Abacadabras impresses in the For Auction

Abracadabras (9/10 fav) had far too many gears for his five rivals as he took the Grade 3 For Auction Novice Hurdle without coming off the bridle.

Robbie Power’s mount cruised up to dispute the lead after two out and, although Latest Exhibition (7/2) tried to make a race of it going down to the last, the winner soon brushed aside his challenge to score by a very comfortable three lengths.

The first two pulled well clear, with Foreign Secretary (66/1) best of the rest another six and a half lengths away in third.

The winning Davidoff gelding had won his maiden hurdle at Gowran last month, and had been a high-class bumper horse, finishing fourth at Cheltenham and runner-up in the Champion Bumper at Punchestown.

“That's our 100th jumps winner of the season between England and Ireland so it's nice to get it in a graded race,” said winning trainer Gordon Elliott.

“He's a nice horse. We thought a lot of him in bumpers last year and he ran a bit keen at both Cheltenham and Punchestown.

“He jumped well there today and Puppy liked him. Jack liked him the last day as well and he's probably another horse that will go to the Royal Bond in Fairyhouse now.

“Puppy said he was very quick getting away from his hurdles and he was very happy.

We'll keep him to two miles at the moment.”

“He’s got a high cruising speed and can quicken off it, added winning rider Robbie Power.

“He learnt a lot from his first start over hurdles, and even though he was wrong at one or two he didn’t lose any ground away from them.”

Paddy Power quoted Abacadabras at 14/1 from 25s for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and 20/1 from 25s for the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

Betfair also went 14/1 from 25/1 for the Supreme.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson