Juvenile Hurdlers 2020/2021

Preview review
The first three in the prospects list filled those places in the reverse order and the fourth was booked for fourth when falling at the last. Lightning Blue was the only one to really outrun her prospects but there were clues in her breeding and was still beaten a fair distance. Historic Heart was not given strong prospects as he was deemed to be fairly exposed and while credit was given to his experience and reliability, the penalty looked to tip the balance. However, he ran was was essentially a perfect race and was able to post a career best here.

Race review
Yesterday's race looked an above average renewal beforehand and several of these emerged with endearing prospects for the future. There was some chaos at the first but while there was a deficiency of fluency, there was nothing especially alarming from the principles. The pace was an honest one and the leading contenders pulled clear some way from home with Midnights Legacy staying on having looked rather flat. Although the race was won by a seemingly exposed sort, the winning time was respectably comparable to the concluding handicap won by a 128 rated horse carrying four pounds less than Historic Heart.

Historic Heart had three hurdles runs to his name prior to yesterday and had ran creditably and consistently on each occasion. His win at Sedgefield was bolstered by the runner-up winning next time and he ran a perfectly respectable race against older horses in a handicap last time. Other than getting close to the sixth and slightly close to the last, this was an error free round. Having travelled well to share the lead approaching the last, he came out marginally the best in a protracted and compelling duel to the line. Although there is a reticence to rate this performance over a stone higher than any of his previous efforts, a mark in the low 120s is still a conservative one based on the winning time and the assumption that none of his opponents ran up to their flat form. Furthermore, he ran an almost perfect race here in terms of travelling, jumping, pacing and determination. His official rating of 112 will likely become a relic after this performance but there could be weak enough contests for him under a double penalty. Moreover, as both of his wins were in class fours, he would not carry any penalties were he to contest a race like the Wensleydale at the end of the month. 123

First Impression came into the race with the joint highest flat rating in the field and had the better recent form. He also represented a yard with a good record in the division and emerged from the race with great credit. He was not particularly fluent in the early stages as he was awkward at the first and the third as well as being slightly slow over the sixth. Nevertheless, his jumping was perfectly adequate in the closing stages and he gave everything in the run to the line. He was quoted at 33/1 for the Triumph Hurdle afterwards which is some way from justifiable at this stage since the same price would not be offered on the winner. Notwithstanding, given his versatility regarding ground conditions, straightforward nature and solid jumping foundation, a win in an ordinary hurdle race is not difficult to envisage. 117

Midnights Legacy had been priced up at 33/1 for the Triumph since the summer but those aspirations had been tempered by a pair of lacklustre runs on the flat. He is very much bred for the division on his damline and while his sire did better with older horses, Midnights Legacy had been groomed to be his father's successor. His hurdling debut looked like being an inauspicious one from the outset as he came out much the worst from the squeezing which occurred at the first that left his knees and nose firmly on the ground. From there, he was never really travelling with much zest and his jumping was littered with misjudgements. To his credit, he was able to stay on having been outpaced and though he never threatened the front two, finished a long way clear of the remainder. Midnights Legacy can largely be forgiven for this outing and should show himself in a much better light in due course. A place in the upper echelons might be out of his grasp this season and he would want to rediscover his enthusiasm for the sport, but he ought to have a future over jumps. 101

Lightning Blue had been poor on the flat in nine starts and joined a yard without much success in the sphere. She was big and slow over the second, stumbled three out and found herself distracted in between, yet was still able to outrun her 200/1 odds. Her sire has a fair record in the division and her dam is a half-sister to a winning hurdler so there is scope for her to enjoy some moderate success over hurdles. However, she was still beaten a long way and would not be competitive in anything but moderate company. 75

Clay Regazzoni was making his twentieth racecourse appearance yesterday and his first over hurdles. His overall flat form is respectable for this discipline and his stable has a solid record with its juveniles. However, Clay Regazzoni's jumping was substandard and he looked anything but a natural. He blundered at the second, skewed badly over the third, jumped slowly and to the right over the three in the back and was steady again over three out. The yard often has its juveniles ready to do themselves justice first time although it is currently out of form. As such, it would not be unreasonable to anticipate some improvement but this was not particularly encouraging for the short term. 81

New Zealander ran only once for Charlie Hills on the flat and was sent off here at an unfancied 80/1. There is some encouragement on breeding as his sire Australia has done well with his early crops and the damline contains numerous good juveniles. His jumping was not fluent however and he finished a tired horse so while more will be learned of his abilities in due course, he demands little immediate interest. 79

Camahawk is a well-related half-brother to the yard's Fred Winter winner Hawk High, and his best flat form is respectable for the division. However, his recent form had not been great and there were concerns over his head carriage. His jumping was not too bad for a debutant as apart from getting close to the second and fourth, he put in a fair enough round. He did not travel with any purpose however, and was being pushed along from the rear with a third of the race left to be run. 73

Fast Deal, the stablemate of Camahawk, had shown nothing but patchy form since his two-year-old days and was unfancied in the market. Always in the rear, he got slightly close to the first, wandered on the approach to the second and fourth, was low at the first two flights in the straight and veered badly right at the last. 70

Silver Desert was poor on the flat but had joined a capable yard and is by a leading sire in the division. However, she sweated up beforehand, lack fluency at many of her hurdles and weakened quickly from a prominent position in the back straight before pulling up before two out. 0

Lustleigh is out of the high-class jumper My Petra who has also done well as a broodmare. After being pulled out of his intended debut at Chepstow, Lustleigh was well backed ahead of his racecourse bow here. Leading from the outset, he jumped slightly right at the first, got close to the second, slightly close to the third and sixth before getting too low at his final two jumps. He was only headed on the approach to the last but was a tired horse by that stage. Unable to lift his legs, he took a heavy fall which saw him winded for a while. Mercifully, he got up safely and should hopefully be none the worse for the experience. Despite his imperfect jumping, it was still reasonable enough to set a searching gallop and if he shows no ill-effect for the experience, there should be more to come. 91
 
While some flat horses are apparently doing some flat horsey things at Ascot and Pic d'Orhy returns to chasing at Market Rasen, tomorrow's highlight this side of la Manche categorically takes place just after one o'clock at Ballinrobe. Ballinrobe is not generally regarded as a racecourse which hosts especially high grade juvenile hurdles. While the likes of Noble Inn and Lord Justice have been winners in the past, the average winner's seasonal RPR is 117 which places it behind thirty-two other racecourses in the UK and Ireland. Nevertheless, while tomorrow's contest has only six starters, three of those have already achieved RPRs exceeding the course average of 94 and two of the newcomers are listed in the Triumph markets. The racecourse's winning DIs are higher than average but so too are those of the average runner. Tomorrow's distance of eighteen furlongs is longer than the standard two miles and the soft ground will place further emphasis on stamina. Only fourteen courses in the UK and Ireland have a clear round rate lower than Ballinrobe's 95.04% so an ability to jump will also be desirable.

Belgoprince chg A J Martin f11-1-2 (67) 54 j3-0-1 (-) 97 102
Prince Gibraltar (Bering){9-f}(0.82) 2/1 Golden Marvel jumps winner in US
Prince Gibraltar is having his first crop of hurdlers this season and while he has not made a flying start, he does have a dual winner on the board along with the expensive import Prunay to his name. His son Belgoprince showed a fair level of form on the flat for Cedric Rossi and despite some farcical performances in three runs over hurdles, has also demonstrated that he is capable of good form over hurdles. However, without wishing to cast accusations or suggest that the Irish stewards have selective eyesight, there have been reasons to suspect that Belgoprince has not been giving best. His schooling has seemingly been autodidactic in nature while there has been very little urgency insofar as actually participating in a race is concerned. On bare form, he has achieved a rating worth 102 but it would be surprising if this is the ceiling of his capabilities. Quite when he surpasses this rating is a private matter.

Crassus bg Noel Meade f9-0-2 (69) 76 j1-0-1 (-) 115 117
War Command (Seeking The Gold){4-m}(1.89) 0.5 Indian Chief PU Maiden Hurdle, Sedgefield 2019
By a sire yet to produce a winning juvenile from a family with only negligible hurdling experience, Crassus's pedigree is not the most compelling. Furthermore, while he has shown promise on the flat, his form had been rather patchy as of late. However, he represents a stable with a fine record in the sphere and made a very promising hurdling debut at Punchestown in early September when a six length second to Duffle Coat. Finishing best of those who raced prominently, Crassus jumped and travelled well for the most part and was comfortably on top of all bar one of his rivals. The first and third have each won races since and the yard is currently in better form than it was at the time of the race. He sets a clear standard on hurdling form and the experience and proven jumping ability will be extremely useful. Crassus is also the yard's first string on jockey bookings but there are some concerns over his ability to fully see out this trip.

Dark Voyager bg W P Mullins f7-1-1 (78) 76
Raven's Pass (Montjeu){7-a}(0.83) 0.5 A Wave Of The Sea 1st Spring Juvenile Hurdle (G1), Leopardstown 2020
Willie Mullins has an exceptional record in this division. For trainers with fifteen or more juveniles since 2008/09, his winners to runners rate of 58.14% is second only to Nicky Henderson, 82.56% of his runners achieve RPRs of 108 and above and his improvement rate of 77.14% is outstanding given the quality of his flat recruits. The bulk of his best juveniles tend to be imported either from France or from other yards. His first runner this season is set to be Dark Voyager who has spent his entire career with the master of Closutton. Those that raced on the flat for Willie Mullins have a still respectable 41.67% winners to runners rate but while they have been decent (Call Me Bubbles, Fatcatinthehat, Maze Runner), none have been top class. After showing little in his first five runs for the yard, Dark Voyager improved on his penultimate start when stepped up to a mile and a half in a Galway handicap on soft ground. Having to force his way from mid division at the home turn, he stayed on well when getting a clear run. However, he did seem reluctant to follow through but was no match for Flying Scotsman in any case. The form of that race has worked out well with the winner following up the next day, the fourth winning two races and the sixth scoring next time out. Returning to the venue five days later, Dark Voyager was still unconvincing with his head carriage but he had no trouble comfortably accounting for his rivals as he ran out a three length winner. Raven's Pass has a solid enough record as a sire in the division with four of his twenty-two juvenile hurdlers being winners, and Dark Voyager's dosage index is lower than all of those with success. This low DI is largely courtesy of Montjeu who is also a capable damsire in the sphere with a 22% winners to runners rate. It is on the damline where Dark Voyager's pedigree becomes more interesting. A half brother to last season's Grade One winner A Wave Of The Sea, his dam is a half-sister winning hurdler Martial Law and the fourth dam produced the useful Sossis Vlei. More distantly related are top class jumpers Cause Of Causes (6/4), Binocular (6/5), and Nichols Canyon (6/6). While Dark Voyager's quote of 33/1 for the Triumph is rather premature, his profile certainly entitles him to the utmost respect in this field and he is an interesting recruit to the division.

Flylikeaneagle bg Eamonn O'Connell f8-2-2 (70) 86
Free Eagle (Shamardal){6-f}(1.20) 2/1 Harp Player 7th Juvenile Hurdle, Market Rasen 1999
After two wins and two seconds as a two-year-old for Mark Johnston, Flylikeaneagle was beaten by at least twenty lengths on his next four starts. He was sold for just 4,000 guineas at the Tattersalls July sale and made his stable debut last Sunday where he finished a fifteen length eleventh of fourteen in a Cork handicap. His new yard has yet to have a winner in this sphere from five runs although they have all completed the course. Free Eagle has a winner and a placed horse from two juveniles and damsire Shamardal has two winners from fourteen through his broodmares. However, there is little else encouraging in the pedigree and this is a very hot contest for a debutant.

Perry Owens bg Noel Meade f6-0-1 (66) 74 j1-0-1 (-) 106 109
Free Eagle (Time For A Change){9}(1.53) 2/1 Parker Ridge 1st Claiming Chase, Cagnes Sur Mer 2019
The aforementioned placed horse of Free Eagle was Perry Owens who ran into third at this venue on the tenth of August. He went into that race with poor recent flat form and the stable was not firing either. However, despite an error strewn round of jumping and being ten lengths behind the winner with a furlong to go, he rallied to get within two lengths of the winner at the line. It was not the strongest race but the winner ran with credit on his next two hurdles starts and seventh placed Varna Gold was able to collect an average race at Kilarney recently. Perry Owens was out eleven days later when well beaten in a Killarney handicap and has not been seen since. While he will likely enjoy the ground and is capable of being competitive in ordinary company, he is the stable's second string and should find a couple of these too good.

Zanahiyr chg Gordon Elliott f4-1-1 (-) 80
Nathaniel (Marju){9-c}(0.53) 2/1 Zarinava 136 1st Doncaster Mares' Hurdle (G2), Doncaster 2012
Zahahiyr had four runs on the flat for Michael Halford, all of which took place in maiden company. He made his racecourse debut in a seven furlong contest at the Curragh last October where he was a four and a half length sixth behind four pattern class horses including Irish Derby runner-up Tiger Moth. He was just under nine lengths ninth when returning to the Curragh in June where he finished behind classic winners Galileo Chrome and Serpentine. Stepped up to thirteen furlongs on soft ground at Navan, he failed by a length and a quarter to justify favouritism but was able to get off the mark last time out at Fairyhouse in early July. Racing over a mile and a half on good to yielding ground, Zanahiyr took up the running at the distance and lengthened well inside the final furlong to win by just over a length. Being a midsummer maiden race for older horses, it was not of the highest quality. Nevertheless, of the front seven who were clear of the remainder, are all rated at least 70 (three rated 80 or above) and can count two subsequent winners amongst themselves, so the standard is decent enough for flat recruits to the sphere. He has since been sold privately to run for Gordon Elliott who is the winningmost trainer of juveniles in Ireland. Twelve of the twenty-three juveniles who joined the yard from the flat after private transactions have won races including top-class types Farclas, Mega Fortune, Mitchouka and Clarcam. Horses whose careers began with Michael Halford have a 25.53% winners to runners rate and a very healthy 61.54% improvement rate. Nathaniel has made a fine start with his first three crops in the division with 47% of his offspring winning races, including the first and fourth in last season's Triumph Hurdle. Marju's record as a damsire is below average but his broodmares are still capable of producing useful sorts such as Ultimate and Lake Champlain. It is not unusual for horses bred by the Aga Khan to be related to useful jumpers and Zanahiyr is no exception. While his half-brother only managed to finish placed over hurdles, his dam is a half-sister to Doncaster Mares' Hurdle winner Zarinava and her half-brother Zarif twice finished runner-up in the Velka Pardubicka. Zanahiyr's fourth dam Zahra, daughter of the brilliant Petite Etoile, is the matriarch of a family that includes the likes of Zafarabad, Zarkandar, Zaiyad, Zaynar and Zaidpour. Gordon Elliott has already sent out three quality juveniles this season and Zanahiyr has the credentials to make it four. While he broadly matches Dark Voyager for flat form, his pedigree is more substantial and the yard's clear round rate of 97.11% is healthier than the 94.81% of Willie Mullins.

Strong prospects
1. Zanahiyr
Reasonable prospects
2. Dark Voyager
3. Crassus
Feasible prospects
4. Perry Owens
Moderate prospects
5. Belgoprince
Negligible prospects
6. Flylikeaneagle
 
Tom George's Bannister runs in a conditions hurdle at Auteuil tomorrow while Nicky Henderson's first juvenile of the season, Overpriced Mixer, is entered at Kempton on Sunday along with Viroflay of Paul Nicholls. The preview to that race, and the one at Sedgefield, should be up by tomorrow afternoon.

Preview review
As with Wetherby on Wednesday, the first three occupied the same positions in the prospects lists but in the reverse order. The positive elements of the performances were justified within the preview as were the negatives. Particularly Naizgai's fitness, Magna Moralia's sincerity and Cabot Cliffs' ungainly head carriage under pressure. Jan Wellens also jumped terribly and the others were tepid. While I would be the first to stress that I am not a tipster, I am quite pleased with the preview insofar as it being informative.

Race review
The race looked fairly interesting beforehand although most of the profiles were fairly patchy. The winner had shown that he was capable of doing well but his attitude was questionable and he drifted out to 94/1 in running. The runner up jumped better but did not travel as well as he had last time and the third wanted for fitness while hanging badly and lacking the fluency shown on his debut. They pulled clear of the remainder but between them, the form may not be too reliable. The pace was a strong one and the winning time was comparable to the Class 5 handicap later on the card.

Cabot Cliffs was having his first run for Dan Skelton and completed a treble on the card for a yard which does well in this sphere. He also became the first winner over hurdles for his sire Gleneagles. However, he did not look at all straightforward as he pulled extremely hard in the opening stages and though he was eventually a decisive winner, his high head carriage and wandering on the run-in were not endearing. He got in close to the first and skewed his way over it but apart from being slightly awkward in the straight, his jumping was fine for the most part. He jumped the fourth well but ended up knuckling a stride after landing and did quite well to recover. His wind operation was clearly a success and this rates as a new career best. With the two market leaders running below their best, he did not have a great deal to beat and questions remain over his attitude. Nevertheless, if he improves on this effort, as he is entitled to do, then he could develop into a fairly capable hurdler. 109

Magna Moralia lacked fluency on his debut but travelled well throughout. Here, his jumping was better but he appeared to run rather flat at the business end of the race. He skewed over the first and got slightly close to the sixth but was fine otherwise. However, while he went as low as 1.3 in running, the winner always appeared to be travelling the better and Magna Moralia eventually finished rather tired. Being a winner on the flat on soft ground, his ability to handle the ground was not a major concern. He is capable of being competitive at this level but while he is a consistent type, he does not look the most reliable when faced with a challenge. 104

Naizagai looked like a decent prospect when making a winning debut at Cartmel in early August but that was the last time he was seen prior to today. He had undergone a wind operation shortly after that win and was sent out to make all once again. However, he made errors at most of his hurdles and was a tired horse when headed approaching two out. More worryingly, he had a tendency to hang badly right and favoured that direction at each of his jumps. Given that Cartmel is also left handed, this habit is a new development. He may be better going the other way but there is likely an underlying physiological factor at play and until that is addressed, he could struggle to build on his debut promise. 100

Jan Wellens saw that the underperformance of Dutch Art juveniles reverted to the norm with another lacklustre performance. He managed to blunder at the first four flights, was steep at the fifth and while he was OK at the next, he was tired over the remaining obstacles. While he has won on the flat, his jumping needs to improve dramatically before he can do the same over hurdles. 77

You Owe Me jumped poorly when a tailed-off last on his hurdling debut. While his jumping was better here, his only real error was trailing his legs through the third, he was already getting reminders and dropping away by the fifth. He finished tailed off once again and has shown next to nothing thus far in this sphere. 17

Bentley Wood has respectable sirelines and had some reasonable form to his name from last year. However, although his jumping was fine in the early stages, he made a couple of errors in the back straight and finished completely tailed off. 0
 
First impression of the Ballinrobe race was that the front two are quality horses, although a proper review will have to wait as the preview for tomorrow's Sedgefield race is still in progress. It was also nice to see Bannister run a brave race at Auteuil this afternoon.

Kempton hosts its first juvenile hurdle of the season tomorrow and it looks to be an intriguing affair. The two with hurdling experience have achieved little but there are four newcomers with winning flat form including representatives of Nicky Henderson, Paul Nicholls and Alan King. This particular race is a regular fixture on Kempton's October card and has been the launchpad of several horses who would appear at that season's festival. Quel Destin won this in 2018 prior to following up in three graded races and finishing fifth in the Triumph while Saticon and Plan A were each placed in the Fred Winter. Despite being one of the quicker tracks in the country, the average median winning DI is just 0.95 which emphasizes the class requirements at the venue which ranks below only Cheltenham and Ascot for winning seasonal RPRs. The clear round rate of 96.81% is fairer than average.

Can't Stop Now chg Chris Gordon f6-0-2 (73) 74
Starspangledbanner (Ivan Denisovich){1-n}(7.00) 2/1 Aviatorilor 3rd 3YO Hurdle, Argentan 2015
Can't Stop Now ran six times on the flat for Clive Cox and while he did not win a race, he did earn a respectable official rating of 73. He has never been beyond a mile however and his only outing since February was when he beat just one home in a ten runner Doncaster handicap back in June. He was sold at the Tattersalls July sale for 7,000 guineas and has joined a yard with a solid enough record at lower grades. Chris Gordon has saddled five winning juveniles since 2008/09 although none achieved RPRs exceeding 120 and the overall strike rate is just 5.95%. Starspangledbanner has had just the three horses in the sphere yet none of them have even completed a race, let alone been competitive. Furthermore, Can't Stop Now has already had his wind done so while he had some quality on the flat, his profile in this race is not compelling.

Chinese Whisperer bg Alan King f7-1-0 (63) 71
Poet's Voice (Turtle Bowl){16-a}(1.00) 2/1 Elouera 1st 3YO Conditions Hurdle, Chateauroux 2010
Alan King is one of the leading trainers in the division with above average figures across all metrics. He also has a fine record in this particular contest with five wins from seven runners since 2008/09. However, the lowest rated of those winners was Mcvicar on 67 and though he was a winner last October at Wolverhampton, Chinese Whisperer has not run to anything like that mark in his last three outings. Furthermore, the yard is in relatively poor form and has only had one winning juvenile in 2020 which came when Blacko won at Warwick in January at odds of 3/10. Poet's Voice has a fair record in the division and the two offspring that have been under the care of Alan King, Cracker Factory and Lisp, have been decent. The damline is also decent as Chinese Whisperer is out of a half-sister to a winning French juvenile and useful sorts such as Ebonite (3/3 - 2nd 2019 Prix La Haye Jousselin), Sol Roc (3/4 - 2nd 2004 Prix Camaceres) and Rintimtim Has (3/4 - 3rd Prix Finot 2012) can be found further back. There are enough positives within the profile to suggest that Chinese Whisperer can do creditable things in the sphere and his jumping is practically assured in advance, but he may be seen to better effect when both he and the stable are in better form.

