Doctor Steinberg powering through the grades Doctor Steinberg is certainly a horse going places as he impressively put away his seven rivals in the Grade One Nathaniel Lacy Solicitors Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival in Leopardstown. Since switching to hurdling, the Doctor Dino gelding is unbeaten having opened his account in a maiden hurdle at Galway last October before stepping up in class in a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Navan in December. He went off 7/4 favourite on this step up in trip to 2m6f and led early before tracking Yeshil. He looked to be doing a little too much in the hands of Townend throughout, but readily moved through to take over from the leader before two out. It was a long run to the last and Townend just had to nudge him along to assert approaching it. He jumped it well and was clear on the run-in as he stayed on by eight lengths from runner-up Kazansky (4/1) with Love Me Tender another six lengths away in third at 4/1. Willie Mullins said: “It was very impressive on that ground, it’s very tough. “Every time we’ve gone up in trip, he seems to like it. He’s out of a Cyborg mare and that’s all stamina. “I think we bought two off Walter (Connors) that year, Kopek Des Bordes and this fella so it’s a 100 per cent record in Grade One's which is fantastic. “It was probably going to the last the first time before he relaxed. There was a horse up his backside everywhere he went and he was very free, but he kept galloping - the fact that he could pull like that and still be galloping at the end of two-miles-six on very tough ground. “We thought he was a summer horse first so he goes on all sorts of ground, but he seems to be better when he has tougher conditions.” When asked about his credentials for the Albert Bartlett he added: “He does everything right.” Paddy Power made Doctor Steinberg 2/1 favourite from 5/1 for the Albert Bartlett (non runner no bet), and 7/2 joint favourite from 12/1 for the Turners (non runner no bet). Additional reporting by Gary Carson
