Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown Preview

We're still over a week out from the opening day of the 2011 Punchestown Festival but the ante post markets are already in full swing and offering up plenty of interesting odds on the week's stand-out fixtures. We'll be taking a look at the Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle in this one and trying to get a gauge on how things will shape up over this tricky 2m contest.

Oscars Well seems to be getting a fair amount of support for this one with punters seemingly more confident in his form in what amounts to a home game at Punchestown. Disappointing to run fourth in the Neptune Novices when shipping down to Cheltenham this year, he will be looking to get this back on track over a shorter distance than he tackled last time out at Punchestown.

Currently, you'll find the six-year-old winner of the Deloitte Novices' Hurdle trading as low as 11/8 in the ante post and that's a bit short considering that he missed last time out and faces a less than straightforward field in this contest. He moved perhaps a bit too early in the Neptune and connections may opt for a different strategy in this one.

First Lieutenant got the score in the aforementioned Neptune Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham this year and he was a real feather in the cap of Irish punters as he delivered better value at 7/1 than did 4/1 Oscars Wells. He didn't win by much over the respected Rock On Ruby, but a win is a win nonetheless. Lightly-raced by the Mouse Morris barn, he is already a multiple Grade 1 winner and could add another trophy to his cabinet on the day. His 3/1 price looks even better when you realize he beat a tricky field of about 24 back here earlier in the season. He's won two big races on the bounce and is looking to add a third – I reckon he's a strong play and makes a very nice addition to a multi-race wager.

Those looking to back an improver at a decent price would do well to check out Oilily, who ran a game second in the John Smith's Top Novices' Hurdle at Aintree a few weeks back when sent off at 14/1. He came back on well that day and still has room to improve as he's only been out three times so far this year. He hasn't finished outside the top two at any point in his career and he is an extremely justifiable addition to your forecast ticket. He is a Grade 3 winner in Ireland and has run second at Punchestown twice. Certainly not the flashiest of performers but his 135 rating tells no lies.

Willy Mullins saddles So Young for the third time in as many months. He was a solid third in the Neptune at Cheltenham but really should have shown more on the day considering he was sent off as the 2/1 betting choice. Punchestown had been good to him on his previous run with a lopsided win when sent off at 1/6. His 10/3 represents a bit better deal than punters got on him last time and, while he is a logical winner, he hasn't shown enough consistency to merit a price that slim. I'm staying off So Young but wouldn't be surprised to see him run third.

The gloss really came off Zaidpour in the last few months and his rough go at Cheltenham confirmed that he may not have been what we had all hoped he would be. He has run second to both First Lieutenant and Oscars Well in the past season at Leopardstown and was disappointing as favourite on both occasions. A 10/1 price is the highest odds he's ever run at before so if you think he rebounds here, you're bound to be rewarded. I think he will struggle to match most of the top contenders here – especially if they are able to dictate the race a bit more.

This is just one of a number of exciting Grade 1 contests set to unfold on opening day at Punchestown. Stay tuned for our insight and analysis on the top contenders in the day's other races.

A First Lieutenant/Oilily forecast looks to be a particularly rewarding forecast wager if everything goes according to plan and the better runners turn out to be the better runners.