Kentucky Hardboot chg Mohamed Moubarak f11-1-2 (62) 66
Starspangledbanner (Danehill Dancer){14-c}(3.00) 2/1 Persistent 2nd Handicap Hurdle (123), Galway 2017
Kentucky Hardiboot will be the first jumps runner for Newmarket trainer Mohamed Moubarak who had a handful of group winners on the flat in the early nineties before moving to Florida. Having spent his two-year-old career with Mick Channon, Kentucky Hardboot made a winning start for his new handler when taking a seven-furlong Yarmouth handicap back in June off 55. While he was runner-up next time at Doncaster, his next four racecourse appearances saw him twice well beaten, and twice withdrawn for refusing to enter the stalls. Damsire Danehill Dancer has the best overall record of those represented in this field but it is still no better than average and the aforementioned Starspangledbanner has made an inauspicious start in the division. The dam is a half-sister to a fair handicap hurdler and Mobaasher (4/2) and Davorin (4/3) appear further back in the pedigree. However, Kentucky Hardboot's overall profile is patchy at best.

Now We're Touring bg Alex Hales f3-0-0 (42) 38 j1-0-0 (-) 73 73
Kingston Hill (Footstepsinthesand){A1}(0.68) 3/4 Rock Climber 3rd Handicap Hurdle (Listed), Enghien 2013
Being a stamina laden son of Mastercraftsman, Kingston Hill could be an exciting recruit to the jumps stallion ranks. However, his sole representative to date achieved little on the flat and his pedigree is not inundated with hurdlers. His hurdling debut was similarly lacklustre though his hurdling was largely fair, he needs to improve considerably in this company.

Overpriced Mixer bg Nicky Henderson f6-2-2 (78) 78
Harbour Watch (Daylami){21-a}(1.40) 4/2 Mike Quercus 1st Claiming Hurdle, Cagnes-Sur-Mer 2014
After winning a pair of Novice Auction Stakes at Thirsk and Kempton for Jamie Osborne, Overpriced Mixer was sold for £90,000 at Tattersalls' Autumn sale. Sire Harbour Watch has a respectable 28.57% winners to runners rate with juveniles and those out of Daylami mares can hold their own. However, only around a third of each type improve for switching codes and there is not much in the way of quality jumpers on the damline. Those sold by Jamie Osborne can pick up prize money but are not usually high class. Juveniles who wind up at Seven Barrows having fetched large figures at public auction win their fair share of races but do not habitually achieve greatness with only €250,000 purchase Charlie Parcs achieving an RPR in excess of 130. Nevertheless, Nicky Henderson's record in the division is still exceptional. Along with saddling seven Triumph Hurdle winners, since 2008/09 he has a winners to runners rate of 60.47%, a 108 plus rate of 74.42% and an overall strike rate of 32.96%. Overpriced Mixer will be his first juvenile of the season, but he has already ran on the flat for the yard and was a tailed off twelfth in a Newmarket handicap in late August. The stable has not made a flying start as of yet and with the exception of Royal Irish Hussar, Nicky Henderson's better juveniles have never been introduced before the Wensleydale. Overpriced Mixer is capable of winning races and has reasonable prospects in this company but it looks unlikely that he will be one of the season's leading lights.

Viroflay bg Paul Nicholls f3-1-1 (80.3) -
Air Chief Marshal (Agnes World){5-g}(3.00) 0.5 Mallorca 2nd 3YO Hurdle, Enghien 2013
Hell Red made an exciting start Paul Nicholls' campaign at Chepstow and he sends out another French import tomorrow, this time from the flat. While the majority of his top juveniles cut their teeth in French hurdle races, he has also enjoyed success with his flat imports. Fourteen of the twenty-four have been winners and the best ones include the likes of Zarkandar, Pearl Swan and All Yours. Furthermore, Paul Nicholls has a fine record in this race, winning it with his last three runners. Starting off with Bruno de Montzey, source of the yard's recent Free Handicap winner Thyme White, Viroflay had three starts on the flat between September and January. Starting off in a seven furlong maiden at Mont-de-Marsan, he ran green and somewhat one paced but was nearest at the finish when second to the 77 rated Venetico. He got off the mark next time in mid-December when staying on well to take a sixteen runner Pau maiden ran over a mile. The form of that race has not worked out but he was a comfortable winner. He was last seen back at Pau a month later when a one paced fourth in a ten furlong conditions race where he was not beaten far by three subsequent winners including one at listed level. Air Chief Marshal has only had the two juvenile hurdlers in the UK but one of them was a winner and his winner to runner rate with French three-year-olds is healthy. Agnes World has yet to be tested as a damsire on these shores but Viroflay is a half-brother to a pair of French juveniles with form. Paul Nicholls will have stronger types in his yard for the season but Viroflay's profile is still compelling in this race.

Crazy Love bf Sheena West f4-0-0 (45) 46
Sixties Icon (Piccolo){3-l}(0.71) 2/0 Keeping The Faith 2nd Juvenile Hurdle, Cheltenham 1997
Crazy love earned an official rating of 47 after three runs over the winter but that proved to be too steep as she finished an eight length ninth in a ten furlong Lingfield handicap in June. She has since left Mick Channon to join Sheena West who has an above average record in the sphere and has won this race twice since 2009 with Alfraamsey and Mohanad. Crazy Love's new trainer has won juvenile hurdles with eight horses rated lower than 60 with two of them rated just 45. One of those was another Sixties Icon who has had another fine season in the division. Crazy Love's granddam was placed in a Cheltenham juvenile in 1997 and is a half-sister to the useful Mystical City. She still has a mountain to climb on form and damsire Piccolo has a bad record in the sphere but given her connections and the remainder of her breeding, a place effort cannot be ruled out entirely.

Little Tipsy bf Adam West f1-0-0 (-) 25 j1-0-0 (-) 67 75
Harbour Watch (Event Of The Year){6-a}(2.43) 0.5 Act Of Valour 131 2nd Scottish Triumph Trial (L), Musselburgh 2018
Little Tipsy is a full-sister to the useful juvenile Act Of Valour but she was tailed off on her sole flat start last season. Her hurdling debut at Huntingdon began with some novicey jumping but she improved past beaten horses to finish a remote fifth. Much more will be needed here however.

Strong prospects
1. Viroflay
Reasonable prospects
2. Chinese Whisperer
3. Overpriced Mixer
Feasible prospects
4. Crazy Love
Moderate prospects
5. Can't Stop Now
Negligible prospects
6. Little Tipsy
7. Now We're Touring
8. Kentucky Hardboot
 
With Zanahiyr and Dark Voyager looking like good sorts at Ballinrobe, Nicholls, Henderson and King represented at Kempton, and the Groupe II Prix Georges de Talhouet-Roy at Auteuil, tomorrow's juvenile at Sedgefield offers a change of pace. While two of the newcomers have the potential to be fairly useful in the division, the bulk of the field offers little in the way of promise. This particular contest has not previously been run in the past but races hosted in October at Sedgefield typically take little winning. Despite being an undulating track with an uphill finish, it does not place a great emphasis on stamina with the median average winning being 1.35 and the average winning time per furlong being quicker than average. The clear round rate of 95.56% makes it slightly trickier than average and the completion rate is one of the lowest in the country so being able to jump well is a useful asset.

Gold Desert chg Oliver Greenall f4-0-0 (71) 74
Mastercraftsman (Galileo){9-f}(0.76) 3/1 Triple Sharp 1st Mares' Handicap Hurdle (81), Fakenham 2001
Oliver Greenall purchased two juveniles at the Tattersalls August sale, one of those being the ex-Richard Hannon trained Gold Desert for 23,000 guineas. He thrice finished in fifth place in novice stakes last term and would finish sixth of sixteen in a Haydock handicap over an extended ten furlongs on his return. The form of that race has not worked out and just over a third of ex-Hannon horses improve for the switch to hurdles. Nevertheless, that yard has been the source of some decent types such as Lil Rockerfeller and Who Dares Wins, and Gold Desert has a top juvenile stallion in Mastercraftsman. Galileo also has a solid record as a damsire and the useful juvenile Don Fernando appears on the damline at 4/2. Curiously, juvenile hurdlers from thoroughbred family 9-f fare much better when the Dosage Index is 1.00 or less. Oliver Greenall ended a recent barren spell when winning a seller at Stratford this afternoon and his juveniles are typically safe jumpers. While his charges usually improve for their debut outings, Gold Desert is still worthy of respect in this company.

Mesmeric bg John Wainwright f4-1-1 (65) 68
Casamento (Authorized){1-l}(1.18) 2/1 Mambo Dancer 6th Maiden Hurdle, Killarney 2019
After a win (in the stewards' room) and a second in a pair of Southwell contests early in the year for Mark Johnston, Mesmeric was sold for just 3,000gns at the Tattersalls July sale. He was sent off 50/1 on his return in a Newcastle handicap last month, finishing a tailed-off last, and was last seen refusing to enter the stalls at Redcar ahead of a seller. Authorized is one of the best sires of juveniles and has made a good impression as a damsire with four of nine juveniles from his broodmare winning races. Casamento also has a solid record as a sire but there is little encouragement to be drawn from the damline. John Wainwright is without a winner in the sphere and has gone over a thousand days since a jumps winner of any description.

Park Lane Dancer brg John Quinn f6-0-0 (52) 57
Elzaam (Iffraaj){8-f}(1.18) 3/1 Wise Words 2nd 4YO Hurdle, Roscommon 2003
John Quinn's record in the division is well above average and is comfortably the strongest in this field. He is set to saddle two here with Park Lane Dancer looking the lesser light of the pair. Having never finished closer than seven lengths to the winner in six starts on the flat, he comes here with an official rating of just 52. While the yard has won with lower rated juveniles, neither achieved RPRs exceeding 94 in doing so which would leave Park Lane Dancer needing some underperformances if he is to stand a chance of winning. Elzaam has managed to produce two winning juveniles from five but iffraaj has a less positive influence on the sphere and while Prunay (5/3) and Cerberus (5/4) appear in the further reaches of the damline, there is less interest closer by.

Poker Master bg Philip McBride f2-0-0 (-) 56 j2-0-0 (-) 66 77
Sepoy (Mastercraftsman){4-i}(3.00) 3/3 Hipsters 1st Prix Go Ahead (L), Auteuil 2019
After two fruitless runs on the flat, Poker Master was tailed off on his hurdling debut at Fontwell but jumped well enough in the main. His jumping was much poorer last time at Market Rasen however and he has plenty to prove here.

Spit It Out bg Susan Corbett f6-0-0 (48) 48 j1-0-0 (-) 57 58
Swiss Spirit (Sinndar){1-e}(2.43) 3/2 Pintanera 3rd 3yo Hurdle, Cagnes-Sur-Mer 2006
Spit It Out made his hurdles debut at this venue at the end of this month and after putting in a reasonable round of jumping, finished best of the rank outsiders. However, he was still beaten by over fifty lengths in sixth.

Time Voyage bf John Quinn f10-1-4 (78) 83
Raven's Pass (Azamour){7}(3.00) 3/1 Muzio Scevola 11th Juvenile Hurdle, Fontwell 2005
The first string of the John Quinn pair, Time Voyage comes into the race with much the highest flat rating with the added assistance of a seven pound sex allowance. Her sole win came in a mile handicap at Doncaster in the middle of June and has twice finished second since then. She was last seen when beaten fifteen lengths in a listed race at Chester but that performance still matched her best form. Along with her consistency, she is also straightforward horse who stays on well under pressure. The record of Raven's Pass in the sphere is slightly below average but his progeny does have a respectable 53.33% improvement rate between codes. Azamour has a fair record as a sire but is less prolific as a damsire and there is little encouragement to be drawn from the damline. Furthermore, juvenile hurdlers from thoroughbred family 7 have a much stronger record when the DI is 1.00 or less. Time Voyage is the clear form pick but her pedigree could be more substantial and the yard's 94.83% clear round rate is not the highest.

Where's The Tape bf Sean Conway Unraced
Coach House (Southern Halo){1-x}(1.40) 2/1 Actionnaire 3rd Conditions Hurdle, Compiegne 2002
Sean Conway's sole runner in the sphere did not win in three starts but Coach House's sole offspring was successful. A descendent of Allez France, Where's The Tape is out of a half-sister to a placed hurdler in France and top juveniles Soldat (5/3) and Duke Of Monmouth (6/5) can be found much further back. She is also a half-sister to two winners on the flat from distances of six furlongs to two miles.

Wrightia grf Ollie Pears f5-0-0 (42) 38
Mastercraftsman (Galileo){3-h}(0.74) 0.5 Pirate Look 2nd Juvenile Maiden Hurdle, Wetherby 2018
Wrightia is bred on the same sirelines as Gold Desert and is a half-sister to a placed juvenile hurdler. However, her five flat runs since her debut on the first of June have conjured little of note with her best effort coming when a fourteen length eighth in a Thirsk novice stakes. Ollie Pears is yet to saddle a winner in this sphere from three runners although they did all manage to complete.

Strong prospects
1. Gold Desert
Reasonable prospects
2. Time Voyage
Feasible prospects
3. Where's The Tape
4. Park Lane Dancer
Moderate/negligible prospects
5. Wrightia
6. Spit It Out
7. Mesmeric
8. Poker Master
 
Bachelors Hall,
Very good analysis of Ballinrobe juvenile today.
Great thread on a division I wouldn’t normally pay a lot of attention to.
 
Agree with above. Have noticed myself taking more of an interest in the races since the thread started.

My own thoughts on the Ballinrobe race is that a) Crassus looked to be a good horse for juveniles from a stable in form and was put in his place before falling - form is decent b) I would never send a juvenile/novice hurdler to Ballinrobe - horses seemed to struggle over the hurdles (plastic types) throughout the day and mistake from Mullins's at the last left the door open.
 
Cheers lads. The division is almost like a microcosmic cocktail of all forms of racing rolled into one. From selling and pattern class flat horses to French hurdlers and chasers to store horses... No idea where I am going with that train of thought but I am pleased that people are getting turned onto a most unique area of the sport.

I will want to watch the race properly again but while Dark Voyager looked to be travelling better for a while, Zanahiyr was the better stayer so I am not convinced that the former's mistake at the last made a crucial impact.

Had an unexpectedly busy weekend which means I have accrued a bit of a review debt. Hopefully it won't be long before it is cleared but in the meantime, here is the preview for tomorrow's race.

The first fillies only juvenile takes place this Tuesday at Tipperary and it also doubles as a maiden hurdle. Those with hurdling experience have shown flashes of potential however and the Joseph O'Brien newcomer could be relatively useful. Juvenile hurdles at Tipperary are a rare beast and as there have been only three such races since 2008, a firm profile is difficult to gauge. It appears to provide a sound test when good and a very stern one when soft and with the clear round rate being very low, it may suit the more assured jumper.

Capel At Dawn chf David Harry Kelly f11-2-2 (75) 76 j1-0-0 (-) 69 64
Dawn Approach (Street Cry){32}(1.00) 2/1 Short Takes 1st Juvenile Hurdle, Newton Abbot 2011
Twice a winner on the flat for Joseph O'Brien, albeit at distances no further than a mile, Capel At Dawn joined her new yard ahead of her hurdling debut at Punchestown last week behind Quilixios. She was predictably outclassed in the end but she travelled well up to two out and apart from a tired mistake at the last, was the best jumper in the field. Capel At Dawn's flat rating is the highest in the field and there was plenty of promise in her debut effort. However, that the Joseph O'Brien yard were willing to let her go is a concern and she has yet to prove her stamina for the discipline.

Dashing Diamond bf Martin Hassett f12-0-3 (60) 62
Excelebration (Raven's Pass){20-d}(7.00) 3/2 Falling Rain 2nd 3YO Hurdle, Fontainebleu 2015
Dashing Diamond has had twelve runs on the flat with her best effort coming last time out when second in a Limerick handicap ten days ago. Contested over an extended mile and three furlongs on heavy ground, she proved no match for the controversially handicapped Dreal Deal. Nevertheless, she was still over five lengths clear of the remainder headed by Waterville Lady who was runner-up at Cork three days later. Her breeding is less encouraging however as Excelebration is still without a winning juvenile hurdler from forty-two runs and Raven's Pass is without one as a damsire from seven. Local trainer Martin Hassett has yet to saddle a juvenile hurdler and while he is responsible for the useful Mary Frances, his overall strike rate is a low one.

Half Of Seven bf Patrick Griffin f1-0-0 (-) 0
Harbour Watch (Diktat){4-r}(1.40) 1/1 Duchess Ravenwaves 1st Handicap Hurdle (111), Hexham 2019
Tailed off on her sole flat start at Windsor last August, Half Of Seven has since switched from the Jonjo O'Neill yard and was last seen refusing to enter the stalls at Nass in June. She is a full sister to winning handicapper Duchess Ravenwaves and a cousin to useful jumpers Nambour and Novarov. Harbour Watch has had five winners from fifteen juvenile hurdlers including Act Of Valour and Overpriced Mixer while Diktat is responsible for three winners in the sphere including Secret Edge. However, none of Patrick Griffin's charges in the sphere have been winners and Half Of Seven is left with plenty to prove despite her intriguing pedigree.

Miss Daingerfield bf Henry De Bromhead f3-0-0 (66) 57
Zoffany (Silver Hawk){6-a}(2.00) 0.5 Humaniste 1st 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle, Fairyhouse 2018
Miss Daingerfield achieved little in three maidens and was yesterday a tailed off last on her handicap debut off 66. Zoffany has a solid 29.41% winners to runners rate in the sphere and half-brother Humaniste was a decent winner in the division. While Henry de Bromhead is responsible for Aspire Tower, his overall record with juveniles is well below average and Miss Daingerfield would not have the most compelling profile if she is to make a quick reappearance.

Rock Chica bf Thomas Mullins f6-0-0 (38) 40 j1-0-0 (-) 93 94
Rock Of Gibraltar (Bahri){1-l}(1.86) 2/1 Chica Buena 1st Fillies' Juvenile Hurdle (Listed), Aintree 2018
Rock Chica's flat rating is not a generous one but the yard has won in the division with low rated animals. The records of Rock Of Gibraltar and Bahri in the sphere are above average and the dam is a half-sister to the decent Chica Buena. While she made some bad blunders on her jumps debut at Punchestown, Rock Chica was decent at a few of her other hurdles and was able to finish just over fifteen lengths fourth to Scholastic at the end of last month. The race has produced a winner in Varna Gold and others who have since been out appear to have at least maintained their form. She is entitled to have improved for that effort and is respected in this company.

Sister Eliza bf Gordon Elliott f4-0-1 (65) 61 j3-0-0 (-) 98 104
Footstepsinthesand (Imperial Dancer){2-f}(0.82) 2/1 Holy Show 6th Maiden Hurdle, Listowel 2009
Beginning her flat career at the end of june, Sister Eliza ran four times without much success before contesting three hurdles races within the space of a month. Beginning at Ballinrobe, she jumped decently apart from being slow at the last and finished two lengths fourth in a fairly average race. Although she was held by stablemate Longclaw, she was in the process of running a respectable race next time at Down Royal before being brought down at the penultimate flight. She was on the ground for a while afterwards and ran no sort of race eleven days later at Punchestown. Sister Eliza will be fresher for the six week break and her form and experience would make her a strong contender here.

Zoom Zoom Babe bf Joseph Patrick O'Brien f11-1-4 (74) 80
Footstepsinthesand (Sinndar){1-t}(0.88) 1/0 Blues In Cee 4th Finesse Juvenile Hurdle (G2), Cheltenham 2009
After winning on her fourth and final start as a two-year-old in a Leopardstown nursery, Zoom Zoom Babe has been out seven times on the flat since June. While she has yet to add to her tally, she received no luck in running when finishing within two lengths of the winner in handicaps at Leopardstown and Gowran Park. However, she had no such excuses on her penultimate start when tiring in a Tipperary handicap over an extended mile and a half. She also enjoyed a clear run last time at Navan where she was a three length sixth of eleven in a soft ground handicap over a mile. Footstepsinthesand has a good record with average horses in the sphere and Sinndar, along with being one of the very best sires, is also a useful damsire for the discipline. The dam was no better than an average juvenile hurdler and half-sister Yeah Babe (Yeats) has shown little in five starts over hurdles. Joseph O'Brien already has a winning juvenile filly to his name this season and Zoom Zoom Babe could be another fair recruit.

Strong prospects
1. Sister Eliza
Reasonable prospects
2. Zoom Zoom Babe
3. Rock Chica
Feasible prospects
4. Capel At Dawn
5. Dashing Diamond
Moderate prospects
6. Miss Daingerfield
7. Half Of Seven
 
BALLINROBE
Preview review
Had Crassus not fallen, it is likely this would have been another instance where the prospects list matched the finishing order. Zanahiyr had all of the right credentials and Dark Voyager had most of them while being iffy in battle. It is difficult to speculate on how Crassus would have fared but Belgoprice was given another tender ride (even if he would have been outclassed) and Flylikeaneagle met his limited expectations.

Race review
Saturday's contest may have been a maiden held at an unfashionable venue but it would probably be Ireland's best juvenile hurdle held thus far this season. The two principals were both improving sorts from the flat, had both shown good form in that discipline, were both representing top yards and both jumped very well before finishing well clear of the remainder. It is a shame that Crassus came to grief two out as he had been jumping well up to that point and was still full of running. Nevertheless, there is little reason to assume that the first two are not good quality recruits and the juvenile hurdling landscape is exciting for their emergence. The pace was no better than fair but it still allowed class to tell without turning the race into a damaging slog.

