Too drunk to edit but Allure of Illusion ran a cracker in the Supremes and finished best of the three who ran in it.
3.40 Fairyhouse
Allure of Illusion 6/1
The other horse at a bigger price is Willie Mullins 6 year old Allure of Illusion who I think has been a bit overlooked in the market. Playing second fiddle to stablemate Midnight Game in the betting, Allure of Illusion has only had 4 starts to date spread out over 18 months with two starts in bumpers and 2 latterly over hurdles. Allure of Illusion was successful on debut in a bumper at Killarney in August 2010 and showed a likeable attitude to overcome interference and some obstruction to eventually get up and score. After this, Willie Mullins' charge was 8 months off the track before making his reappearance in a Grade 2 bumper at Aintree in April last year when finishing a 10L beaten 3rd. That day, Allure of Illusion had a rather rough race getting bumped on several occasions when short of room before having to come widest of all to make his challenge coming into the home straight. That race has a lot of significance in terms of the Supreme Novices with the front two that day Steps To Freedom and Montbazon re-opposing on Tuesday and although you can't directly translate bumper form to hurdles form you'd think this 6 year old would have a bit to find with those two rivals. However, the race that day went along at an absolute snails pace and it really suited the first two home given their high cruising speed and with the Supreme likely to be a frantic pace it will surely help Allure of Illusion to bridge the gap.
After another long 9 month gap, Allure of Illusion made his hurdles debut for Mullins back in January where he was a 1L beaten 2nd behind Joxer, although that certainly does not tell the story of the race. After hurdling rather excellently for a debutant, Allure of Illusion was horrendously hampered by a faller and it would have killed so much momentum. However, he again showed his tough nature by brushing this off before nearly doing what seemed unthinkable and getting up to beat Joxer, with the front pair drawing well clear. Although Joxer has disappointed in his races since, I think he sets a good standard of form and he is a talented horse and I don't think he has been right in his 2 subsequent starts. After a solid bumper career, Joxer made his hurdling debut at the Leopardstown Festival in December where he finished 0.5L behind Midnight Game, Allure of Illusion's stablemate and a 9/1 shot for the Supreme Midnight Game. Given that it was Joxer's hurdling debut and Midnight Game had already had 2 starts over hurdles, Allure of Illusion finishing 2nd to Joxer on his hurdling debut when the latter already had experience under his belt certainly shows me that it is definitely possible that Allure of Illusion could be a better horse.
On his final start, Allure of Illusion appeared to disappoint in a huge way on the face of things when only dead heating for 1st last month when a 1/5 favourite. Although many perceive in the context of this race that on this showing Allure of Illusion would have no chance, this effort was a full 4f longer than his debut effort and I certainly believe that it is possible that Allure of Illusion may simply have not stayed the trip. He travelled into the race better than anything and cruised all the way to the last flight and when Ruby Walsh popped him the question there was little to be found, often an indicator that the horse didn't stay the trip. With the Supreme Novices 16.5f, the very unexposed Allure of Illusion should relish the step back in trip and if I am right about not staying than I think he has some rather strong form in the book and he looks great value at 33/1.