Hollo Ladies causes shock in Champion Novice Hurdle Hollo Ladies a 25/1 chance landed the paddypower.com Future Champions Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) for Noel Meade and Davy Condon. The four-year-old son of Captain Rio had only won his maiden hurdle nine days earlier at Navan, but stepped up considerably on that effort to take this Grade 1 contest in good style. With the final hurdle omitted due to the shadow cast off it from the low lying sun there was a three furlong run from the last flight jumped and it was at this stage that long time leader Saludos began to feel the pinch. Hollo Ladies came out of the pack to strike the front with over a furlong to race and stayed on strongly in the closing stages. The favourite, Some Present, never travelled in the race and was under pressure shortly after halfway, eventually finishing a moderate sixth. Winning trainer Noel Meade said: "I bet people thought I was mad running him here, but I knew he was tough and in a fight he would keep finding more." "He has had a hard race, his second in quick succession, so I will give him a break and bring him back for the Deloitte and Touche Hurdle here in February." William Hill have included the winner in their betting for the Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham at odds of 25/1. The same firm have shortened their favourite for that event, Dunguib, from 7/4 to 6/4. Condon picked up a two day suspension for using his whip with excessive frequency aboard the Noel Meade gelding.