Zanahiyr is a well-bred sort for the division, being by a sire who has already shown his quality with juveniles, and coming from a family inundated with classy hurdlers. Settling just behind the pacesetters, he jumped very well at most of his obstacles and the only mistakes he made were reaching slightly at the fourth, getting close to the sixth and being rather big at the last. Though he was briefly outpaced by his main rival approaching the last, he had the class to power clear of Dark Voyager on the run-in and ran strongly to the line. He was still showing signs of greenness as he went slightly wide at the last, but he responded well to the instructions to get back to the rail and he was very resolute in the concluding battle. A horse with plenty of size about him, he may well mature into something for beyond this season since Gordon Elliott described him afterwards as "not just a juvenile". But for the time being, he is a juvenile and a very exciting one at that. An initial rating in the low 130s would be reflective of his accomplishment rather than his potential. Nevertheless, he has all of the attributes necessary to become a leading player in the division. 130

Dark Voyager is another interestingly bred horse for the division as his half-brother, A Wave Of The Sea, was a Grade One winning juvenile last season. Setting a steady gallop, he jumped well at all but the final obstacle where he took off a little too early and stuttered slightly on landing. He wandered slightly approaching the fifth, which was by the paddock turn, and though he appeared to be travelling best approaching the last (trading as low as 1.2 in running), he did not appear to give his all on the battle to the line. These quirks are not massive concerns as they did not necessarily him cost him the race. However, they may be instrumental in making the difference when a thorough effort is essential. He drifted out to 40/1 in the Triumph markets as a result of this performance but in truth, he lost little caste in defeat to a very promising horse and he will be of interest wherever he is seen next. 128

Belgoprince had been suspended after receiving a soft ride when last seen at this venue and not much use was made of him here either. In fairness, his jumping was poor throughout and there was only one flight where he did not get in close or skew in the air. He was outpaced by the leading two on merit but got the best of the mildly contested scrap for third. Belgoprince has shown flashes of promise in the past but it is unlikely we will see the best of him in a half-decent race. 86

Flylikeaneagle had some form on the flat for Mark Johnston but was an inexpensive purchase out of that yard and his starting price of 50/1 was warranted. He was green, steady and slow at most of his jumps and never looked like getting involved. He would need to contest a lesser event before his ability can be properly assessed. 85

Crassus had not been at his best on the flat recently but he made a promising start to his hurdling career at Punchestown in the beginning of September. He missed an engagement at Killarney a fortnight earlier due to a runny nose but he looked decent here. He travelled and jumped very well and had overtaken the winner in mid-air at three out. He would unfortunately fall at the next while still full of running and it appears that he almost did not notice the flight as he made no real attempt to lift his front legs on the approach. It is difficult to gauge how he would have finished as he had yet to be asked a question although the two in front did stay well which is a quality yet to be proven by Crassus. Thankfully he got up safely and if he is not perturbed by the experience, he is more than capable of winning an ordinary race. 124

KEMPTON
Preview review
The prospects list list did not faithfully reflect the finishing positions but there was a lively market preceding the race which told a couple of stories. Viroflay drifted from odds-on to briefly losing favouritism before the off and his lack of fluency was most conspicuous. Kentucky Harboot was the subject of support which was not entirely warranted on paper and he accordingly ran to a career high. I am not entirely sure why Chinese Whisperer was placed above Overpriced Mixer but there was also a move for the aforementioned which went awry in the race. Ultimately, it was not a high quality renewal and the winner was entitled to score as a result.

Race review
This race has a decent history of producing useful sorts but while a couple of these had the potential to match their predecessors, the initial impressions are that this was a fairly weak renewal. With the Paul Nicholls horse jumping poorly and the Alan King horse looking below standard, the race did not take a great deal of winning and was almost thrown away at the last by Overpriced Mixer. While the pace set was a fair one (the field covered the same amount of ground in the first minute as the listed race), the winning time was over four seconds slower than the other races held on the card. The front two pulled well clear but there was a lack of tangible talent in behind.

Overpriced Mixer was bought out of the Jamie Osbourne yard for £90,000 last year and there is encouragement on the sirelines although the damline does want for useful hurdlers. His new yard is one of the very best in the division and is starting to go through the gears, although the better juveniles of Seven Barrows tend to make their appearances in the Wensleydale at the earliest. Nevertheless, Overpriced Mixer was entitled to be competitive in this company and he was the best jumper in this field. It was not an error free round as he slightly dived at the sixth, was not entirely clean getting away from two out, and veered so badly to the left at the last that Nico de Boinville had to finish the race without his stirrups. As a result, his initial mark will not necessarily reflect his superiority and he can improve with experience. Progression through the ranks is not impossible although it is unlikely he will be one of the top juveniles of the season and his contraction to as low as 20/1 in places for the Triumph is difficult to justify. 111

Kentucky Hardboot won a handicap at Yarmouth off 55 on his stable debut in June but was last seen being withdrawn for refusing to enter the stalls. His sire had yet to sire a juvenile hurdler who even completed a race while his trainer had never been represented in the sphere, but Kentucky Hardboot was close to becoming both their first winners in the division. He dived slightly at the first, was somewhat big at the second, and got in close to the sixth and penultimate flights of hurdles. He was slightly baulked at the last but it did not affect his momentum and he tried his best to take advantage of the winner's stirrupless condition. In isolation from his market support throughout the day, this was a surprising effort. Nevertheless, he travelled well and was still fifteen lengths clear of the remainder so there is no reason to doubt the validity of this performance. He is capable of being competitive at an ordinary level but should be limited in how far he might progress. 111

Can't Stop Now doubled Starspangledbanner's place tally a few seconds after the second, but he was rated eleven pounds higher than the runner-up on the flat and represented a yard that has sent out winning juveniles. He pulled hard early and his foray into hurdling began with a succession of novicey errors. His jumping improved from the fourth onwards however, and he only began to lose touch with the winner approaching the penultimate flight. He finished tired in the end and while this may be mitigated if he learns to settle better, he would still need to prove his stamina for any track sharper than Kempton. 96

Viroflay was an odds-on shot in the morning but went as high as 15/8 in the ring. His breeding, connections and French flat form gave him a strong chance in this company but it looked ominous for him from flag fall. Having already sweated up beforehand, he pulled hard approaching the first before getting in very close to the flight and bunny-hopping over the hurdle. He did the same at the second and skewed at the third and fifth. He began to labour way before the turn for home and would weaken gradually from thereon. His jumping did get cleaner as the race progressed although it is possible that may be a symptom of fatigue as he was always careful at least. This was his first run for 273 days and he is entitled to improve for fitness and experience, but this was not a compelling beginning of his new career. 88

Little Tipsy was novicey in the early stages of her hurdling bow at Huntingdon before passing beaten horses to finish a distant fifth. She was also novicey in the early stages here before passing beaten horses to finish a distant fifth. 74

Now We're Touring once again finished just behind Little Tipsy after making a series of minor errors throughout. The first time cheekpieces elicited only the smallest amount of improvement and he makes little appeal at this juncture - even if this was a new career best effort. 76

Chinese Whisperer represented a yard which has won this contest five times from its last seven runners and had halved in price between the morning and post time to start at 7/2. However, while his jumping was not bad (he got in slightly close to the first two and was slow at the fifth), he was treading water before turning for home. He is not a highly rated recruit in terms of flat ratings but better was clearly expected. Given that the stable had three winners over the weekend, including the Long Distance Cup and the Prelude Chase, it can only be assumed that Chinese Whisperer was a big disappointment. He may be able to make some amends in the future but at face value, there was scant promise here. 29

Crazy Love had shown nothing on the flat but there were reasons on breeding, and from the trainer's record in the race, to anticipate better than the nothing she shown here. Her jumping was slow and novicey and she never travelled before pulling up after three out. 0

SEDGEFIELD
Preview review
The top prospect won but it was such a poor race that the bottom prospect would have been an equally valid winner. Hurdling experience, despite it coming in the shape of poor form, was useful for the runner-up and even the pulled-up Spit It Out still held a chance at the top of the hill. It was said that the long odds-on favourite had a patchy pedigree and the unraced fourth still had feasible prospects in light of the moderate line-up. Gold Desert's jumping was not fantastic and perhaps too much stock is being put in his trainer's clear round record.

Race review
While the race looked moderate beforehand, it looked even worse in hindsight deSpite being won by one of the likelier newcomers. The market leaders jumped without fluency, the field bunched up on numerous occasions and the winning time was over twelve seconds slower than the maiden hurdle later on the card. The winner drifted to 35/1 in running, two others went down to 1.05 and 1.26 and even the rank outsider went as low as 12.5. While the winner might be capable of better and was the best horse on the day, there is little other reason to consider the form to be either strong or reliable.

Gold Desert fetched 23,000 guineas at the July sale after earning a rating of 71 in four winless starts for Richard Hannon. Along with the relatively decent flat form, the strength of his case came in his being by Mastercraftsman who is one of the leading sires in the division. Furthermore, his yard had returned to the winners' enclosure recently and is good for sending out juveniles who do not fall or unseat. However, while Gold Desert's jumping was reasonable at times, he wandered and was hesitant at the first, steadied into the fifth, and skewed before landing awkwardly two out. He was also shaken up briefly after the fifth but he travelled reasonably well at the business end of the race and though he was ridden for much of straight, had enough in reserve to grind down the leader on the run-in. He did not achieve a great deal here and at face value, this level of form would see him struggle in most races under a penalty. However, he is entitled to improve for the experience, as is the often case with those from his stable, and he should emerge much the best of this field. 93

Poker Master jumped fine on his debut at Fontwell despite being tailed off, but was much worse last time at Market Rasen in a decent contest. That experience was put to good use here and though he got low at a couple, was able to maintain a prominent position and look like the winner for much of the straight. However, after clearing the last with a two length lead, he passed the limits of his stamina and was unable to repel the winner's steady charge. This represents a new career best for Poker Master but while there is still some room for improvement, he might need a similarly poor contest if he is to be competitive. 92

Park Lane Dancer was the lesser fancied of the two John Quinn runners, but he was backed down from 11/1 in the morning to 6/1, and was the more fluent of the pair. Racing from the rear, she was already getting pushed along after the fourth. Nevertheless, she was able to make steady progress and was closest at the finish. Apart from going slightly left at the fifth and being somewhat awkward at the last, her jumping was very reasonable. There is no reason why she can not improve but it bears reiterating that this was not a good race. 90

Where's The Tape was making his racecourse debut for a mostly unproven sire and trainer. She is a descendent of Allez France and distantly related to some top juveniles but there was not much else to recommend her. A slow jump at the first notwithstanding, she put in an acceptable round of jumping and stayed on to briefly run into third on the run-in. This is all the more creditable considering that she cantered loose prior to the start of the race. Once again, what she achieved probably amounts to little from a form perspective, but it was not the worst introduction to the discipline. 83

Time Voyage was last seen in listed company on the flat and represented a fine stable for both the track and the sphere. She was sent off the 4/9 favourite largely due to the quality of the opposition but although she was a straightforward type on the flat, she was not a natural jumper. There was nothing dramatic about her lack of fluency but she skewed over each of her first five hurdles and while she was still travelling reasonably at the top of the hill, she weakened quickly in the straight. She may well be better than this in due course but would not be an obvious candidate to transfer all of her flat ability to the national hunt game. 71

Mesmeric won a race in the stewards room for Mark Johnston but was later sold for just 3,000 guineas. There is some encouragement on the sirelines but the yard has gone a long time without a winner. Mesmeric skewed right at the majority of his hurdles and though he raced prominently for much of the way, was a spent force before the straight and was one of three who pulled up before the last. 63

Wrightia was, like the winner, also by Mastercraftsman and out of a Galileo mare. However, that was where the similarities ended as she was rated over two stone inferior on the flat. While she was steady at the first and slightly skewed at the second, her jumping was better from there. However, she lost her place some way from home and was pulled up before the last. 55

Spit It Out jumped reasonably well on his hurdling debut at this venue last time and did so here until he started to get tired. For a moment, he appeared to be travelling with intent at the top of the hill, but he soon weakened quickly and was another who pulled up before the last. 62
 
Lingfield was once the proud home of the Summit Junior Hurdle, a Grade 2 for Juvenile Hurdlers held in mid-December. However, due to the course habitually being either frozen or waterlogged at that time of year, the race was moved to Doncaster. In the absence of that contest, juvenile hurdles have become a rare sight at the lovely venue and the last such contest for three-year-olds was held when Keychain won the 12:50 for the Brendan Powells in November 2013. However, it returns tomorrow with a small but potentially reasonable field featuring a Jonjo O'Neill horse who was runner up on his hurdling debut, a Dan Skelton newcomer running in the same colours as Allmankind, and a representative for Milton Harris who won the old Summit Junior Hurdle in 2003 mit Mondul. While there is a dearth of races from which to extrapolate tangible trends, Lingfield's seconds per furlong figures rank among the slowest and the winning DIs are lower than that of the average runner.

Edebez bg Seamus Mullins f3-0-0 (52) 47 j2-0-0 (-) 85 78
Zebedee (Barathea){4-r}(1.67) No immediate jumps relatives, 7/5 Le Breuil
Edebez achieved little in three flat runs last year and his two hurdles efforts in the summer were similarly fruitless. While his jumping was not poor, he was beaten a combined fifty-three lengths and struggled with the trip on each occasion. Lingfield will offer an even sterner challenge than a good ground Newton Abbot so it is difficult to see him being competitive here after a 78 day break.

Jersey Grey grg Alexandra Dunn f5-0-0 (48) 52 j1-0-0 (-) 84 101
Rajsaman (Peintre Celebre){16-h}(0.74) 0.5 Grand Banks 1st 4yo Conditions Hurdle, Compiegne 2018
Jamie Osborne's ex-inmate Overpriced Mixer made a winning start to his hurdling career at Kempton last Sunday and while not in the same bracket as the Seven Barrows resident, Jersey Grey's hurdling debut at Chepstow was not without promise. A mediocre flat career saw him sent off at 125/1 but while he finished twenty-three lengths behind Hell Red, he put in a clean round of jumping and was not too far from the remainder of the field. Related to hurdling winners and by an unexposed sire with fair juveniles in France, there was reason to believe that Jersey Grey could fare better over hurdles. The trainer has yet to saddle a winner from thirty-six runs in the discipline but was in good enough form to land a 4288/1 double at Wincanton last week.

Nevendon bg Dan Skelton f3-0-1 (75) 71
Nathaniel (Shamardal){1-s}(1.06) 3/2 Two Miles West 3rd Sharp Novices' Hurdle (G2), Cheltenham 2005
Dan Skelton's record with juvenile hurdlers is comfortably above average by all metrics and has started this campaign in a promising fashion. Cabot Cliffs won for him at Uttoxeter while Lustleigh was in the process of making a solid racecourse debut before falling at Wetherby. All three of his juveniles imported from the Micheal Bell yard have been winners including last season's Grade One winner Allmankind. Nevendon runs in the same Gredley colours although his flat form is not of the same standard. After finishing twelve of thirteen at Newmarket on his sole run as a two-year-old, he posted his best effort when a seven length third at Kempton back in July. He made much of the running in the twelve furlong contest but was headed at the distance and was green under pressure as he faded in the closing stages. The front two looked useful beforehand but neither have been seen since and none of the nine in behind have won since. Nevendon was last seen finishing twenty-three lengths behind Red Missile at this venue in early August and the official mark of 75 looks steep. Nevertheless, his sire Nathaniel has made a flying start to his career in this division and while the damline is a classy one (half-sister to Prix Morny winner Pretty Pollyanna from family of User Friendly), it is rather threadbare insofar as jumpers are concerned. Two Miles West appears at 3/2 and Sea Freedom, a fair novice and sire of a multiple jumps winner, appears at 3/1. While there are concerns over the quality of Nevendon's flat form, it may still be the best available in this field and his sire and trainer are worthy of the utmost respect.

Opine bg Jonjo O'Neill f8-0-0 (52) 57 j1-0-0 (-) 105 109
Authorized (Numerous){4-n}(0.94) .5 Tamarix Jode 6th 3yo Claiming Hurdle, Auteuil 2016
Another runner formerly trained by Michael Bell and representing a top stallion in the sphere, Opine went a long way to justifying the market support ahead of his hurdling debut at Huntingdon three weeks ago. He did not achieve much during eight runs on the flat, but his latest second to Dutch Admiral was much his best performance to date and he finished at least nineteen lengths clear of the remainder. His jumping left much to be desired as he jumped big and got in close to several of his obstacles. It was to his credit that he would finish as well as he did and with the tendency of the stable's juveniles to improve for their first outings, Opine comes into this race with a leading chance.

Pyramid Place bg Milton Harris f4-0-0 (69) 66
Authorized (Zafonic){20-a}(0.81) 0.5 Jukebox Blues Pulled up sole hurdles run.
Pyramid Place, trained by the Milton Harris mentioned in the introduction, is another produce of leading juvenile stallion Authorized. His flat career consisted of four outings on the all-weather between November and February. While he was unable to reach the frame, his performances were consistent as he was thrice able to finish fourth over distances of a mile to a mile and a half. He left John Gosden for 27,000 guineas at the Tattersalls August sale to join a yard that does get winners, albeit with a low strike rate of 5.63%. Former inmates of John Gosden's have a poor record in the sphere with just five of the forty-nine since 2008/09 able to win races which emphasises the difficulty of extracting anything that was missed by the master of Clarehaven Stables. There is nothing in the way of accomplishment over jumps on the damline although while Zafonic mares rarely produce classy juveniles (Toprichen a possible exception), their winners to runners rate of 30.77% is the best in this field.

Star Of Wells bg David Loughnane f7-0-1 (66) 71
Sea The Stars (Dansili){5-b}(1.00) 3/1 Motorway 2nd Handicap Hurdle (128), Cheltenham 2008
Also sold at the Tattersalls August sale was Star Of Wells, who fetched 7,500 guineas prior to leaving Tom Ward's care. His first outing was for William Haggas which saw him start favourite in a Sandown Maiden won by Kameko. He did not quite match those expectations and his best effort for his first stable came when a four length second in a Kempton Novice Stakes. Star Of Wells had shown little in three runs for Tom Ward but he was a respectable fourth last time for Dave Loughnane in an extended mile handicap at Wolverhampton last week. Rousted along from the start, he settled just behind the leaders and never really gained or lost that position. His new yard has only had the one winning juvenile from seven but stallion Sea The Stars is another useful stallion in the sphere with the likes of Starchitect and Stars Over The Sea contributing to his handy 42.11% winners to runners rate.

Strong prospects
1. Opine
Reasonable prospects
2. Nevendon
Feasible prospects
3. Jersey Grey
4. Star Of Wells
5. Pyramid Place
Negligible prospects
6. Edebez
 
PUNCHESTOWN
Preview review
When the preview was written, it was done under the assumption that the ground would at least have "good" in the description. In the event, the soft to heavy ground changed the complexion of the race as it was ultimately won by the only one who handled the conditions. Rock Chica was given reasonable prospects on her jumping potential and she put in a good round. The two Footstepsinthesand fillies ahead of her did not relish the conditions and Sister Eliza's jumping was not as good as it has been previously.

Race review
The contest did not look especially strong beforehand and it transpired to be a one horse race. The pace was steady but as with the previous juvenile at this venue earlier in the season, the field finished very tired. There was a big move for Dashing Diamond from 6/1 the night before, to 11/8 favourite at the off. However, she fell at the first.

Rock Chica achieved next to nothing in her six outings on the flat, but she made a reasonable start to her hurdling career at Punchestown last month. Even though she made a few blunders there, she also showed some aptitude and apart from getting slightly close to the sixth, put in a decent round here. Racing prominently from the beginning of the back straight, she jumped into a clear lead three out. After being ridden into the penultimate flight, was kept up to her work before coasting home from the last with an unassailable lead, giving her rider his first winner under rules. Quite what she achieved is difficult to assess as she was the only runner in the field who went through the ground. It is unlikely that the form amounts to much, but she is going in the right direction and it will be interesting to see how she fares in these conditions in a more substantial contest. Nevertheless, the 40/1 quote she received for the Triumph Hurdle afterwards is comical. 105

Zoom Zoom Babe was quoted at 40/1 for the Triumph Hurdle prior to this debut outing which as absurd now as it was yesterday morning. While she was a winner on the flat as a two-year-old and was a respectable performer on the flat, her yard would almost certainly have several more substantial candidates emerge between now and spring. She had to be ridden into the first where slightly hesitant, and she reached for the sixth, but otherwise, it was a solid round of jumping. Though she went odds-on in-running, that was likely due to the fall of the favourite as she never travelled with any real threat. She did enough to fend off her remaining rivals but was a tired horse in the straight and would need an easier test if she is to be competitive. 79

Capel At Dawn was a dual winner on the flat for Joseph O'Brien and was the highest rated horse in the field. Her jumping was good behind Quilixios at Punchestown and apart from getting close to the fourth and tired in the straight, jumped well again here. She had yet to prove her stamina however and her reserves were depleted by the end of the contest. Capel At Dawn is capable of being competitive in this sphere but may only do so in the least demanding conditions. 70

Sister Eliza had shown fair form over hurdles prior to a lacklustre run which prompted a break. However, her jumping was not as good as it had been previously after she dodged the faller at the first. She was then close to the second, low at the third, blundered at the fifth, hesitated at the next and was tired in the straight. Her stamina had been questionable beforehand and while she was still close enough entering the straight, she soon weakened quickly. Sister Eliza is another who is capable of better, but may only perform in kinder conditions. 64

Half Of Seven had not been seen since her sole start 435 days earlier and was fractious before the race. She led from the start, set a steady pace, and jumped well until three out where she surrendered the lead and rapidly dropped out of the race. She was virtually pulled up but this was not the worst introduction and this reasonably bred filly could improve for stripping fitter. 0

Dashing Diamond had feasible prospects coming into the race although neither her pedigree or trainer were particularly endearing beforehand. However, she was backed as though defeat was out of the question which suggests a good run was expected from this locally trained filly. Unfortunately, her stride was completely wrong approaching the first where she got in way too close and took a rolling fall. Thankfully she emerged unscathed and it will be interesting to see whether she can justify the market support next time, provided this is not the extend of her hurdling prowess. 0

EXETER
To Fly Free 20/10/2020 Exeter
To Fly Free's second start over hurdles saw her finish second to Soldier On Parade which resulted in her handicap mark rising four pounds a month later. She had been beaten on merit at Sedgefield off 98 but was favourite, albeit an uneasy one, to make amends here. She was more careful than usual over the first three hurdles and her slow jumping saw her drop to rear. She was more fluent from the fourth onwards and while she remain towards the back, she took a more prominent position turning into the straight. There was a moment where she looked like mounting a serious challenge but was rather bullied on the approach to the penultimate flight and would lose touch with the front two from there. To Fly Free was far from disgraced, particularly as the yard had gone nineteen runs without a winner. Nevertheless, some leniency from the handicapper would not be unwarranted. 96
 
While there have been very few juvenile hurdlers running at Lingfield in recent years, there have been none at all at Sligo during the period from 2008/09 to tomorrow. Indeed, the only 3-y-o hurdles which show up on a Racing Post search for the venue took place in 1996 (Patrick Martin's 'Go Sasha', DI 2.11) and 1997 (Irene Oakes-Cottin's Amocachi, DI 3.73). A sharp, undulating right-handed track, it has been described as a testing testing one and it's course record over tomorrow's distance is one of the slower in the country. While it is another maiden contest, there is a fairly useful field assembled. Crassus bids to make amends for his fall at Ballinrobe, Made In Pimlico has form behind Duffle Coat and Longclaw while Battle Of Benburb represents the Quilixios form. There are also a few newcomers including a flat recruit for Gordon Elliott and a transatlantic import for Ted Walsh.

