edward O'Grady. "It was his first race over hurdles in many respects as he was an early casualty first time out. "I'm not sure what the race was like, though. "They went no pace and it was a bit of a sprint finish, so although the second horse Hisaabaat gives us a bit of a form line, I'm not taking that form too literally. "That said, I've been pleased with him and we'll learn a lot more about him on Sunday."
