Hatton's Grace Hurdle tips and runners guide to Fairyhouse 2.35

Impaire Et Passe tackles open company for the first time in the Grade 1 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle.

The Ballymore winner has been kept over flights as connection spy a potential shot at Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle at next year’s Cheltenham Festival, although this looks a tricky assignment on seasonal reappearance.

A year on from inflicting a first career defeat on Honeysuckle, Teahupoo is back to defend his crown and gets his favoured testing conditions. Gordon Elliott also saddles Zanahiyr, who is bidding to bounce back from defeat to Bob Olinger last month.

BuddyOne is a horse on the rise after impressive handicap victories, but this is his toughest assignment to date.

Willie Mullins’ second string, AshroeDiamond, is the only mare in the field but she boasts C&D form after claiming the Grade 1 Honeysuckle Mares Novice Hurdle last time out in April.

The latest Hatton’s Grace Hurdle odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise Timeform’s guide to the runners as well as betting tips from the racing boffins can be found below.

Hatton’s Grace Hurdle verdict

Timeform: IMPAIRE ET PASSE is hugely exciting and may emerge as the main threat to Constitution Hill’s dominance over hurdles this term. He can take this, although expect last year’s winner Teahupoo to put up a stiff fight. Ashroe Diamond probably shouldn’t be dismissed either after her impressive win here in April.

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change

Hatton’s Grace Hurdle runners and riders

The following horses have been declared for the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle 2023.

Buddy One

Trainer: Paul John Gilligan Jockey: Jack G. Gilligan Age: 6 Weight: 11st 12lbs

As progressive as they come, clearly no sluggard but finding still more improvement for the step up to 3m when winning 15-runner handicap hurdle at Cheltenham 15 days ago. C&D winner but some feat if he were to take this on these terms.

***

Impaire Et Passe

Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: P. Townend Age: 5 Weight: 11st 12lbs

Bags of speed but plenty of stamina too. Unbeaten over hurdles last term, including victories in the Ballymore at Cheltenham and Grade 1 Champion Novice at Punchestown. More to come and could be top class.

*****

Teahupoo

Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: J. W. Kennedy Age: 6 Weight: 11st 12lbs

High-class hurdler, won this last year. Just respectable efforts at Cheltenham/Punchestown Festivals but fine record fresh and good chance if it becomes testing.

****

Zanahiyr

Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: Jordan Gainford Age: 6 Weight: 11st 12lbs

Very smart hurdler who resumed with victory in 3-runner minor event at Punchestown. No match for Bob Olinger at Navan 15 days ago but did win the 2020 Grade 1 Juvenile impressively on his only other start here.

***

Ashroe Diamond

Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: Mr P. W. Mullins Age: 6 Weight: 11st 5lbs

Produced a mighty performance when winning the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novices’ Championship Final at this course (20.4f, good to soft, 2/1) by 5 lengths from Whatcouldhavebeen when last seen. That form worked out, she goes well fresh and unwise to dismiss.