Battle Of Benburb bg Gavin Cromwell f3-0-1 (76) 75 j1-0-1 (-) 102 97
War Command (Aqlaam){7}(1.33) .5 Masters Apprentice 1st Handicap Hurdle (119), Sedgefield 2019
Battle Of Benburb only made his racecourse debut in early September but had shown enough in three starts to suggest that he could do well over hurdles. Particularly as he represents a yard with a good record in the division. His debut came at Punchestown ten days ago and although his jumping left much to be desired, he demonstrated good tenacity by fending off the fourth while looking vulnerable throughout the closing stages. On the day, he was no match for the promising Quilixios or Scholastic (since posted a new career best on the flat), but there were plenty of positives to take out of the race. His being by War Command does pose questions insofar as his stamina is concerned, but he did finish a staying on third over eleven furlongs at Killarney on the flat and he is worthy of respect here.

Boom Boom Boom chg C Byrnes f4-0-0 (52) 52 j1-0-0 (-) 84 89
Raven's Pass (Echo Of Light){8-d}(1.55) 2/1 Cubomania 2nd Dan Moore Memorial HcC (139), Fairyhouse 2019
Earning a rating of 52 after four winless starts for Stuart Williams, he was sold for 6,000gns at the Tattersalls August sale. His hurdling/stable debut came at Killarney earlier this month and while he was big and steady at several flights, he was not beaten out of sight. However, it was not a particularly classy contest and he has plenty to find with those who have hurdling experience.

Complete Fantasy bg Peter Fahey f5-0-0 (57) 70
Make Believe (Night Shift){42}(1.67) 0.5 Monkeylou 3rd 3-y-o Maiden Hurdle, Ballinrobe 2018
While he earned an RPR of 70 on his racecourse debut at Naas last April, Complete Fantasy has not been anywhere near that mark in four subsequent outings. His best effort this season saw him beaten ten lengths in a Roscommon handicap in late June and he was last seen on the flat tailed off at Fairyhouse a fortnight later. He is a half-brother to a horse who placed third in a weak juvenile at Ballinrobe and his dam is a half-sister to a winning seller. Much further back on the damline is 2005 Grand Prix de Automne third Sunspot and Night Shift has been a winning damsire in the division. Another out of the Quilixios race, he was sent off at 80/1 but following a mistake at the first, he was pulled up after his saddle had slipped.

Crassus bg Noel Meade f9-0-2 (69) 76 j2-0-1 (-) 115 124
War Command (Seeking The Gold){4-m}(1.89) 0.5 Indian Chief PU Maiden Hurdle, Sedgefield 2019
Crassus made a very promising hurdling debut at Punchestown in early September when a six length second to Duffle Coat. Finishing best of those who raced prominently, Crassus jumped and travelled well for the most part and was comfortably on top of all bar one of his rivals. The first and third have each won races since and the yard is currently in better form than it was at the time of the race. He missed an engagement at Killarney a fortnight earlier due to a runny nose but he looked very decent last Saturday at Ballinrobe. He travelled and jumped very well and had overtaken Zanahiyr in mid-air at three out. He would unfortunately fall at the next while still full of running through what simply looked the result of a lack of concentration. It is difficult to gauge how he would have finished as he had yet to be asked a question although the two in front did stay well which is a quality yet to be proven by Crassus. Strictly on form, Crassus would appear to have an outstanding chance and if he stays the trip, he could be difficult to beat.

Glorious Zoff bg Gordon Elliott f6-0-1 (72) 74
Zoffany (Overbury){4-r}(1.40) 3/1 Spate River 1st Handicap Hurdle (94), Southwell 2012
Another purchase from the Tattersalls August sale, Glorious Zoff left Charlie Hills for 26,000 guineas. Ex-residents of Faringdon Place, including recent winner Cabot Cliffs, have a healthy 44.12% winners to runners rate and a 52.17% improvement rate in the sphere. Gordon Elliott's prowess with juvenile hurdlers is similarly laudable. Glorious Zoff is officially rated 72 and while he has yet to race beyond a mile, he has looked rather one paced in his races. Zoffany would be the strongest sire represented in this race and while Overbury's record as a damsire of juveniles is fruitless, his stamina influence should be useful. There is not a great deal of encouragement however and the fact that he hung on the undulating Bath circuit may be a concern.

Made In Pimlico chg Brendan W Duke f7-0-0 (40) 47 j3-0-1 (-) 102 110
Dragon Pulse (Giant's Causeway){8-k}(1.25) no jumps relatives
Made In Pimlico had shown only modest form on the flat as a two-year-old and was pulled up quickly halfway through his hurdling debut at Tipperary. However, at Listowel he surpassed anything he had previously achieved to finish a respectable fourth behind Longclaw. While there was the danger of that effort being a fluke, he was inexplicably sent off at odds of 50/1 next time at Gowran Park. Despite getting slightly close to a few, his jumping was the second best in the field and he travelled well throughout. He had to be switched out wide in the straight before getting a clear run after the last but while he was never catching the winner, he ran on strongly to be a decisive runner-up. Made In Pimlico has proved that he is a capable sort over hurdles although his best efforts have been on good ground at the minimum trip. Nevertheless, if he can maintain that ability in tomorrow's conditions, he should not be taken lightly.

Sweet Will bg Gavin Cromwell f3-0-0 (66) 65
Dragon Pulse (One Cool Cat){3-d}(2.43) 2/1 Tapimix 8th Novices' Hurdle, Newton Abbott 2008
Making his debut at Killarney in July, Sweet Will finished three lengths behind subsequent juvenile winners Longclaw and Orchestral Rain when an overall thirteen length sixth. That form was not matched in two subsequent starts that month and he has not been seen since. The second string of a trainer whose record in the sphere is above average by all metrics, he is by a sire whose record is only fair. Juveniles out of One Cool Cat broodmares have a 25% winners to runners rate but while Liskennett and I'm So Lucky appear at 5/3 on the damline, there is little in closer proximity.

Urban Boom grg Des Donovan f11-0-0 (37) 59
Gregorian (Equiano){7-e}(0.50) no jumps relatives
Urban Boom has had eleven starts on the flat, but since leaving Johnny Murtagh over the winter, his form consists of five successive duck eggs which have caused his rating to drop to just 37. Gregorian is without a winner in the division from nine runs and his trainer is without one in three. There are no notable jumpers on the damline.

Whoareyouanyway rog Paul W Flynn f5-1-1 (80) 82
Lethal Force (Exceed And Excel){9-f}(3.00) 4/1 The Budgee 1st Handicap Chase (C,123), Leopardstown 2008
Success in a Dundalk nursery last December gave Whoareyouanyway the highest flat rating in the field. However, he has since refused to enter the stalls and on the one occasion he obliged, he finished last in a seven furlong handicap at Gowran Park early last month. He has since left Ger Lyons, whose graduates have a solid record in the sphere, to join Paul Flynn - the recipient of seven of seven Ger Lyons expats, none of them winners. Lethal Force has had one winner from six but his overall strike rate in the field is just 3.45%. Exceed And Excel has had two winners from eight as a damsire although one would have to go back to the fourth dam before any useful jumpers can be found.

Roma Delight bf T M Walsh f2-0-1 UsF ?
Paynter (Devil His Due){8}(2.20) 2/1 Arch Rebel 1st Juvenile Hurdle (G2), Leopardstown 2004
While Longclaw had a few races in the states, the only horse to have gone juvenile hurdling after exclusively racing across the pond since 2008/09 was Phil Middleton's Or So in 2015. Roma Delight is the latest such curiosity who had a nine race career for Jeremiah O'Dwyer which resulted in three seconds. Her latest outing came when sixth in a Turfway Park claimer back in February and while it is not clear whether or not she was claimed out of that race, she did run with a price tag of $30,000. Assessing the standard of form is a difficult task but the general idea is that an Equibase rating at claiming level is a few pounds lower than its Timeform and RPR equivalents. Roma Delight twice ran to 70 last December although her figures this year were 58 twice and 53 last time out. Sire Paynter has, unsurprisingly, never had a European runner over hurdles although his sire, Awesome Again, did produce Musselburgh handicap hurdle runner-up Uncut Stone. Nevertheless, Roma Delight's half-brother Downtown Rebel was third in a Ballinrobe 3-y-o hurdle in 2017 and her dam is a half-sister to the top class juvenile Arch Rebel. Ted Walsh has not been a prolific trainer in the division in recent years with just one winner from his last eleven, although he did send out Commanche Court to win the Triumph Hurdle in 1997, and Top Strategy to finish third in the 2004 renewal of that race.

Strong prospects
1. Crassus
Reasonable prospects
2. Made In Pimlico
3. Battle Of Benburb
4. Glorious Zoff
Feasible prospects
5. Roma Delight
Moderate prospects
6. Boom Boom Boom
7. Sweet Will
8. Whoareyouanyway
Negligible prospects
9. Complete Fantasy
10. Urban Boom
 
Apologies for the brief AWOL and absence of the last couple of previews. Sparing too many details, this lapse was largely a combination of a minor existential malaise triggered by a couple of IRL incidents and something of a burn out. While this is not within the general scope of this thread, nor the interest or business of the reader, I figured it was worth sharing in the vein of there being no shame in not being fully OK. Thankfully a brief ego death and the upcoming spectacles at Wetherby and Down Royal have rekindled enthusiasm for the time being, but it does no harm to remind anybody who may be feeling a bit sh‎it that they are far from alone.

With that out of the way, here is a catch up on recent races.

LINGFIELD
Preview review
Jersey Grey was given much more kudos than his starting price of 18/1. Pyramid Place was underestimated on account of his coming from John Gosden, but he had plenty of time to physically develop since he was last seen in February.

Race review
Although Nevendon had the capacity to be fairly useful, his flat form was somewhat overstated and nothing else was particularly intriguing beforehand. The overall quality of jumping was below par and the runners went through the soft ground fairly slowly. The field had every right to finish as they did so the form should be fairly reliable, if not of a standard exceeding the ordinary.

Jersey Grey achieved little on the flat but had shown promise on his debut when putting in a clean round of jumping behind Hell Red at Chepstow. He got slightly close to the first and fifth and was not especially fluent at the final two. Nevertheless, his round was still the cleanest in this company and he handled the ground as well as anything. Tracking the leaders throughout, he jumped into the lead at the penultimate flight and while his lead was being eroded on the run in, he had just enough left to repel his challenger. The front two pulled clear and although the third came home in his own time, he was held when hampered at the last. The standard of this form is no better than average, but it pays a handsome compliment to his Chepstow victor. 107

Pyramid Place did not reach the frame in four starts for John Gosden during the winter, but he was a consistent animal who ran to a fair level. Horses who leave the Gosden yard rarely do well in juvenile hurdles, but he had over seven months to physically develop which is a trait carried by the offspring of Authorized. Keen early and held up in the rear, he had a tendency to jump to his left and like the winner, was none too fluent in the straight. He made slow and steady headway along the back and got to within five lengths of the winner at the last. He did not get away from it quickly and took time to find his stride on the run-in. Ultimately, he only failed by a short head and given his lack of fitness and experienced, may well emerge the better of the pair. 107

Nevendon represented the same trainer and owner as last year's Finale winner Allmankind and came into the race with the highest flat rating. However, the mark of 75 looked steep for what he achieved in three starts, particularly as he only came close to same on one occasion. Prominent from the outset, he was close and low over the first which caused his rider to briefly lose her irons. Nevendon wandered on the approach to the second and from there, he made errors at every flight from skewing, getting too low and jumping too big. Dropped to third on the approach to two out, he was held to the tune of a dozen lengths at the last and came home in his own time after being slightly hampered by the stricken horse. He can improve to be better than this, but even his best flat form would leave him little better than average. 82

Edebez was last seen in early August on the second of his two runs behind Hiconic. He was beaten a combined fifty-three lengths on those outings which will have suited him better than the conditions he encountered here. Untidy at several of these jumps, he finished this race well tailed off. 48

Opine earned a rating of just 52 after eight starts on the flat but made a fairly promising hurdling debut when second at Huntingdon in spite of some novicey jumping. While he got in close to the first and was big at the second, his jumping settled down from there until the straight. He had lost the battle for the lead after two out and was about to lose second when taking a tired tumble at the last. This was a drop in form to the tune of a good stone and while the ground was softer than at Huntingdon, that should not have been an issue on breeding. Opine drifted from evens to 6/4 in the ring and given his lack of flat form, he may be prone to inconsistency. 93

Star Of Wells was initially rated 74 after his two year old campaign for William Haggas but did not match that on his first three outings this year. He was not disgraced in a Wolverhampton handicap on his latest start and was backed into 6/1 from 10/1 in the ring. However, he never really travelled with purpose and was close and untidy over a few of these before pulling up before two out. 0

SLIGO
Preview review
Four of the first five positions were taken by the strong and reasonable prospects, with the unfancied Boom Boom Boom given the best prospects of the remainder. Glorious Zoff's hanging at Bath was given too much weight but his credentials were still sound. Boom Boom Boom had ground to make up on his rivals with hurdling experience but was not a forlorn hope.

Race review
While just a maiden contest, those with experience brought with them a fair level of form. However, Glorious Zoff emerged as yet another exciting recruit in the division for his new yard. The jumping was broadly in line with what can be expected in this type of contest. Nevertheless, they went a fair gallop and the winning time was the fastest of the three races held over the distance on the day. The field finished strung out but Made In Pimlico, whose jumping lacked its normal fluency, was the only real disappointment. There is no reason to doubt either the quality or reliability of the form at this level.

Glorious Zoff left Charlie Hills for 26,000 guineas after a six race flat career which saw him earn a rating of 72 without any wins. Though he never raced like a mile, he shaped as though the stamina demands for his new vocation would be well within his scope. He joined a yard which already has sent out winners Zanahiyr, Quilixios, Duffle Coat and Longclaw this season, yet strictly on this performance, he looks as good as any of them. Always close to the leaders, his jumping was not perfectly fluent. But while the errors he made were minor, he impressed in the way he readjusted himself to mitigate against any loss of momentum and was very nimble over the last when the race was already in safe keeping. Travelling well in himself throughout, he cruised upsides the leader approaching the second last before jumping into the lead at that flight. Never so much as shaken up, he eased his way into a handy lead on the run to the last and increased his superiority in a nonchalant fashion. Winning from a field which exposed as fairly useful, with a flat profile no better than average, the instinct is to restrain enthusiasm. However, the manner of his victory over several opponents who have every right to win races of their own, the useful winning time, and the further improvement due from his imperfect yet intelligent jumping all combine to make Glorious Zoff an exciting recruit to the division. 134

Crassus saw a lull in his form on the flat during August, but followed a useful debut second with a potentially better effort but for falling late on at Ballinrobe a week prior to this contest. He was well backed to shed his maiden tag at the third time of asking and would have done so quite comfortably were it not for the winner. His jumping was solid prior to his fall last time out but it was not as assured this time. Not that it was especially detrimental to his performance, rather he required more proactive encouragement from his rider as he was less inclined to attach his hurdles. This is understandable given that he fell last time and it is hoped that his confidence can return as he is very capable of winning one of these. Particularly as he was finally able to demonstrate his stamina for the discipline. 116

Boom Boom Boom achieved little in four runs prior to fetching 6,000 guineas at auction in August, but he was not beaten far on his hurdles bow at Killarney. His jumping was rather cautious on that occasion and it was a similar story here, although his tendency was more to get close to his hurdles. The best of those to come from the rear, he entered the battle for third three furlongs from home before securing that position at the last. A new career best by a fair margin, he has scope for further improvement and is capable of being competitive in a similar contest. 111

Battle Of Benburb was having his fifth start since making his debut in early September, and while he has shown ability and tenacity, his inexperience is still rather conspicuous. Although he had yet to make any calamitous errors, he does have a tendency to jump skewed and to the right. This was less prevalent on this occasion however so he is moving in the right direction in this regard. A slight stumble after the last killed off his prospects for regaining third, but he still had plenty in hand over the remainder of the field. He may not want conditions much testing that this, but he has yet to run a real stinker in his short career to date and should hold his own in ordinary company. 109

Made In Pimlico had done only moderate things prior to September, but he posted a massively improved effort at Listowel behind Longclaw and proved that was not a fluke when second last time at Gowran Park. Though his rounds are never perfectly fluent, they had included enough good jumps to render them efficient on balance. However, while he was not necessarily bad here, he had a tendency to get slightly close to almost all of his jumps and the accumulation of these small errors manifested in a regressive performance. The ceiling of his abilities would still breach little but fair company, but he would want to regain some confidence before he can return to producing respectable efforts. 95

Complete Fantasy only made it over the first when sent off at 80/1 on his hurdling debut, but was able to complete the course here, matching his starting price of 40/1 in the process. Held up in mid division, he was steady going into most of his hurdles and never progressed into a threatening position. He was firmly beaten in the end but it was not a lamentable performance and has given himself something to build upon. 91

Urban Boom came into the race with a sequence of duck eggs to his name and his starting price of 200/1 was a fair reflection of his chances. Always at the rear of the field, his slow jumping included a couple of blunders and he never made an impression on the race. 69

Sweet Will was the second string of Gavin Cromwell but the first of his three flat starts hinted at ability. However, he was steady and big at his early jumps and was another who never got involved by any measure. 53

Whoareyouanyway won a nursery last December but had given trouble at the stalls this year and his only completed flat start saw him finish last. He was untidy at a couple of his jumps and was pulled up before the last after losing touch a fair way from home. 0

Preview review
No preview was written for this race. But as several of these had reviews from previous runs, a brief reflection with the benefit of hindsight would not go amiss. Perry Owens was described as the horse to take out of his Ballinrobe race and one who would appreciate softer ground which was ultimately proven here. Sideshift's breeding suggested stamina concerns but the record of those that go from Michael O'Callaghan to Gordon Elliott is decent. Bigz Belief lacks fluency and has stamina concerns but is capable of being competitive in lowly company. Lucky Fella runs honest enough races but looks nothing better than ordinary. Londonofficecallin is a reasonable if imperfect jumper but still needs to improve in terms of class. Craic Eile's jumping is largely fine but prefers a sounder surface and Dazzling Darren could have improved for freshening up but is becoming exposed.

Race review
The race was not of an atrocious standard, but it looked unlikely to impact any of the season's better races beforehand. There were sound reasons for the horses to finish where they did, and the pace was an even one, but the winning time was slowest on the card. The form looks reliable but there is a palpable lack of quality overall.

Perry Owens had not been seen over hurdles since August where he overcame a lack of fluency and balance to rally into third place at the line. His yard was going through a lean spell at the time and after a tepid effort in a Killarney handicap eleven days later, was given a break of sixty-four days. While he was close to the second before hopping over the flight, his jumping was much better here and did well to overcome an error at the penultimate hurdle where he trailed his near-fore leg. Wearing blinkers for the first time, he raced prominently from the off but ended up getting outpaced with three furlongs to run. An unfortunate error two out cost him further momentum but after regaining his stride, he stayed on strongly and after a clean jump at the last, maintained the pressure on the leader before getting the better of him near the line. Perry Owens gave Free Eagle his second winning juvenile from three with the other also scoring on soft ground. While he would not have pretentions to being a high class juvenile, he is a capable and honest performer who should be competitive in an ordinary contest under a penalty. 113

Sideshift ran eight times on the flat for Michael O'Callaghan, winning an extended ten furlong handicap at Dundalk in July off a mark of 60. He changed hands for 27,000 guineas in August to join a yard which can do little wrong in the division. Like several from his new stable this season, he was a big drifter before the off and running in a first time hood, tended to wander and be hesitant on his approach to the early hurdles. Nevertheless, he travelled well enough to the point that he traded as low as 1.23 in-running but after a sixty-six day break, just failed to see out the trip on this occasion. There is room for improvement as his confidence develops and while was clear best of the rest, may be better suited to a sounder surface. 111

Bigz Belief already had two starts over hurdles under his belt, both coming at Punchestown the previous month. There was promise on his debut and he improved on the second outing while being rather let down by his jumping. It was a similar story here as he was slow and untidy at most of the hurdles and this was pronounced over the final two obstacles. His form is improving with experience and the application of a hood. Another who ran to a fair level but may benefit from less taxing conditions. 107

Alexei Vronsky was bought for 15,000gns at the Tattersalls August sale, and ran six times on the flat for Michael O'Callaghan which included a win in a ten furlong good-to-firm Roscommon handicap on his return in mid June. Previously withdrawn from two engagements on account of soft ground, he made a decent showing on his hurdling debut for a stable which has historically produced good juveniles. Apart from skewing at the third and getting close to the last, his jumping was perfectly acceptable and he made decent headway leaving the back straight. He was unable to sustain his effort and finished fairly tired on his first start for seventy-two days. Nevertheless, this was an encouraging hurdles debut and there should be more to come on firmer ground. 102

Lucky Fella made his racecourse debut in late September at Punchestown and returned to that venue a fortnight later. He was beaten more than twenty lengths on each occasion and his jumping left something to be desired. Once again, he was untidy at his first two jumps, wandered into the fourth and got in close to the sixth. He was slightly crowded at the penultimate flight but that would not have affected his performance. This effort was broadly in keeping with his first two outings and while he is a honest enough horse, he is becoming exposed as no better than average. 96

Londonofficecallin was no better than a fifty rated horse on the flat but has marginally improved over hurdles. His jumping here was no better than on his hurdling debut at Killarney earlier in the month and was once again well beaten in the end. While not devoid of ability, he appears to lack the class to be competitive in ordinary company. 95

Craic Eile achieved nothing in all but one of his seven flat outings, but while he was comfortably beaten on his hurdling debut at Punchestown, he did impressive in his jumping. It was not a bad round on this occasion although he rather reached at the third and was very close to the fourth. His stamina had not been assured beforehand and from being in contention at two out, was rapidly losing touch by the last. There may be better to come on an easier track but it is possible that there are no suitable conditions in the sphere. 88

French Asset was the highest rated flat horse in the field having started his career with Sir Michael Stoute. His best effort came when second in a good to firm eleven furlong handicap in July off 75. Representing a yard which can do well in the division, he was easy to back in the market and his jumping was marked largely by greenness. Another coming off a long break, he began to lose touch a half mile from home before finishing ahead of only one rival. He may do better with experience as his dam is a sister to a couple of fair hurdlers, but this was not the most compelling introduction. 82

Dazzling Darren, a stablemate of French Asset, was not unfancied in the season's curtain raiser at Roscommon back in early August, but he did weaken quite badly to finish a near thirty length fifth. He only really made one error there which was also the case on this occasion. However, he never travelled with any purpose in the rear and this was ultimately a lacklustre performance. He is capable of better but ultimately looks unlikely to be a threat outside of handicap company. 72

WINCANTON
Preview review
Once again, a preview was not written for the race so a brief summary will be used to address what was preciously written on several of the participants. Viroflay sweated up prior to his UK debut and jumped very cautiously on his first run for 273 days. He stripped fitter and indeed improved for the experience. Hacker des Places looked green in his French races which was also apparent here. Derek Le Grand jumped right on his debut but it was less pronounced on Sunday, while Calidus Mirabilis had become disappointing.

