2021 Moscow Flyer Novices' Hurdle Tips - 6/1 shot can Deal with the big guns at Punchestown

Envoi Allen's appearance in the Grade Three Novices' Chase is bound to steal the show on Sunday. The following race at Punchestown, though, is the Moscow Flyer Novices' Hurdle, a Grade Two which has been won by greats like Kicking King, Vautour and Douvan down the years.

Here's a look at the current Moscow Flyer betting, followed by our best betting tips.

Gordon Elliott has saddled the last two winners of the Moscow Flyer, and it's his novice, Magic Tricks who tops the betting. The JP McManus-owned five-year-old won nicely on his first start over hurdles, stopping the clock in a time three-second quicker than what Kilcruit managed in the bumper to round off that card at Navan.

Ganapathi will try to hand Willie Mullins an eighth victory in this Grade Two. Paul Townend had to work a little harder than he initially expected to get the 2/5 favourite over the line first at Cork in November. The form of that race hasn't worked out too well since, but he certainly looks progressive.

Mullins could also throw Power Of Pause into this Grade Two, having impressed when beating a good sort in Crosshill here over course-and-distance. Henry De Bromhead could hand Gua Du Large a first start in Graded company, but the form of his maiden win looks poor.

While it may seem like folly to go against Ireland's top three trainers, I think the runners I've mentioned so far are all beatable, so I'm going to place my faith in DREAL DEAL.

Ronan McNally came under fire when Dreal Deal won a handicap hurdle at Navan, after being backed in from 25/1 into 6/4 before the off. McNally's star has since won two further handicaps on the flat, and two over jumps, winning over two-and-a-half miles here at Punchestown, and over this distance at Cork.

When Ganapathi won his maiden at Cork, recorded a time of 35 seconds between the third-last and the line. On the same day, Thedevilscoachman recorded a time just half-a-second quicker, and Appreciate It was only slightly quicker than that. 

Dreal Deal covered the same distance in 31 seconds during his handicap win. Yes, he carried seven-pounds less than Ganapathi, but the ground was a lot worse when Dreal Deal won, and Maxine O'Sullivan's mount was still cantering.

This looks an ideal opportunity for this progressive six-year-old to make a splash in Graded company, and 6/1 looks an attractive price.