Race review
This particular contest has been used by Paul Nicholls as a launchpad for some useful sorts in Risk And Roll (3rd in 2017), Romain de Senam (1st in 2015) and last year's winner Sir Psycho. As it transpired, the Nicholls pair dominated the race although it was the lesser fancied of the pair who landed the spoils. Outside of this front two, only the David Pipe horse looked a credible threat but he did not impress with his jumping and reportedly sustained a cut on his leg. The winning time was respectable and the two principles look fairly useful but there was little else of interest finishing behind.

Viroflay came into his debut outing at Kempton a week earlier with strong claims. However, a drift in the market foretold an underwhelming performance as he sweated beforehand, jumped very cautiously and was labouring some way from home. While he was the longer priced of the stable's representatives, he still attracted support in the market and he settled much better on this occasion. Patiently ridden, he made smooth headway to join the leaders approaching the straight and went into the lead before the penultimate flight. From there, he was kept up to his work and extended his superiority to fourteen lengths at the line. He still had a tendency to be big at the first three hurdles and was never especially economical, but there was plenty more left in reserve this time around. Viroflay still has scope for further improvement and though he may not be quite as exciting as Hell Red or Monmiral, he can still emerge as a useful sort. It remains to be seen if he can maintain his improvement on the softer conditions that characterise the winter game. 116

Hacker des Places carried a winners' penalty into the race which he earned when landing an ordinary event at Dax back in June. The runner-up there has since won a couple of minor events of his own but the overall form is only average. His debut effort at Dieppe was more compelling however as he ran close to Nicky Henderson's Paros, who headed the Triumph markets over the summer, and the irrefutably listed class Jeu de Paume. Hacker des Places had shown some greenness on his two starts in France and had jumped overly big on occasion. However, while those traits were prevalent here, his demonstrable ability to jump swiftly was not. He was fresh early without ever really settling and though he traded lower than his SP in running, he never looked like putting his stamp on the race. He was readily outpaced by the winner in the straight and his concluding jumps were rather tired ones. This was not a faithful reflection of his ability and he can be expected to improve for fitness and experience. Particularly as he looks likelier than the winner to go through softer ground. 108

Iron Heart won twice on the flat for Andrew Balding, including last time out in a two runner Salisbury handicap. His best form had been on quicker ground which suggested that these conditions would be as good as they will get for him at this juncture. However, on his first start for David Pipe following his 28,000 guineas transfer, his jumping was untidy and he went through a couple of his hurdles which likely caused the wound on his near fore. He was hesitant going over the last two jumps and this experience will not have filled him with confidence. Iron Heart's flat ability along with his being out of a half-sister to the useful Red Riverman suggest that he can perform in this discipline, but this was not an ideal introduction and may take some time to be brought along. 85

Shutupshirley was making his racecourse debut for a yard with a decent record from few runners in the sphere. Out of a winning chaser and a half-brother to a pair of minor winning hurdlers, Shutupshirley had a profound lack of pace and was getting detached a long way from home. Nevertheless, his jumping was sound and he was eventually able to pass beaten horses in the straight. He may have a future over jumps but it looks unlikely to be an immediate one. 76

Derek Le Grand had been the subject of a plunge ahead of his hurdling debut in a weak Ludlow maiden. However, he jumped awkwardly to the right from the outset and finished tailed off. There were still elements of that trait here but it was much less pronounced. Nevertheless, he was still beaten by over forty lengths and does not look like a solid preposition at this juncture. 75

Calidus Mirabilis was making his sixth start over hurdles and though he was keen early, his jumping was mostly fine. However, while these conditions theoretically should have seen him to best effect, he put up his worst performance to date and is becoming very disappointing. His mark of 104 remains unchanged and he looks in need of some time in a field. 46

Mazikeen was a winner of a Chelmsford maiden last December and her efforts this autumn were largely fair and consistent. She was steady in the market but after walking over the first hurdle, she was too big and landed too steeply when falling at the second. 0
 
And here's the preview for tomorrow's race.

Fakenham is not a racecourse many would accuse of being a theatre of champions and the seasonal RPR of the course's winning juveniles is one of the lowest in the country. Tomorrow's fillies' hurdle is no exception but since 2012, it has been used by some who have ran creditably in Aintree's listed contest at the Becher Chase meeting in December. Midnights' Gift landed the double last season and three other participants collected black type after treading the Fakenham turf. Charlie Longsdon's Local Affair finished third in both races last year, 2015 winner Mystery Code filled the same position in 2015 as did Miss Conduct who was second at Fakenham in 2012. This year's renewal may not be brimming with champions but it looks up to scratch. Two already have winning form over hurdles, three more have been placed, and the flat recruits all bring respectable levels of form. If won decisively then the winner could potentially useful, but it should be a competitive race in any event. The sharpest track in the UK, it is said to be more challenging than its appearance although the average winners DIs of 1.29 median, 1.40 mean suggest that it is still an unexacting test. The clear round rate of 97.87% also suggests that it is a fairly generous jumping test. The going is currently good and only dry and breezy weather is forecast.

Talking About You bf Sean Curran f6-0-1 (60) 60 j5-1-3 (101) 95 105
Sixties Icon (Mastercraftsman){9-h}(0.50) 3/1 Princess Caerani 2nd Mares' Maiden Hurdle, Ludlow 2014
The most experienced hurdler in the field, Talking About You has finished in the first three in all but one of her five starts in the sphere, including a win at Fontwell in early September. Initially given to recalcitrance, her behaviour improved with each outing and was a consistent performer up until her latest outing at the start of the month. There had been doubts over her stamina and she also looked in need of a break. She has since had a wind operation and these conditions should suit her well. Best when making the running, there does not appear to be any blatant front runners in opposition. While she will be burdened with a penalty against some dangerous opponents, if the wind operation has an immediate effect then she is entitled to respect here.

Topkapi Star bf Amy Murphy f9-0-2 (60) 74 j2-1-0 (102) 90 93
Golden Horn (Thousand Words){5-h}(1.00) 3/2 Daybreak Boy 1st Conditions Hurdle, Clonmel 2019
The race Topkapi Star won at Uttoxeter on her hurdling debut did not look especially strong at the time, but several of those in behind have improved to subsequently post respectable efforts. She was unable to build on that performance next time at Fontwell behind Talking About You despite jumping and travelling well for most of the way. Trainer Amy Murphy sent out Really Super to be second in the 2017 edition in this race and while Topkapi Star's penalty will make things more difficult, her ability to jump and travel should serve her well after a break. She was not the most consistent horse on the flat but the market indicators have been a useful guide on her starts for the yard.

Current chf Dave Roberts f1-0-0 (-) 14 j3-0-1 (96) 81 97
Equiano (New Approach){8-c}(0.57) 2/1 First Buddy 5th Anniversary Hurdle, Aintree 2008
Current was a cheap purchase out of the Richard Hannon yard following a sole run last year, and while she exhibited some pace and aptitude during two hurdles outings in July, she looked likely to struggle in the sphere. However, despite starting at 125/1 last time at Ludlow, and looking like getting dropped early on, she made sufficient headway to lead briefly over the last. It was only there that her lack of stamina told but she was still able to hold on to third place. Good ground on a sharp track would appear to be the making of her and though she still needs to prove that her latest outing was not a fluke, another respectable effort can not be ruled out.

Glass Of Bubbles bf Charlie Longsdon f6-1-0 (65) 66
War Command (Sadler's Wells){1-c}(1.00) 0.5 Our Power 4th Finesse Juvenile Hurdle (G2), Cheltenham 2019
Beginning her career in Ireland, Glass Of Bubbles finished no better than seventh in five maiden races for Henry de Bromhead. However, after joining Adrian Nicholls, she ran away with a ten furlong, heavy ground seller at Leicester just over three weeks ago. While she did not attract any bids following her emphatic six length win, she did join a Charlie Longsdon yard with a good record in the division. As mentioned in the introduction, he saddled Local Affair to finish third both in this race and at Aintree last season. War Command has yet to produce any winners in the sphere from his first two crops, but a few have ran respectably and Glass Of Bubbles is a half-sister to the useful juvenile Our Power. Sadler's Wells has a well above average record as a damsire in the discipline and the granddam is also a half-sister to winning juveniles Fontanesi and Colombus. Glass Of Bubbles has the profile to at least match her flat form in this new vocation, although there would be concerns regarding these conditions given the ease that she went through the heavy ground last time.

Isayalittleprayer bf Gary Moore f7-0-2 (68) 73
Nathaniel (Oratorio){10-a}(0.76) 0.5 Nelson River 4th Triumph Hurdle (G1), Cheltenham 2019
Gary Moore is another trainer with a fine record with juvenile hurdlers and being a Nathaniel half-brother to a Triumph Hurdle fourth, there is no doubt that Isayalittleprayer has the right pedigree for the game. Though a maiden after seven starts on the flat, she has twice been placed in a pair of all-weather handicaps over distances of twelve and fourteen furlongs so she ought not want for class nor stamina. Her attitude in defeat has also been commendable although she was not at her best when last seen in August and she has yet to run near to her best on turf. Furthermore, for all the yard is successful in the division, none of its eight juveniles to have ran at the venue since 2008/09 have been placed.

Lightning Bug bf Suzy Smith f6-0-0 (37) 45 j1-0-0 (-) 0 0
Starspangledbanner (Dansili){2-e}(0.71) 3/1 Satchmo 3rd Bader Preis Hurdle (Listed), Baden-Baden
Lightning Bug achieved little in six starts as a two year old and was a good dozen lengths off the leading quintet when coming to grief three from home on her hurdling debut at Plumpton.

To Fly Free bf David Pipe f6-1-1 (72.6) 79 j4-0-4 (102) 92 100
Soldier Hollow (Canford Cliffs){19-b}{ 0.57) 3/1 Video Tape 2nd Grand Course de Haies d'Auteuil 1985
Since leaving Ludovic Gadbin for €6,000 in July, To Fly Free has been placed on all four starts over hurdles without winning. Her latest couple of outings came in handicap company at Sedgefield and Exeter, failing to justify favouritism each time. She was not disgraced on either occasion, rather she was unable to live up to her mark and was quite easily bullied by her older rivals. Her jumping is generally sound and is the best treated at the weights from those with experience in this field. A horse who takes her racing well, she is worthy of respect in this company.

Treaty Of Dingle bf Sean Curran f15-2-5 (67) 70 j2-0-2 (-) 79 92
Roderic O'Connor (Sakhee's Secret){6-b}(0.60) 4/1 Surrey Dancer 2nd Fighting Fifth Hurdle (G2), Newcastle 1994
Claimed for £12,000 after winning at Lingfield on her final start for Hughie Morrison, Treaty Of Dingle was keen early on her hurdling bow at Plumpton last month. However, she was not as fluent next time at Fontwell and was once again keen when beating just one home in a Kempton handicap back on the flat last week. These conditions are likely to suit but she is already exposed and would be vulnerable against a few of these.

Volkovka bf Fergal O'Brien f5-1-2 FrF (81.4) 59
Camelot (Anabaa){2-i}(0.71) 1/0 Drole de Dame 2nd 4YO Hurdle, Lyon Parilly 2011
Fergal O'Brien's juveniles have performed creditably in what has been an excellent season thus far and Aintree's listed race has already been touted as a possible target for French import Volkovka. A winner of a conditions race at Dax in the middle of June, she was well beaten in a Listed race in Italy before returning to finish third of four in a ten furlong Toulouse claimer last month. It was following this race that she left the Simone Brogi yard for €22,500. The horses who finished near Volkovka have generally been contesting claimers and average handicaps either side of their encounters but a mark in the high seventies or low eighties is reasonable and would in turn, give her the highest flat rating in this field. Nevertheless, it is still only a couple of pounds higher than To Fly Free who, like the majority of those who competed in French claimers, failed to translate their flat ability to hurdles. Nevertheless, there is plenty of encouragement on breeding as Camelot has done well with his juvenile hurdlers just as Anabaa is an above average damsire in the sphere. Furthermore, Volkovka is out of a mare who showed form as a juvenile, who herself is a full-sister to dual winning juvenile Advisor, a half-sister to Stuccador and is out of a half-sister to Tertre who won the 2018 Prix Univers II (a listed handicap hurdle for four-year-olds). There is some trepidation regarding her background and being a rangy looking filly, may not be entirely suited to Fakenham. Nevertheless, she is still entitled to plenty of respect in this contest.

Strong prospects
1. To Fly Free
Reasonable prospects
2. Volkovka
3. Talking About You
Feasible prospects
4. Glass Of Bubbles
5. Isayalittleprayer
6. Current
7. Topkapi Star
Moderate prospects
8. Treaty Of Dingle
Negligible prospects
9. Lightning Bug
 
FAKENHAM
Preview review
The race was said to be a competitive looking event beforehand and that turned out to be the case. The winner led the prospects list and while the runner-up was rather lower, the conditions were said to suit. Talking About You did show a bit more zest after a break and wind operation and while Volkovka disappointed, there were reasons for trepidation beforehand.

Race review
Barring a decisive winner, the quality of the race would have been average and it was the lack of same which transpired. In truth, with the exception of Hiconic, the quality of fillies in UK juveniles has not been strong and the front five here make up the top six in the division behind Hiconic. As such, while this race should have no bearing on the Cheltenham Festival whatsoever, a couple of these may be in with a shout at black type in the listed fillies' race at Aintree in December. The pace was sound and the winning time was in keeping with the level. While the form looks perfectly legitimate, Fakenham on good ground is a law unto itself so it may not be faithfully replicated in the future.

To Fly Free has been a likeable performer thus far for David Pipe and her first win in the UK is thoroughly deserved. A fairly diminutive filly, she found herself being quite easily bullied in handicaps against older horses recently, but she was much more comfortable among her peers and put her experience and consistency to good use here. Travelling well throughout behind the leader, she put in a typically decent round of jumping and went into the lead turning into the straight. Though her advantaged was reduced to within a length after the last, she showed a likeable willingness to put distance between herself and her rival on the short run to the line. The conditions and complexion of the race were perfect for her here and she will do well to defy either her handicap mark or a penalty in the future. Nevertheless, she can still run with credit and if the Aintree contest is a weak one, may even pick up some black type. 103

Treaty Of Dingle is not keeping any secrets regarding her ability as her seventeen previous runs have shown her to be no better than average. Her mediocrity notwithstanding, she took advantage of these favourable conditions by jumping and travelling as well as she had done to post a career best over hurdles. She demonstrated little of her usual keenness and apart from jumping awkwardly to the left at the fourth and slightly skewing at three out, put in a good round of jumping. This was an instance of everything falling right for her but she is a dual winner on the flat and there may be a race in her over hurdles given an appropriate opportunity. 101

Isayalittleprayer is rated 68 on the flat and represents a yard, stallion and dam with a fine record in the sphere. Her only decent form came on the all-weather and she did not match that here on her hurdles debut. She lacked fluency at most of her hurdles and was perhaps helped by being able to walk over three successively flattened flights before an awkward jump at the last cost her momentum. Although she was the best backed horse in the race, it would not be unfair to describe her as being slightly flattered by this performance. Isayalittleprayer is entitled to improve for this outing and has the profile to perform in this discipline - particularly in more testing conditions. Nevertheless, whatever she achieved here should not be rashly overstated. 98

Talking About You had been a consistent, if not entirely straightforward sort since starting her hurdling career. She disappointed on her latest outing at Fontwell and was given a wind operation and a short break before returning here. Going into an uncontested lead, she got close to the first but was good over the next few which is a definite sign of encouragement. However, she would flatten a few hurdles on the final circuit and though she led up to the home turn, faded into fourth by the line. Talking About You still ran reasonably well under her penalty but unless she can learn to settle better, there appear to be few feasible options for her to double her tally. 99

Topkapi Star is another with a hurdles win under her name and by extension, a winner's penalty. While she is generally a decent jumper and traveller, she was awkward at a couple of these although that did not necessarily affect her overall performance. Strictly on form, this was a better performance than when she won at Uttoxeter although while it was enough to have her clear of the remainder, it is still not enough to make an impact in most races. 98

Lightning Bug is rated just 37 on the flat and was in the process of being well beaten when falling three out on her hurdling debut at Plumpton. She was keen early and lacked fluency at a couple here before finishing tailed off. 8

Current sprang a big surprise when finishing third at Ludlow last time but ran nowhere near that level here. Her jumping was as good as it has ever been but she never looked remotely like being competitive and also finished tailed off. 8

Glass Of Bubbles was an easy winner of a heavy ground seller last time at Leicester. However, she was slow and untidy at several of these and though she was prominent early, quickly lost ground in the back straight. She may do better on softer ground with experience under her belt, but there was little promise on this occasion. 0

Volkovka was the highest rated flat horse and was sent off favourite for her hurdling bow. However, she made a terrible error at the first where she was big and awkward while trailing her legs into the flight. She then wandered into the second, went left at the third, trailed her hind legs at the fourth before being baulked on landing and after hanging badly right handed, was pulled up after the next flight. It would be premature to write her off after this outing as it was heavily compromised from the outset. However, she does have plenty to prove before she can be competitive in the sphere. 0

WENSLEYDALE HURDLE
The Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle is a integral feature of the early season juvenile calendar and it has a rather varied history. While winners of Aviation, Calomeria and Nicky Nutjob's ilk hardly covered the race in glory, it has also featured some very useful jumpers. Its earlier renewals produced the likes of Silver Wedge, Bellator, Kerawi and Quazar while more recently, Grandouet, Sametegal and Sceau Royal trod the Wetherby turf. The most notable participant was 2011 runner-up Countrywide Flame, who filled the same position in the Finale and Anniversary Hurdles as well as winning that season's Triumph. While it is too soon to tell whether tomorrow's runners might reach the heights attained by the aforementioned, this year's edition certainly offers strength in depth. The field of seven have already accumulated thirteen wins between themselves and four have already performed to ratings exceeding 120. A race where none of the runners can be ruled out completely, this year's renewal is a real treat for fans of the discipline. Wetherby's average winning DI of 1.00 median, 1.20 mean are lower than those of the average runner of 1.33 and 1.52 which suggests the track provides a solid stamina test. The completion rate of 94.7% is also one of the lowest in the country so good jumping would be most beneficial. The going is currently good to soft but heavy showers forecast in the meantime.

Soldier On Parade bg Amy Murphy f7-0-1 (65) 68 j4-3-1 (136) 120 132
Dunaden (Mujadil){1-u}(4.60) 2/1 Out Of Control 1st Claiming Hurdle, Auteuil 2009
Amy Murphy enjoyed an outstanding summer campaign post lockdown and the horse who collected the most prize money during her purple patch was Soldier On Parade. No better than a fair maiden on the flat, he made a promising debut behind Hiconic at Bangor in July where he jumped acceptably and was the only horse to match the filly before being left behind at the business end of the race. A fortnight later, he broke his maiden at Market Rasen in a race he was entitled to win and while he was somewhat keen, his jumping was mostly neat and tidy and he ran out a cosy winner. He improved again on his return to Market Rasen to double his win tally under a penalty and although the margin was shorter and his jumping was not foot perfect, his was still a comfortable success from two subsequent winners. Soldier On Parade then had a break of six weeks before returning to Market Rasen once again for a Class 2 contest, and a rematch against Hiconic. The brief sabattical did him a world of good as he posted his best performance to date. Electing to track the leader rather than make the running himself, he travelled well with the pace turning for home and ran on strongly when given firm encouragement to win his race. His hurdling is not of the highest standard but it was enough for him at that level. With the exceptions of Hell Red and Glorious Zoff, that performance is the best seen from a juvenile this season. The burden of a three pound penalty still leaves him just ahead of this field and being flexible with where he can be placed in running, is worthy of the utmost respect. However, he has yet to prove his abilities on softer ground and with four hurdles runs already under his belt, he may lack the scope for as much improvement as a few of his rivals.

Cabot Cliffs chg Dan Skelton f4-0-0 (66) 68 j1-1-0 (-) 112 109
Gleneagles (Halling){9-f}(0.71) 2/1 Rougham 1st Juvenile Hurdle, Newbury 2010
Cabot Cliffs ran four times on the flat for Charlie Hills without reaching the first four and had shown some questionable traits. Following a sale of 18,000 guineas at Tattersalls in July, he joined the Dan Skelton yard and had his wind done in August ahead of his hurdling debut at Uttoxeter two weeks ago. He did not look at all straightforward as he pulled extremely hard in the opening stages and his high head carriage and wandering on the run-in were not endearing. He got in close to the first but apart from being slightly awkward in the straight, jumped well for the most part ultimately ran out a decisive winner. His main markets underperformed which left him with little to beat and the bare form leaves him with plenty to find. Nevertheless, he should improve for the experience and his yard has a fine record at Wetherby with half of its juvenile winning - including Langer Dan who took this race last year.

Duffle Coat grg Gordon Elliott j2-2-0 (-) 119 127
Alhebayeb (Sadler's Wells){4-k}(1.40) 0.5 Starchitect 2nd Summit Juvenile Hurdle (G2), Doncaster 2014
A half-brother to the talented Starchitect, Duffle Coat only made his racecourse debut at Punchestown early last month. While he was a big drifter beforehand and understandably green, he could not have made a more favourable impression as he jumped and travelled very professionally before coasting home by six lengths. The runner-up Crassus has shown useful form without winning while a strict line through Scholastic, a subsequent winner, measures favourably against Longclaw and Quilixios - although she likely improved since her defeat. After missing a clash with Longclaw at Listowel after being found stiff, he was next seen at Gowran Park where he was sent off a 1/6 favourite. There, his jumping was good and at times, beautiful. He made a couple of errors at the final two flights but those can be attributed to the shifting through the gears that would be less prevalent in a truly run race. He was a little green when shaken up on the approach to the last but was otherwise a good traveller and his superiority was far greater than the winning margin of three lengths. Duffle Coat's debut win came on yielding ground and on breeding, he should be able to cope with conditions should they deteriorate. Although he appears to be the stable's second string, he comes into the race unexposed, is perhaps the best overall jumper, and would have the most scope for improvement in this field.

First Impression bg John Quinn f8-3-2 (89) 94 j1-0-1 (-) 99 117
Make Believe (Nureyev){16-a}(1.67) 3/3 Kazlian 4th Fred Winter (130), Cheltenham 2012
Along with Midnights Legacy, First Impression is the joint highest flat horse lining up and has the better recent form both on the flat and over hurdles. His hurdling debut came at Wetherby just over a fortnight ago where he was very narrowly denied a winning start by the experienced Historic Heart. Tracking the leaders, his early jumping lacked fluency although it improved as the race developed and he threw everything into the battle for the line. A winner on both good and soft ground, First Impression is likely to improve well for the experience although he has ground to find on the leading contenders.

Longclaw bg Gordon Elliott f6-0-2 (82) 83 j3-3-0 (-) 120 126
Kitten's Joy (Dixie Union){3-d}(2.38) american family
Longclaw won Ireland's curtain raiser at Roscommon back in the beginning of August and each of the first seven from that win to have ran again have either won or been placed. His eleven length victory at Down Royal next time also came at the expense of future winners and he defied a double penalty when last seen at Listowel forty days ago. His jumping had improved with each run and though he was made to battle for the first time on his latest outing, he showed tremendous resolve. Still undefeated over hurdles, Longclaw's form entitles him to respect here, particularly as he escapes any penalty and is presumably the chosen mount of Richard Johnson. However, he was prone to inconsistency on the flat and may lack the scope for further improvement.

Midnights Legacy bc Alan King f6-3-0 (89) 94 j1-0-1 (-) 86 101
Midnight Legend (Generous){8-i}(0.47) 2/2 Katchit 1st Champion Hurdle, Cheltenham 2008
From the family of Katchit, Midnight's Gift, Giving Glances and Forgiving Glance, and by Midnight Legend, Midnights Legacy was bred with the intention of one day becoming a national hunt stallion. His predetermined destiny looked less fantastical when winning three starts on the flat and earning a rating of 90 before his jumps career had even begun. However, he disappointed in the Melrose Handicap at the Ebor meeting and though not disgraced next time at Haydock, his allure had not been rekindled by finishing seventh of eight. When the time came for him to make his jumps debut in the same Wetherby event contested by First Impression, his new vocation was looking inauspicious from the outset. He emerged badly from bustling at the first which left his knees and nose firmly on the ground. From there, he was never really travelling with much zest and his jumping was littered with misjudgements. To his credit, he was able to stay on having been outpaced, and though he never threatened the front two, finished a long way clear of the remainder. Midnights Legacy can largely be forgiven for that outing and he is the chosen representative for a yard which has won this race with Howle Hill in 2003, Secret Edge in 2011, and Cracker Factory in 2018. Albeit, a yard that while having a fantastic record in the sphere, is without a winning juvenile hurdler since January.

Hiconic bf Alex Hales f8-0-3 (58) 60 j5-4-1 (128) 115 121
Sixties Icon (Acclamation){1-n}(0.60) 1/0 Hi Note 2nd 4YO Hurdle, Cheltenham 2012
Hiconic won the first juvenile of the season at Newton Abbot back in July and went on to complete a four timer within a month. Her debut success was improved upon considerably at Bangor where she dropped all of her rivals, including Soldier On Parade, under hands and heels. She stepped up again next time at Stratford and while she was asked to extend more than previously, still did things very nicely under a double penalty. Her four timer was completed at Newton Abbot but she had to work hard for the win and though her jumping was fine, she did run green and was fairly distracted along the way. Those questionable elements were also apparent on her return to the flat at Lingfield in the middle of September and when she faced Soldier On Parade at Market Rasen at the end of the month, she did not travel or jump as well as she had during the summer. She also veered at the start but that did not affect the result as Solder On Parade appeared to have improved during the break between their first meeting. Hiconic is a most admirable filly at her best and as the beneficiary of a sex allowance along with escaping penalties for her wins, she is generously weighted here. However, her performances have seemingly plateaued and while she is not without a chance tomorrow, there are a few with stronger credentials. Notwithstanding, she is rated almost a stone superior to any other filly seen this season and if she can not collect black type here, she looks likely to do so at Aintree in December.

Strong prospects
1. Duffle Coat
Reasonable prospects
2. Soldier On Parade
3. Longclaw
Feasible prospects
4. Hiconic
5. First Impression
6. Midnights Legacy
Moderate prospects
7. Cabot Cliffs

Grey said:
Take care, BH, your health comes first.
Click to expand...

Cheers Grey. Thankfully it was nothing more serious than a brief malaise and am now on the other side of that particular wobble. Health is indeed vital for anybody and pleasurable and productive activities, such as writing about ones passion, is generally very good for the spirit or whathaveyou.
 
As well as sending Duffle Coat and Longclaw to Wetherby, Gordon Elliott also has Quilixios and Glorious Zoff entered at Down Royal on Saturday. One can only commend his sportsmanship and he is surely as interested as anybody in finding out the pecking order of his juvenile hurdlers.

For posterity, here are the current Triumph Hurdle prices of the Elliott horses along with the other listed participants for the weekend's races.

14/1 Quilixios
33/1 Glorious Zoff
33/1 Zanahiyr
40/1 First Impression
50/1 Duffle Coat
50/1 Midnights Legacy
66/1 Hiconic

Saturday's 3YO hurdle at Down Royal has a solid history of producing very good juveniles including three subsequent Grade One winners since 2013. Three horses, Guitar Pete, Mega Fortune and A Wave Of The Sea, took this contest ahead of winning the Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown, with Guitar Pete also winning the Anniversary Hurdle. He also finished third in the Triumph Hurdle, a contest where previous winners Mega Fortune and Coeur Sublime were also runners-up. Espoir d'Allen is another classy name on the roll call, having scored in 2017. Along with the aforementioned Triumph seconds, Gordon Elliott also took this race with Missy Tata and Toner d'Oudairies, and he fields an undefeated pair here who each looked hugely promising on their sole Irish starts. The average winning DIs for juveniles at Down Royal are 1.00 median, 1.35 mean which are each lower than those of the average runner. Despite the small field size, a few of these have either led or raced prominently in their races so an honest pace looks likely. The completion rate is fairly average but the clear round rate is one of the lowest in the country so good jumping will be valuable. The going is currently yielding although while it is forecast to be dry tomorrow, there are heavy showers due on Saturday morning.

Quilixios bg Gordon Elliott j2-2-0 (-) 133 128
Maxios (Lomitas){16-c}(0.63) 3/1 Quicuyo 1st 2m½f Handicap Chase (137), Doncaster 2012
Quilixios spent the bulk of the summer near the top of the Triumph lists after being bought out of the Francois Nicolle yard following an easy win in the Prix d'Essai des Poulains. Missing his intended Irish debut at Gowran Park, he made his first appearance in Ireland at Punchestown which he took by thirteen lengths. A big horse who is impressive on the eye, he did not look the finished article which was emphasised by his greenness. He got in very close to the first and after wandering at the paddock turn, was big and slow over the second. However, his jumping improved dramatically as the pace increased. While he wandered again when left in the lead approaching two out, he was still good over it and his stuttering slightly on landing at the last does not raise any concerns. Quilixios did not win on the bridle as he was shaken up three furlongs out and kept up to his work on the run-in, but he never really left second gear and the run will have shaken off the cobwebs. Six of his beaten rivals have run subsequently without any of them collecting a win. Nevertheless, a strict line through the third placed Battle Of Benburb puts Quilixios ahead of Glorious Zoff to the tune of nearly a stone. It looks likely that the yardstick improved between runs and Quilixios will concede four pounds to his stablemate. Notwithstanding, Quilixios has yet to take a dent to his reputation and as well as being the mount of Jack Kennedy, would be the likelier of the Elliott pair to enjoy softer conditions.

Glorious Zoff bg Gordon Elliott f6-0-1 (70) 74 j1-1-0 126 134
Zoffany (Overbury){4-r}(1.40) 3/1 Spate River 1st Handicap Hurdle (94), Southwell 2012
Glorious Zoff*left Charlie Hills for 26,000 guineas after a six race flat career which saw him earn a rating of 72 without any wins. Though he never raced beyond a mile, he shaped as though the stamina demands for his new vocation would be well within his scope and following a sixty day lay-off, he made a winning hurdles debut in a Sligo maiden last week. Always close to the leaders, his jumping was not perfectly fluent. But while the errors he made were minor, he impressed in the way he readjusted himself to mitigate against any loss of momentum and was very nimble over the last when the race was already in safe keeping. Travelling well in himself throughout, he cruised upsides the leader approaching the second last before jumping into the lead at that flight. Never so much as shaken up, he eased his way into a handy lead on the run to the last and increased his superiority in a nonchalant fashion. Though his pedigree and flat profile are fairly unremarkable, the manner of his victory over several opponents who have every right to win races of their own, the useful winning time, and the further improvement due from his imperfect yet intelligent jumping all combine to make Glorious Zoff an exciting recruit to the division. In the absence of Quilixios, Glorious Zoff would be very difficult to beat in this company and while he appears to be the yard's second string, he will be no pushover if his Sligo win is to be believed.


Varna Gold chg Paul John Gilligan f12-0-3 (67) 73 j4-1-1 (-) 115 115
Shooting To Win (Efisio){5-e}(1.67) 3/2 Najaf 2nd Spa Novices' Hurdle (G1), Cheltenham 2010
Prior to winning at Killarney early this month, Varna Gold had gone fourteen races without a win. His success was not undeserved however as he had been progressing on each start and though he fell at the last on his penultimate start, his win at Killarney was due in part to being the cleanest jumper in that particular race. He was given to inconsistency on the flat and was beaten just over nine lengths in that sphere five days ago at Galway. The distance of seven furlongs will have been too short for him these days and his win came within a week of his previous outing so he should be straight for Saturday. However, his best form has generally come on better ground and it would still take further improvement if he is to trouble the Gordon Elliott duo.

Anjician chg Paul Traynor Unraced
Anjaal (Galileo){7}(0.64) 0.5 Lord Erskine 2nd Novice Hurdle, Ballinrobe 2018
Though Anjician is a half-brother to the fair hurdler Lord Erskine and Galileo is a solid damsire in the division, this racecourse debutant is set to be the first runner in the division for both his sire and trainer. Trainer Paul Traynor has a fine 16% strike rate in hurdles since taking out a license last September but Anjaals credentials are less encouraging. A precocious sort whose wins came over five and six furlongs, he has yet to sire a flat winner beyond a mile and both his sire Bahamian Bounty, and paternal half-brother Pastoral Pursuits, have poor records in this division. Anjician can collect upwards of €230 for connections if he completes, but that would be the limit of his aspirations here.

Na Caith Tobac bbg Paul W Flynn f7-2-0 (69) 68
Elzaam (Dutch Art){5-e}(0.65) 2/1 Witch From Rome 3rd Juvenile Hurdle, Aintree 2014
The last Netherlands bred horse to contest a juvenile hurdle was The Cat Creation who finished tailed off at Huntingdon in January 2012. Na Caith Tobac ("smoking" according to google translate) will be hoping to fare better on Saturday and, more likely, beyond. Well beaten on his debut for Gavin Cromwell last July, he achieved little on his first three outings for his new yard back in June. However, running off a mark of 48, he sprang a surprise when winning a nine furlong apprentice handicap at Tipperary in September. Two weeks later, he followed up off ten pounds higher in a ten furlong Navan handicap but was unable to defy a further eleven pound rise at Naas a fortnight ago. Although he looked starightforward in winning his races, the form of neither of those successes has worked out well. Two of Elzaam's six juvenile hurdlers to date have been winners and the dam is a half-sister to the fair juvenile Witch From Rome. However, his trainer's strike rate in the sphere is just 3.33% and if Dutch Art is as good a damsire as he is a sire, then that does not bode well for juvenile hurdling.

Strong prospects
1. Quilixios
Reasonable prospects
2. Glorious Zoff
Moderate prospects
3. Varna Gold
Negligible prospects
4. Na Caith Tobac
5. Anjician
 
Not much to be written about today's race at Down Royal but a long version of "Quilixios still has four legs and a tail" should be posted tomorrow. In the meantime, here is the review for yesterday's Wensleydale hurdle and the preview for tomorrow's race at Huntingdon.

WETHERBY
Preview review
While Duffle Coat eventually started favourite, his opening price the prior evening was a huge 13/2. It is nice that the preview was able to see Duffle Coat's potential ahead of the market and the race itself. Hiconic was another underestimated by the market, going off as outsider despite being generously weighted. The preview was not all one way traffic however as Cabot Cliffs found himself underestimated. Though he was not ruled out entirely, and credence was given to the yard, his attitude was not entirely endearing although this could simply be his nature. Soldier On Parade was disappointing but there was not much confidence in the ring which is usually a fair indicator of expectations for the yard's horses.

Race review
This year's renewal looked well up to scratch in terms of strength in depth as the horses had shown promise and none were there to make up the numbers. In 2010, 2011 and 2012, a participant of this contest went on to finish in the first three of that season's Triumph. While March is still a long way away, bookmakers were sufficiently impressed with the winner to cut him into 20/1 second favourite. Quite whether Duffle Coat is at that level yet is debatable, but he beat a good field which jumped and travelled as well as can be expected for a group of promising juveniles. In a race without deadwood, most finishing orders would have been justifiable but there were no bad luck stories and only a couple appeared to run below par. The winning time was over three seconds faster than the Class 3 handicap on the card, although this would be a better indicator of pace than class as they went very slowly early on in that race.

Duffle Coat only made his racecourse debut early in September but had yet to step out of second gear in winning a pair of races at Punchestown and Gowran Park. During those contests, he always travelled comfortably and his jumping had been slick when jumping at pace. While accurately gauging the quality of those performances had been difficult, the form was at least above average on both occasions. Yesterday, was the first time he had been asked serious questions and racing wide on the turn for home, briefly found himself slightly outpaced. However, he responded well to pressure and managed to get into the lead in the shadow of the last. Jumping quicker than the long time leader, he quickly established a definitive lead and ran on well to extend his advantage to eight lengths at the line. Now unbeaten in three starts, the extent of his potential still remains a mystery. Nevertheless, three things learned from this exhibition were that he can find plenty off the bridle, he is equally at ease going left or right handed, and that he has no trouble staying a truly ran race on winter ground over hurdles. His jumping was as good as ever and the only mistake he made came at the sixth where a simple lack of concentration saw him get too close to the hurdle. Duffle Coat still has the scope to improve both physically and mentally which, given that this was the best form performance of the season thus far, makes him a very exciting prospect for the months ahead. 137

Hiconic won the season's opening juvenile hurdle at Newton Abbot back in August before completing a four-timer to become the star of the summer. Her latest victory was not as convincing as her previous wins and following defeats on the flat at Lingfield and back over hurdles at Market Rasen, she appeared to have lost some of the zest and professionalism which characterised her achievements. However, sent straight into the lead and ridden into the first flight, she quickly settled into a rhythm reminiscent of her halcyon days. There were no traces of her waywardness and up to the final flight, put in her best round of jumping to date. The pace she set was enough to have the remainder of the field in trouble entering the straight and at one time, she traded as low as 1.37 in running. She was already headed when she clipped, and was slowly away from, the last, put she still had enough to fend off the third and it was a over four lengths further back to some useful types. A credit to connections, Hiconic has thoroughly earned her black type and if she is sent to the Fillies' hurdle at Aintree, assuming she recovers from the reported heat stress, should be a very tough nut to crack in this kind of form. 124

Cabot Cliffs was one from one over hurdles going into this race and was representing a yard with a fine record in juvenile hurdles at the venue. There were misgivings about his attitude when winning at Uttoxeter and though he was a comfortable winner there, it did not look the strongest contest. These misgivings persisted through the opening stages here as he pulled hard early on, was awkward at the first and close at the second. He was awkward again at the third but he was also quick and after being allowed to move forward to track the leaders, considerably improved his jumping. Keeping his prominent position, he stayed on well in the straight to remain within a couple of lengths of the leaders at the last. Though he missed the last, he looked held at the time and there were still signs of his ungainly method of travelling under pressure. Nevertheless, he ran a new career best in what was a good quality race and has scope for even further improvement as he matures. 129

Longclaw won Ireland's first juvenile hurdle of the season and maintained his perfect record in the division when following up at Down Royal and Listowel. Though he was left with little to beat at the former, his limitations were more apparent last time as he only narrowly prevailed to land short odds. Given to inconsistency during his flat career, he sweated somewhat prior to the off and got in uncharacteristically close to the second. Aside from clipping the fifth, his jumping was otherwise fine although he never moved into a threatening position and was in last place from turning for home up to the penultimate flight. He stayed on past beaten horses, won the battle for fourth place and was ultimately not far off his best form. Longclaw's winning sequence has come to an inevitable conclusion but though he may struggle in the division's top races, it will be interesting to see how he is assessed by the handicapper. 125

First Impression made a very good first impression on his hurdling debut at the track a fortnight earlier and was able to build on that effort here. He lacked fluency early on first time out but while his jumping improved as that race progressed, it did not do so here as he was awkward over each hurdle in the straight. From a form perspective, this marks an improvement by dint of this being a much better contest although it is yet to match the best of his flat form. Versatile insofar as ground is concerned, there are races to be won by First Impression, although he looks unlikely to improve enough to trouble the better horses in the division. 124

Soldier On Parade carried a small penalty into the race but strictly on what had hitherto been achieved, came into the race best at the weights. However, while he jumped and travelled well up to the end of the back straight, he quickly lost his position and faded to finish twenty-seven lengths behind the winner. His price doubled through the day and his performance was accordingly lacklustre. Soldier On Parade is much better than this and it emerged that he was showing signs of heat stress. Nevertheless, his penalties will force him to stay in pattern company and his handicap mark gives him little wriggle room. 103

Midnights Legacy failed to justify joint-favouritism on his hurdles bow here a fortnight earlier although that run could largely be forgiven having suffered from quite drastic interference early on. However, he had no such excuses here and though he was baulked at the penultimate flight, was well held at the time and would ultimately finish tailed off. There is still time for him to improve and he has already shown enough to be competitive in ordinary company. However, his overall potential is beginning to look limited. 86

HUNTINGDON
Huntingdon hosts its second juvenile of the season tomorrow and it could be an interesting contest. The best hurdling form comes in the shape of the first two from a Ludlow maiden, but two of the newcomers were the top purchases at the Tattersalls August sale and the third is a Nick Williams racecourse debutant. Winners of juveniles at the racecourse have an average seasonal RPR of 116 which is roughly standard for the UK. Nevertheless, it has attracted good types over the years with the likes of Starluck (who won this race in 2008), Walkon and Nordano winning races held before December. Huntingdon is something of an anomaly in that while it is a fast and flat track with quick seconds per furlong figures, the winning DIs (1.00 median compared to 1.33 for the average runner) indicate that it still places demands on stamina. Notwithstanding, the likes of Compton Place, Invincible Spirit and Bushranger have all sired winning juveniles here suggesting that a blend of speed and stamina is a useful attribute. The track's 96.97% clear round rate is fairer than average and the going is currently good with only light rain forecast overnight.

Orchestral Rain bg Dr Richard Newland f1-0-0 (-) 69 j3-1-1 (113) 111 111
Born To Sea (Val Royal){23}(2.43) 2/1 Crafty Codger 1st 3YO Hurdle, Punchestown 2014
Following his racecourse debut on the flat at Killarney in July, Orchestral Rain made a promising start to his hurdling career when third at Roscommon behind Longclaw. Leaving Willie McCreery to join Dr Richard Newland, the form of that outing should have been enough to break his maiden at Fontwell in early September. However, while his jumping was fine, he failed to justify odds-on favouritism and rather blew up in the later stages of the race. Reverting to racing right handed, he made amends last time at Ludlow although his victory looked unlikely for much of the race. He was keen early, steadied into the first, got in close to the next three and was awkward at all of the hurdles in the straight. He never really travelled and drifted to 23/1 in running yet was able to prevail on the run-in and was ultimately a decisive winner. That form did not match his Roscommon performance but it was a step in the right direction and with better jumping and further improvement a possibility, Orchestral Rain is respected despite his penalty.

Alberic bg Nick Williams Unraced
Poliglote (Kahyasi){2-c}(0.89) 1/0 Khayance 1st 3YO Chase, Enghien 2011
The George Nympton yards of Nick and Jane Williams have already sent out three racecourse debutants this year, with dual runner-up Balko Saint being the best of them. Since the 2008/09 season, twelve of the thirty-eight juveniles who fit the description have won during their first campaigns including three (Diable De Sivola, James De Vassy and Montestrel) who did so first time out. Poliglote's record in the division is very strong with his progeny's winner to runner rate at 58.33%, and a healthy overall strike rate of 27.66%. Even allowing for the exaggerated quality of imports, his winner to runner rate in France is still a solid 36.67%. Kahyasi's record as a damsire in the sphere is the strongest in this race and as well as being out of a winning three-year-old chaser, there are other good jumpers on the damline including Chance Du Roy (3/1), Mater Matuta (4/2) and Taranis (4/3). Alberic is certainly bred to be a good jumper but he looks more a long term prospect who may find this race too sharp. Furthermore the yard is not currently in good form.

Camouflaged grg Charlie Mann f12-2-5 (76) 80
Dark Angel (Singspiel){6-b}(1.33) 2/2 Leoncavallo 1st Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle (L), Wetherby 2015
Leaving Mark Johnson for Charlie Mann for 90,000 guineas, Camouflaged fetched the highest price of those likelier than not to contest juvenile hurdles at the Tattersalls August sale. With twelve races already under his belt, including two victories in mile and a half handicaps, he will not lack for experience or stamina. Ex-Mark Johnson horses have enjoyed success in juvenile hurdles with Sadler's Risk, Nordano, Commissioned, Stars Over The Sea, Duke Street and Broughton all achieving RPRs above 130. Those who started at Kingsley Park are 22.06% winner to runner and 26.47% have RPRs exceeding 107. However, many of the more successful horses stayed with the same owners or operations such as Bloomfields and Roger Brookhouse. When accounting for those sold at public auction, the winner to runner rate drops to 18.28%. These figures are still just above average although the improvement rate from flat to hurdles is just 25.8% which is decidedly below average. Charlie Mann's record in the division is an above average one and the switch between the two yards has yielded winners Fin Vin De Leu and Greyfriars Drummer. Furthermore, Charlie Mann has paid in excess of £30,000 for four juveniles since 2008/09 and each of them won at least one race. Dark Angel does get winning juveniles and although his winner to runner rate is a fairly low 15.79%, Camouflaged is a cousin of the decent juvenile hurdler Leoncavallo. He appears genuine and should stay well although while the yard is without a winner in over a month, its first-time out rate with juveniles is a fair 9.7%.

Fraterculus chg Oliver Greenall f3-0-1 (79) 76 j4-0-3 (105) 91 100
Teofilo (Anabaa){5-f}(1.08) 6/7 Optimus Prime 2nd Novice Chase, Punchestown 2018
Fraterculus was a fair thrice raced maiden on the flat for Jim Bolger but while there had been hints of ability on his first three outings over hurdles, his efforts had been compromised by immaturity. Nevertheless, following a month off the track, he returned to Ludlow and put up his most assured performance to date. While he was slightly awkward at the first, he settled into a good rhythm in the lead until pecking on landing three out. He composed himself at the penultimate flight but was untidy over the last and slipped slightly on landing. This error probably did not cost him the race as he had ample opportunity to seize the initiative approaching the last and the winner was pulling away even after he regained his stride on the run to the line. Fraterculus had been entered for the Doncaster sales but was withdrawn beforehand and has since been syndicated to remain in the yard. He is weighted to reverse placings with the reopposing winner and while both horses are open to further improvement, another bold showing can not be discounted.

Jan Wellens chg Olly Murphy f6-1-0 (63) 67 j2-0-0 (-) 86 83
Dutch Art (Pivotal){6-e}(1.80) 4/2 Elusive Dream 1st Mersey Novices' Hurdle (G2), Aintree 2008
Though a winner on the flat for Ger Lyons, Jan Wellens has not looked like translating his flat ability to his new discipline. He lacked flueny at both Perth and Uttoxeter and the cumulative mistakes ultimately saw him well beaten on each occasion. While he is entitled to improve for the experience, he has plenty of ground to make up with several of his rivals here.

New Zealander bg Graeme McPherson f1-0-0 (-) 33 j1-0-0 (-) 64 79
Australia (Marju){13-c}(0.54) 2/1 Dalaram 1st Free Handicap Hurdle (131), Chepstow 2004
New Zealander ran only once for Charlie Hills on the flat and after fetching just 4,000 guineas at auction in July, was sent off at an unfancied 80/1 on his jumps debut at Wetherby. There is some encouragement on breeding as his sire Australia has done well with his early crops and the damline contains numerous good juveniles. His jumping was not fluent however and he finished a tired horse. While more will be learned of his abilities in due course, he demands little immediate interest

Sefton Warrior bg Richard Spencer f8-1-0 (67) 72 j1-0-0 (-) 77 74
Frankel (Danehill Dancer){21-a}(0.78) 2/1 Mastercraftsman leading sire of juvenile hurdlers
A winner of a one mile six handicap at Yarmouth in early August Sefton Warrior was sent off favourite on his hurdles debut at this track late last month despite the form of that win not working out. He was sporting a first time hood and tongue-tie for his hurdling bow, neither of which are retained here. Settling in the rear, his jumping lacked fluency as he either got in close to, or dived right at, most of his hurdles. He was outpaced prior to turning into the straight and eventually finished well adrift. More will be needed before he provokes enthusiasm in this discipline.

Tamaris brc Gary Moore f4-1-0 (72) 79
Dansili (Montjeu){5-h}(0.79) 3/1 Praxiteles 2nd Handicap Hurdle (125), Cheltenham 2010
Making his debut at Kempton at the start of June for Roger Charlton, Tamaris has ran four times on the flat and won last time out in a one mile six furlong handicap at Wolverhampton back in August. While he was only running off a mark of 64, he took that race by over six lengths and the third placed horse was recently third in a fillies' juvenile for the yard. Gary Moore is behind only Alan King, Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson for winning juveniles in the UK since 2008/09 and his winners to runners rate is a healthy 33.61%. That rate is still a respectable 29.54% with those bought at public auction although of the ten that cost more than £50,000, only First Avenue was able to win as a juvenile. Those formerly trained by Roger Charlton have a 23.68% winners to runners rate, including Old Guard, though the improvement rate of 25% is below average. Incidentally, last season's Winning Fair runner-up Great Bear was also trained by Roger Charlton, and his stallion Dansili has above average statistics in the division. Montjeu is a more than capable damsire of juveniles and the granddam, out of Hellenic (Greek Dance, Islington), is a sister to two winning hurdlers and to the dam of another. Though he cost a third less than Camouflaged at the same auction, there are more ticks than blanks in his profile and the yard has a respectable first time out strike rate of 19%.

Strong prospects
1. Orchestral Rain
Reasonable prospects
2. Tamaris
3. Fraterculus
4. Camouflaged
Feasible prospects
5. Alberic
Moderate prospects
6. Jan Wellens
7. Sefton Warrior
Negligible prospects
8. New Zealander
 
Here are the reviews for the weekend's action, plus one that I missed out from Friday's all-aged mares' hurdle at Uttoxeter.

30th October 2020 Uttoxeter 1m7f168y Mares' Maiden Hurdle
Flat White had twice placed third in a five race flat career in France for Eoghan O'Neill, but the form was not of a high standard and was last seen finishing twelfth in a Deauville handicap off a mark of 60.5 back in August. Nevertheless, she joined a yard with a respectable record in the division with five of the her fourteen juvenile hurdlers since 2008/09 being winners. Sire Olympic Glory has made a fine start in the sphere, the record of damsire Monsun is also respectable, and Flat White is related to several useful hurdlers including Hipsters and Please God who are both 3/2 on the damline. She pulled in the early stages and was awkward at the first two flights but better over the third, fourth and sixth. Slightly hampered at the penultimate flight, she landed awkwardly at the last which cost her some momentum. Nevertheless, she was unlikely to catch the useful looking winner in the best of circumstances but ran well to finish clear of the remainder. Not being a juvenile hurdle, gauging the standard of this form requires a venture into largely unknown territory. The winning time was the fastest of four races held at the distance on the card and though there was plenty of deadwood in the race and Flat White was in receipt of seventeen pounds from her rivals, she split a mare who participated in the Champion Bumper, and another rated 121. While the process of estimating the winner's performance while offsetting the allowance against a weight for age scale is a convoluted one, Flat White appears to have developed from her French form and should be competitive in ordinary contests against her own age group. As such, a rating in the early 100s would probably be appropriate. 105

DOWN ROYAL
Preview review
It would have been very difficult to get this one wrong.

Race review
The withdrawal of Glorious Zoff deprived the race of any competitive element to the point that the whip was only used once on Varna Gold during his vain chase between the final two flights. The gallop was fair an honest as while the winning time was slower than the handicap on the card, it was still over two and a half seconds quicker than the eighteen runner maiden. There were no hard luck stories and the field finished in accordance to expectations.

Qulixios won his first race on heavy ground in France by twelve lengths and his Irish debut two weeks ago by thirteen lengths. Sent off at odds of 1/16, only two juveniles since 2008/09 have started shorter with Friend Or Foe winning a match at Chepstow last year, and David Pipe's Great Tempo landing a three runner contest at Hexham in 2016. Quilixios had been slightly suspect in his early jumping at Punchestown, but he became much more fluent when picking up the pace. Setting a fair tempo here, he jumped well throughout and the only flaws one could pick were that he got in slightly close to the sixth and seventh flights. However, he readjusted himself very well so as to not lose any momentum and this is a trait which will serve him well. From a form perspective, nothing new was revealed. Particularly as his main rival was not as fluent as he had been when winning last time. Notwithstanding, he did everything very comfortably and even if he may be better in the long term, he is a most exciting prospect for the current season. The Grade Three at Fairyhouse next month was offered as a possible target, although Gordon Elliott suggested that he might go straight to Leopardstown's Christmas meeting. 132

Varna Gold broke his maiden at the fifteenth time of asking when last seen over hurdles, and it was a victory earned through a clean round of jumping. While he did not make any bad mistakes here, he was slightly awkward, slow or skewed at almost every flight which made him even less competitive than his best form allowed. His superiority over the third was expected given his form and experience but similar to the winner, little new was learned of him. 108

Na Caith Tobac won twice on the flat in low level handicaps and only had a fair profile coming into the race. His jumping was very novicey at times but he got around well enough to finish within a few lengths of the runner-up. He should improve for the experience and may be competitive in an ordinary contest. 99

Anjician was making his racecourse debut but while damsire Galileo has a fair record in the division, his overall profile was very patchy. He gave all of his hurdles way too much air and never landed with a great deal of momentum. He was detached with a third of the race left to run and was pulled up before the third last. 0

HUNTINGDON
Preview review
The strong prospect won and the next two positions were filled by the top reasonable prospects. Camouflaged ran below expectations though his yard's recent form and fairly moderate first time out rate was noted. New Zealander exceeded expectations but he was an inexperienced sort by a good sire and had potential for improvement.

Race review
The field assembled for the race was not of the highest calibre but a couple of the experienced horses brought reasonable form and the newcomers had the potential to be fairly useful. The gallop was a solid one and the winning time was reasonable in comparison to the claimer that opened the card. There were no hard luck stories and there were only four probable winners on leaving the back straight. While a couple of beaten horses have the capacity to improve their positions in the future, there is no reason to question the integrity of the form as it stands.

Orchestral Rain made a promising hurdling debut at Roscommon but his UK debut was fairly disappointing and though he would make amends by scoring next time at Ludlow, he still looked some way short of his potential. A change of tactics were employed here and they had a telling impact on his performance. Leading from flag fall, he set a solid tempo and though briefly headed entering the back straight, his relentless gallop soon saw him retain a clear lead. His advantage extended to some ten lengths turning for home and though he began to tire late on, his rivals were unable to make any real inroads. He has not the most fluent jumper last time out and his round was even more sloppy here. At several of the hurdles, he had a tendency to be low and awkward and his clearance of the penultimate obstacle was a textbook bunny-hop. He was better at the hurdles where he was ridden on the approach although more often than not, he was allowed to set his own stride which rarely came off gracefully. Nevertheless, his enthusiasm could not be faulted on this occasion and the performance ranks as a new career high. Life will be more difficult under a double penalty and while his current mark of 113 looks very fair, it probably won't last too much longer. Nevertheless, he still has scope for further improvement and could emerge as fairly useful if he tidies up his jumping. 117

Fraterculus showed flashes of ability on his first forays over hurdles but it was only after a month off that he was able to turn those flashes into substance when runner-up last time at Ludlow. Strictly on that performance behind Orchestral Rain, he was weighted to reverse the placings although that horse still had scope. Fraterculus had raced from the front on that occasion but was ridden more patiently here. This did not appear to aversely affect his performance however as he still travelled better than on his earlier outings and save for being awkward at the sixth and clipping the top of two out, his jumping was also fine. He was outpaced leaving the back but was able to stay on during the straight to take second place approaching the last. Fraterculus roughly matched his Ludlow effort here and while he is looking rather exposed after five runs, he can remain competitive at this level. 101

Tamaris had been off the track since winning a Wolverhampton handicap on his final start for Roger Charlton in late July. Nevertheless, he was subject to steady market support throughout the day and opened as favourite in the ring. His jumping left something to be desired however as he was awkward at the first and third, trailed his legs at the second, took off too early two out and was slow getting away from the last. Nevertheless, this was still a perfectly credible debut effort and but for blowing up late on, looked likely to take second. He should improve for fitness and experience and while he is unlikely to be high class, it will be interesting to see how he progresses. 100

New Zealander was an inexpensive purchase out of the Charlie Hills yard in July and was having his first run for eight and a half months when tailed off at Wetherby last time out. His jumping was not fluent there but other than being awkward at the fourth and slow over the next, his round was much cleaner on this occasion. He was always in the rear and leaving the back straight, was in seventh place and seemingly treading water. However, he was able to regain contact with the remaining stragglers turning for home and stayed on past beaten horses to finish less than three lengths behind the third. By Australia and out of a half-sister to a Free Handicap Hurdle winner, New Zealander has the pedigree to be competitive in an ordinary race and he may fulfil his genetic destiny should he continue his trajectory. 97

Jan Wellens won on the flat for Ger Lyons but jumped poorly on his first two starts over hurdles. He was still far from fluent here as he had a tendency to get in close and land rather sharply. Nevertheless, it was still his best round to date and though he never threatened to run into a place, was able to post an improved effort. He has the engine to be a feasible proposition in this discipline but more assured jumping would be a prerequisite. 95

Camouflaged was the most expensive juvenile hurdling prospect purchased at the Tattersalls August sale having earned a flat rating of 76 for Mark Johnston. However, his yard had not been in the greatest form recently and he was attempting to overcome a break of over two months. Running in first time cheekpieces, his jumping was not terrible but its lack of fluency was befitting of one without much experience. He was still in contention leaving the back straight but his in-running low of 2.8 was not justifiable and after knuckling on landing three from home, he quickly lost his position. There should be better to come. 79

Sefton Warrior won a weak Yarmouth handicap in August and was sent off favourite on his hurdles debut at Huntingdon in late September. However, he lacked fluency there and never left the rear of the field. His jumping was poor again as he was low when diving at the first, slightly skewed over the second, trailed his hind legs through the fourth and was tired by the fifth. He did lead briefly entering the back but that did not last long as he soon weakened rapidly with half of the race left to be run. 0

Alberic has a classic French jumping pedigree and represented a yard which can do well with racecourse debutants. However, he jumped awkwardly in the rear and was pulled up before the home straight. 0

And here is the preview for tomorrow's race at Fairyhouse.

Juvenile hurdling returns to Fairyhouse tomorrow in the form of a maiden hurdle. One of the strongest racecourses in the division, this particular contest has been held for the last four years and has a reasonable history. Often used as a launchpad for the Grade Three at the Hatton's Grace meeting, the double was completed in 2016 by Landofhopeandglory, and last season by Cerberus with both horse finishing runner-up in Grade Ones later in the season. Tomorrow's edition of the race appears to lack some of that quality as none of the runners have yet to show enough to suggest they can be pattern class. Nevertheless, there have been worse fields assembled so an impressive winner could still become fairly useful. Fairyhouse would be one of the least demanding tracks in the country and the average winning DIs for juveniles of 1.22 median, 1.28 mean would attest to this premise. The clear round rate of 97.87% is the second highest in Ireland, making it more forgiving than most other courses. The going is currently forecast to be soft.

Alexei Vronsky bg Padraig Roche f6-1-0 (68) 71 j1-0-0 (-) 103 102
Power (Fasliyev){11-d}(3.00) 0.5 Maria Padilla 7th 3YO Maiden Hurdle, Thurles 2013
Christy Roche won Grade One juveniles with Lethal Weapon and Grimes and his son Padraig won a Grade 3 with the ill-fated Way Back Home in his first season taking over the family business. The stable generally fared better with hometrained horses than those purchased at the sales although they will be bidding for better fortunes with Alexei Vronsky who was by the same sire as the aforementioned Way Back When. Bought for 15,000gns at the Tattersalls August sale, Alexei Vronsky ran six times on the flat for Michael O'Callaghan which included a win in a ten furlong Roscommon handicap on his return in mid June. Running off a mark of 62, he beat Dazzling Darren by a nose with subsequent hurdle winners Little Brother and See The Eagle Fly further behind. While he did not look particularly recalcitrant, he did make a meal of winning the race and was beaten in two subsequent handicaps over the same trip. He was also withdrawn from two engagements on account of soft ground. Three of Power's ten juveniles have been winners thus far, including Our Power and the aforementioned Way back Home. Fasliyev gets winners as a damsire but his record is below average and while Bindaree (5/3), Torpichen (5/4) and Thomas Hobson (5/5) are distant relatives, there are no notable jumps relatives on the immediate damline. Alexei Vronsky's hurdling debut came at Galway ten days ago and apart from skewing at the third and getting close to the last, his jumping was perfectly acceptable and he made decent headway leaving the back straight. He was unable to sustain his effort and finished fairly tired on his first start for seventy-two days. There can be better to come but he would likely be happier on a sounder surface.

Bigz Belief bg Matthew J Smith f9-0-0 (53) 61 j3-0-2 (-) 107 107
Make Believe (Falco){3-d}(2.00) 2/1 Camouflage 4th Maiden Hurdle, Navan 2007
Bigz Belief was unable to trouble the judge in nine runs on the flat but he has already proven himself to be better over hurdles. His first two outings in the sphere came at Punchestown in September. He showed up for a long way first time before tiring late on, and improved on the second outing while being rather let down by his jumping. It was a similar story last time at Galway as he was slow and untidy at most of the hurdles, a trait pronounced over the final two obstacles. His form is improving with experience and the hood he wore ten days ago is retained. Furthermore, the yard has had three winners in the interim and Keith Donoghue takes the mount here. His jumping would still need to improve but he would not be readily ruled out in this company.

Complete Fantasy bg Peter Fahey f5-0-0 (57) 70 j2-0-0 (-) 84 91
Make Believe (Night Shift){42}(1.67) 0.5 Monkeylou 3rd 3-y-o Maiden Hurdle, Ballinrobe 2018
Initially rated 65 on the flat due to an anomalous debut outing as a two year old, his mark has since slipped to a more realistic 57. Making his hurdling debut at Punchestown, he only made it to the first where a mistake saw his saddle slip and he was pulled up shortly afterwards. He was next seen in a Sligo maiden where he was able to complete the course, albeit some thirty-seven lengths behind Glorious Zoff. Held up in mid division, he was steady going into most of his hurdles and never progressed into a threatening position. There was something for him to build upon but he would need to show a fair deal more before getting competitive at this level.

Craic Eile bg David Kenneth Budds f7-0-1 (55) 50 j2-0-0 (-) 92 93
Palavicini (Invincible Spirit){1-k}(0.63) 0.5 Elysian Plains 1st 3-Y-O Hurdle, Killarney 2018
Achieving nothing in all but one of his seven flat outings, Craic Eile was comfortably beaten on his hurdling debut at Punchestown although he did impress in his jumping. Returning in the same Galway contest as Sideshift, Bigz Belief and Alexei Vronsky, It was not a bad round on that occasion although he rather reached at the third and was very close to the fourth. His stamina had not been assured beforehand and from being in contention at two out, was rapidly losing touch by the last. There may be better to come on this easier track but it is possible that there are no suitable conditions in the sphere and his better form has been on better ground.

Finsceal Blue bg W J Austin j2-0-0 (-) 43 49
Finsceal Fior (Azamour){3-l}(1.09) 6/5 Sadler's Risk 1st Star Chase (G3), Punchestown 2016
Making his racecourse debut in a hurdle race at Listowel in September, Finsceal Blue did not have the most compelling profile save for his sire's useful record in the sphere from limited opportunities. He jumped poorly in the rear on that occasion and repeated the dose next time at Punchestown prior to unseating two out. He has plenty to prove at this juncture.

Flylikeaneagle bg Eamonn O'Connell f9-2-2 (70) 86 j1-0-0 (-) 84 85
Free Eagle (Shamardal){6-f}(1.20) 2/1 Harp Player 7th Juvenile Hurdle, Market Rasen 1999
Twice a winner on the flat as a two-year-old for Mark Johnston, he did not show anything in a couple of handicaps on his return and was sold out of that yard for 4,000 guineas at the Tattersalls July sale. Well beaten on his first outing for the new yard in a ten furlong Cork handicap, his hurdling debut came in a Ballinrobe maiden which featured Zanahiyr, Dark Voyager and Crassus. He was unsurprisingly outclassed and was green and steady over most of his hurdles before finishing last of the four finishers. Free Eagle has made a fine start to his career as a sire in the division and this race may tell us more about his abilities. However, he still has some way to go before he rekindles his two-year-old form.

Jeff Kidder bg Noel Meade f8-1-2 (68) 73 j2-0-2 (-) 115 114
Hallowed Crown (Rail Link){1-l}(0.71) no jumps relatives
Jeff Kidder was a fair maiden prior to making his hurdles bow in the season's curtain raiser at Roscommon, and was able to get off the mark next time on the flat in a soft/heavy ground Bellewstown handicap in late August. After a fair return to hurdles at Punchestown, he was last seen finishing a staying on fifth in a yielding to soft ground Leopardstown handicap seventeen days ago. He had failed to justify favourtism on each of his hurdles outings but while he was not an entirely justifiable favourite on either occasion, they were each very creditable efforts. At Roscommon, he was able to split a pair of multiple winners in Longclaw and Orchestral Rain, then at Punchestown, he found only Scholastic (receiving seven pounds) too good while finishing eight lengths clear of Bigz Belief with comprehensive Tipperary winner Rock Chica a further length back in fourth. The going on each occasion was no softer than yielding and Jeff Kidder's flat form suggests that he will appreciate the softer conditions here. There are concerns about his jumping, especially as he put in a quite lamentable round on his latest start. Nevertheless, of Noel Meade's sixteen winners in the division since the 2008/09 season, five got off the mark at the third time of asking and Jeff Kidder's experience could see him improve in that department - particularly if he jumps better in the softer ground.

Sideshift bg Gordon Elliott f8-1-1 (66) 73 j1-0-1 (-) 111 111
Sidestep (Makfi){16-c}(1.22) 3/1 Purchasing Power 2nd Peter O'Sullevan Juvenile Hurdle (G3), Fairyhouse 1997
Sideshift ran eight times on the flat for Michael O'Callaghan, winning an extended ten furlong handicap at Dundalk in July off a mark of 60. He changed hands for 27,000 guineas in August to join a yard which can do little wrong in the division. Like several from his new stable this season, he was a big drifter before the off first time out at Galway, and running in a first time hood, tended to wander and be hesitant on his approach to the early hurdles. Nevertheless, he travelled well enough to the point that he traded as low as 1.23 in-running. However, after a sixty-six day break he just failed to last out the trip on that occasion. He will have stripped fitter for the outing and his jumping should improve for the experience so a big run would be no surprise. Incidentally, while Sideshift has very few jumpers on the immediate damline, his seventh dam was a half-sister to Farmer's Boy who was third behind Eborneezer in the 1961 Champion Hurdle.

Sweet Will bg Gavin Cromwell f3-0-0 (66) 65 j1-0-0 (-) 46 53
Dragon Pulse (One Cool Cat){3-d}(2.43) 2/1 Tapimix 8th Novices' Hurdle, Newton Abbott 2008
Gavin Cromwell has won races at Fairyhouse with the likes of Espoir d'Allen, Wolf Prince and Jer's Girl, although his record in this particular contest is less exciting and Sweet Will looks unlikely to break the mould. Though he finished three lengths behind Longclaw and Orchestral Rain on his racecourse debut at Killarney in July, he was unable to match that form in two subsequent outings and was a tailed off last of eight finishers on his hurdling debut at Sligo eleven days ago.

Toughari bg Thomas Mullins f7-1-0 (63) 66 j1-0-0 (-) 82 87
Tough As Nails (Imperial Ballet){14-e}(1.00) 2/2 Golden Sage 1st Grande Course de Haies des 4 Ans (L), Cagnes Sur Mer 2018
After achieving little in his first six starts on the flat, Toughari lacked fluency during an uninspired debut outing over hurdles at Killarney early last month. However, with the application of first time blinkers, he ran away with a handicap at this venue over an extended thirteen furlongs in the mud off a mark of 53. He was still green on that occasion but stayed on very strongly. Representing a yard with a solid record in the division, indeed one whose six winning juveniles all failed to win first time, Toughari can leave his Killarney effort behind on a track and surface which are likely to suit.

Urban Boom grg Des Donovan f11-0-0 (37) 59 j1-0-0 (-) 62 69
Gregorian (Equiano){7-e}(0.50) no jumps relatives
Leaving Johnny Murthagh as a two year old with a rating of 52, that mark dropped to 37 after five successive duck eggs from distances of five furlongs to a mile and a half. Always in the rear on his jumps debut at Sligo, his slow hurding included a couple of blunders and he eventually finished tailed off.

Yulong Voice bbg Shane Nolan f9-1-1 (71) 78 j3-0-1 (-) 99 106
Poet's Voice (Refuse To Bend){1-e}(1.00) 2/1 Dariak 4th Galway Hurdle (122), Galway 2008
Rated 79 after winning a Bellewstown maiden for Jessica Harrington last August, his mark dropped to 71 after a series of lesser efforts without being entirely disgraced. A half-brother to a winning hurdler with a damline which includes Dariak (2/1), Forth Bridge (3/3), Shaneshill (4/2) and Darlan (4/2), Yulong Voice has the pedigree to make a hurdler and was going in the right direction on his first two starts in the discipline. While last of three finishers at Down Royal, he built on that effort next time at Punchestown when fifth behind Duffle Coat but a long way ahead of a beaten Bogz Belief. He attempted to make the running when last seen back at Punchestown five weeks ago but his jumping did not justify those tactics and after getting headed two out, would eventually finish tailed off. His yard was back among the winners recently and it is reasonable to ignore his latest run.

Saga Malta bf Barry J Fitzgerald Unraced
War Command (Exceed And Excel){22-b}(2.11) 2/1 Juno The Muffinman 1st Juvenile Hurdle, Warwick 2012
The only newcomer in the field, from the family of Always Friendly and Desert Encounter, Saga Malta is out of a half-sister to winning novice Know The Law, and winning juvenile Juno The Muffinman. The granddam is also a half-sister to the fair Warsaw Pact. War Command is still without a winner in this discipline but some have shown promise, and damsire Exceed And Excel has a fair 16.67% strike rate with his broodmares' juveniles. However, this will be Barry Fitzgerald's first juvenile hurdler and he has yet to saddle a placed hurdler from five outings. Saga Malta's pedigree is fair, but it is nowhere near enough to command significant interest.

Waterville Lady bf Mrs John Harrington f15-0-4 (68) 68 j2-0-0 (-) 83 90
Starspangledbanner (Marju){1-k}(0.71) 2/1 Gladiator King 1st Maiden Hurdle, Leopardstown 2015
Jessica Harrington has a fine record with juvenile hurdlers over the years, but her recent attentions have lay elsewhere as she has only trained two winning juveniles since the 2017/18 season. Waterville Lady ended her first spell on the flat with a reduced rating of 65 and following two outings over hurdles, a pair of placed efforts saw her regained her mark of 68. Her jumping during those two hurdles spins was poor both at the flights she unseated and fell, and the ones where she remained upright. Encouragement may be drawn from the fact that the yard is now in better form, and there may be improvement for the switch to softer ground. There is still plenty of improvement required but a better performance, particularly in receipt of a sex allowance, can not be dismissed outright.

Strong prospects
1. Jeff Kidder
Reasonable prospects
2. Sideshift
3. Bigz Belief
4. Toughari
Feasible prospects
5. Yulong Voice
6. Waterville Lady
7. Alexei Vronsky
Moderate prospects
8. Craic Eile
9. Flylikeaneagle
10. Complete Fantasy
Negligible prospects
11. Saga Malta
12. Sweet Will
13. Urban Boom
14. Finsceal Blue
 
You provide a very solid guide, BH, with some excellent pointers, Duffle Coat on Friday being not the least of them.
 
BH, I totally concur with Grey. You clearly put a lot of work in to produce such high quality informative posts. Thanks!
 
Much appreciated. If I could have any words used to describe my posts, solid and informative would be right up there :)

MUSSELBURGH
Scotland's second juvenile hurdle of the season, and the first to be held near the capital, is due to take place tomorrow. Becoming a maiden contest last season, a juvenile hurdle has been held at this meeting seven times since 2012 without making an impact on future races with only Big McIntosh, second in 2015, going on to contest the Triumph where he finished last at 150/1. Tomorrow's edition looks fairly ordinary from a class perspective but it does feature four winners from the flat and a 76 rated maiden so it is at least up to standard. Bordering Midlothian, Musselburgh is very much a middling track when it comes to average winning DIs, seasonal RPRs and clear round rates. A flat track with sharp bends, there is a demonstrable advantage to racing handy which especially the case on the sound surface which is currently forecast.

Breguet Boy brg Keith Dalgleish f15-3-3 (77) 81
Requinto (Dubai Destination){12-c}(0.38) 2/1 Russian Tsar 1st 4yo Maiden Hurdle, Ballinrobe 2005
A three time winner on the flat, Breguet Boy comes into the race with the second highest flat rating in the field. The first of those two wins came before February with success in a Redcar nursery back in September supplemented with another handicap victory at Wolverhampton in mid January. He then went five races without success but was never beaten further than five lengths and he added a third win to his tally in a Hamilton handicap off 74 on his penultimate start. No winners have come out of that race and he was last seen finishing fourth of nine in a ten furlong Ayr handicap four weeks ago. Though he has a dosage index of just 0.38, his is a good example of their occasional limitations as neither his sires nor grandsires are stamina influences and Breguet Boy himself only raced beyond nine furlongs for the first time on his latest start. Requinto has yet to have a winning juvenile hurdler but Billy The Squid has acquitted himself well this season and Cool Colonnade (out of a Montjeu mare) did win as a four-year-old. Dubai Destination has three winning juveniles from nine and the dam is a half sister to another four-year-old winner in Russian Tsar. Further back on the damline are the top class French jumpers Karly Flight (4/2), Sunny Flight (4/3) and Golden Flight (4/3). Keith Dalgleigh has four wins and six places from the twenty juveniles he has sent to Musselburgh and his first time strike rate is a respectable 15.38% which reads favourably compared to his still decent overall strike rate of 13.16%. However, though Billy Garritty recently rode a winner for the yard at Hexham, Breguet Boy would appear to be the second string. Furthermore, while he appears honest enough, there are concerns that Breguet Boy has a tendency to look around during his races which is a trait fraught with hazard when hurdles are involved.

Castel Gandolfo grg Fergal O'Brien 3-0-2 (76) 76
Dark Angel (Camacho){21-a}(3.00) 1/1 Teqany 1st Handicap Hurdle (135), Bangor 2020
Fergal O'Brien has done well this season and while he recently went into a but of a lull, the drought was ended with a cross country double on Sunday. He has also fared well with his juveniles with creditable sorts Naizagai and Billy The Squid and he spoke highly of new recruit Castel Gandolfo in a recent stable tour. A full-brother to the yard's useful hurdler Teqany, Castel Gandolfo raced three times on the flat for Jessica Harrington during the summer, reaching the first four on each occasion. His first outing was in a Gowran Park maiden over an extended nine furlongs where he led from the start before being headed at the distance but keeping on for a clear second. The field was comprised of newcomers and has yet to produce any subsequent wins with the winner currently rated 75. He was then fourth at Roscommon behind three subsequent winners and followed that up with a third at Galway in the beginning of August. Once again, the form of that race is only fair but he did finish ahead of Crassus who has become a fair hurdler in Ireland. Dark Angel gets winners in the sphere and while he is not the most prolific, that negative is rendered moot by the aforementioned Teqany who won on his hurdling debut as a four-year-old. Capable on a range of surfaces, Castel Gandolfo's ability to front run will be a useful asset and though he still looked fairly green when last seen, this may have been mitigated by a subsequent gelding operation and three months to mature.

Castle View chg Jim Goldie unraced
Casamento (Invincible Spirit){1-w}(2.20) 2/1 Book Of Invasions 1st Novices' Hurdle, Huntingdon 2019
Jim Goldie won this race with Sir Chauvelin in 2015 and sent Silver Duke to finish third in the previous year's renewal. His representative tomorrow will be Castle View who comes into the contest without any racing experience. This was not by design however, as the already gelded Castle View twice visited racecourses during the summer. First time at Ayr, he unseated his rider and ran loose before the start before a trip to Musselburgh saw him refuse to enter the stalls. There is encouragement on the sirelines as Casamento is an above average stallion in the division and Invincible Spirit is a much better damsire than he is a sire. However, while the profile is fairly reasonable for a newcomer, that is only in isolation from his public shenanigans.

Clay Regazzoni bg Keith Dalgleish f19-1-6 (70) 79 j1-0-0 (-) 68 81
Due Diligence (Kheleyf){6-b}(3.00) 2/1 Age Of Glory 1st 4yo Maiden Hurdle, Killarney 2013
Clay Regazzoni ran nineteen times on the flat and while his run in a Chesham Stakes was never vindicated, he was consistent in that sphere and his rating of 70 is a fair reflection of his ability. However, while related to the likes of French Holly and Deano's Beeno (both 4/2), his hurdling debut at Wetherby was fairly lamentable. After blundering at the second, he jumped slowly, awkwardly and/or to the right at most of his other jumps. In fairness, he was unfancied beforehand and his yard was out of form at the time. The latter factor is no longer the case and with Brian Hughes taking the ride, a better performance would not be unexpected.

Jack Ryan bg John Ryan f10-1-1 (64) 64
Harbour Watch (Rock Of Gibraltar){19-c}(3.00) 3/1 Cuban Piece 1st Juvenile Maiden Hurdle, Bangor 2011
John Ryan has has three runners in this race resulting in a third, a second and 2018 winner Needs To Be Seen. A veteran of ten races on the flat, Jack Ryan's sixth outing saw him finish second in a seven furlong Wolverhampton handicap and his duck was broken on his penultimate start in a heavy ground Yarmouth contest over the same distance. Running in first time blinkers off a mark of 59, he made steady progress at the distance and took the lead half a furlong out to beat his thirteen rivals by a length and a quarter. He was last seen six days ago running on to finish fourth in a seven furlong Lingfield handicap, although he was overtaken in the process suggesting he was not an unlucky fast finisher. Though he has yet to tackled any distance beyond a mile, he should not want for stamina at this trip but there is a discernible preference for softer ground on form. Harbour Watch (Act Of Valour, Overpriced Mixer) is a solid sire in the division, albeit with a below average improvement rate. The granddam is a half-sister to winning juvenile Cuban Piece and useful chasers Bun Doran and Shantou Village appear further back at 4/3. Jack Ryan's profile is a credible one for the discipline but he has ground to make up on a few of these rivals and he would prefer that ground to tenderise.

Nuriel bg Oliver Greenall j1-0-0 (-) 60 73
Nutan (Lavirco){8-f}(0.67) 2/1 Noble Hawk 1st 4yo Hurdle, Strasbourg 2006
Nuriel's wind had already been done prior to his racecourse debut at Ludlow four weeks ago. Wearing a tongue tie first time out, the unfancied Nuriel was very cautious over his hurdles and was never able to get into the contest. He can improve for the experience but though a clear round looks assured, his Germanic pedigree suggests that his abilities may be better assessed in more testing conditions.

Park Lane Dancer brg John Quinn f6-0-0 (52) 57 j1-0-1 (-) 82 90
Elzaam (Iffraaj){8-f}(1.18) 3/1 Wise Words 2nd 4yo Hurdle, Roscommon 2003
John Quinn has five wins from sixteen runs in Musselburgh juvenile hurdles since 2008/09 and while he has yet to have a winner in the sphere this season, three have been placed including Park Lane Dancer who finished third at Sedgefield seventeen days ago. Although he was the lesser fancied of the stable's two runners in the race, he essentially halved in price during the day and was the more fluent of the pair. Apart from going slightly left at the fifth and being somewhat awkward at the last, his jumping was very reasonable and though he was outpaced at stages, he made steady progress to finish a never nearer three length third. Rated only 52 after six runs on the flat, his Sedgefield performance likely marked a career best and he is entitled to improve for the experience. However, while that form has yet to be tested, it looked like a very moderate race and would probably be the worst held thus far this season.

Red Missile bg Lucinda Russell f6-1-1 (80) 89 j1-0-1 (-) 91 94
Battle Of Marengo (Notnowcato){4-m}(0.76) 2/1 Carry On Sydney 1st Juvenile Maiden Hurdle, Market Rasen 2014
Behind First Impression and Midnights Legacy, Red Missile has the highest flat RPR seen in this season's UK juvenile hurdlers. This was achieved on his last start for William Haggas when running away with a twelve furlong Lingfield maiden by five lengths. The next four to be seen since have all been subsequent winners including third placed Ocean Wind who is now rated 104. Sold for 38,000 guineas at Tattersalls, he joined Lucinda Russell and made his hurdling debut at Perth towards the end of September. He was quoted for the Triumph Hurdle beforehand but he he failed to live up to those expectations. While he jumped the first two fine, he developed a tendency to wander towards and get in close to his hurdles and was already being niggled along in the back straight. He did plug on again after the last but although his being pulled wide may have cost him ground, he never looked like winning. Based on his latest flat run, that could only be regarded as a disappointment though taken in isolation, it was not a bad introduction to his hurdles career. There have been mixed signals emanating from that race as while the runner-up was a creditable third at Chepstow next time, the winner fetched only £2,000 at the recent Doncaster sales. The cheekpieces he wore at Lingfield will be reapplied tomorrow and with his good flat form and benefit of experience, he comes into this race with strong credentials.

Brodick bf Lucinda Russell f8-0-1 (55) 62
Teofilo (Holy Roman Emperor){4-m}(0.83) 4/1 Danticat 1st Handicap Hurdle (97), Naas 2006
Postmodern ideas of gender as an abstract construct have fomented a new environment of liberation and self-actualisation for many people. Unfortunately, what many see as a great stride within the philosophical discourse of the human condition has been met with resistance and even scathing vitriol from certain quarters. As such, it is heartening to know that within a sport often reputed to be traditional and even reactionary, this season's juvenile hurdler with the most masculine name is not only trained by a woman, but indeed is biologically female herself. The filly Brodick raced eight times on the flat for Karl Burke without running into an each-way place. The bulk of these outings took place on the all-weather and her tendency to wander was pronounced when last seen on the turf at Ripon. Teofilo has the best record in the division of the sires represented in this race and Holy Roman Emperor broodmares have produced two winners from their first three. Brodick's granddam is a half-sister to Dawn Approach but he has thus far been unsuccessful as a sire in the division and the closest winning jumper on the damline is Danticat at 4/1. There are positive elements through the sirelines but Brodick's overall form and profile are patchy. Incidentally, she is a distant relative of her stable mate as her eighth dam is the fifth dam of Red Missile.

Strong prospects
1. Red Missile
Reasonable prospects
2. Castel Gandolfo
3. Clay Regazzoni
Feasible prospects
4. Breguet Boy
5. Park Lane Dancer
6. Jack Ryan
Moderate prospects
7. Brodick
8. Nuriel
Negligible prospects
9. Castle View
 
The reviews of yesterday's race at Fairyhouse, and today's at Musselburgh have not been forgotten. However, I had very little sleep last night so those reviews won't be coming immediately. Also, the preview for tomorrow's race at Sedgefield has been written in a sleep deprived state so make of if what you will...

SEDGEFIELD
Suggesting that there might be fireworks on the Fifth of November is not a particularly novel hypothesis. However, tomorrow's fireworks at County Durham might not necessarily be in the form of a philistine's cheap thrill, but instead, a racehorse. Sedgefield does not have a reputation for producing champions nor does it play host to any significant races. The average winner's seasonal RPR of 111 is one of the lowest in the country and only two juvenile hurdles have been hosted on this comparable card since 2008/09. Nevertheless, horses who have competed in juvenile hurdles at Sedgefield before Christmas include Triumph winner Countrywide Flame, Anniversary winner Orsippus, Finale winner Marsh Warbler and Fred Winter winner Hawk High. With the latter's half-brother due to line up tomorrow alongside three undefeated winners - two of them being course winners - declared, the 14:15 at Sedgefield looks as likely as any held at the venue this season to produce another good horse. With average winning DIs of 1.39 median, 1.46 mean, Sedgefield does not place a great emphasis on stamina demands. Its clear round rate of 95.56% however ranks the course 42nd of the 62 used in the division since 2008/09 and only three courses have a completion rate lower than Sedgefield's 79.26%. With soft ground forecast, there will be an additional benefit to staying in contention with good jumping.

Genever Dragon bg Donald McCain f10-0-2 (62) 71 j1-1-0 (-) 104 109
Dragon Pulse (Red Clubs){1-w}(1.29) 3/1 Staunch Rival 2nd Handicap Chase (124), Sandown 1995
The first of the two course and distance winners, Genever Dragon landed his race just over five weeks ago. A ten race maiden on the flat, his rating dropped by half a stone as he failed to match his two-year-old form in a trio of summer handicaps for Tom Dascombe. Though he joined a yard with a respectable record in the sphere, he had a lower flat rating than four of his rivals and representing a sire whose strike rate in the division was just 2.86% going into the race, was sent off an unfancied 16/1. Nevertheless, he turned out to be quite the little revelation. While he was hampered at the second, he jumped well on his hurdling debut and travelled strongly behind the leaders. He began to be ridden between the final two flights and looked a little green under pressure. But a quick jump at the last gave him a clear advantage and he stayed on strongly to the line, always repelling the challenge of the runner-up. It was a pleasing performance first time out and represented a career best effort. The form did not look great at the time but the runner-up since filled the same position next time at Uttoxeter behind Wensleydale Hurdle third Cabot Cliffs. There is scope for further improvement although while he is capable of defying a penalty in similar company, Glorious Zoff looks like a leap in class.

Glorious Zoff bg Gordon Elliott f6-0-1 (72) 74 j1-1-0 (-) 126 134
Zoffany (Overbury){4-r}(1.40) 3/1 Spate River 1st Handicap Hurdle (94), Southwell 2012
Glorious Zoff left Charlie Hills for 26,000 guineas after a six race flat career which saw him earn a rating of 72 without any wins. Though he never raced beyond a mile, he shaped as though the stamina demands for his new vocation would be well within his scope and following a sixty day lay-off, he made a winning hurdles debut in a Sligo maiden a fortnight ago. Always close to the leaders, his jumping was not perfectly fluent. But while the errors he made were minor, he impressed in the way he readjusted himself to mitigate against any loss of momentum and was very nimble over the last when the race was already in safe keeping. Travelling well in himself throughout, he cruised upsides the leader approaching the second last before jumping into the lead at that flight. Never so much as shaken up, he eased his way into a handy lead on the run to the last and increased his superiority in a nonchalant fashion. Though his pedigree and flat profile are fairly unremarkable, the manner of his victory over several opponents who have every right to win races of their own, the useful winning time, and the further improvement due from his imperfect yet intelligent jumping all combine to make Glorious Zoff an exciting recruit to the division. He was withdrawn from an intended clash with Qulixios on Saturday on account of soft ground but as the yard has another runner in the card's opener, they will not be shy about withdrawing him again should it be deemed appropriate. The yard's first juvenile runner at Sedgefield since Al Dafa was second at 13/2 in 2010, Glorious Zoff has upwards of twenty pounds in hand over his rivals and his only concern would be that he has yet to prove he goes on soft ground - although his Sligo win did come on yielding. Should the ground not radically affect his abilities then to justify his Triumph Hurdle odds of 33/1, he should be able to win this race quite comfortably.

Gold Desert chg Oliver Greenall f4-0-0 (71) 74 j1-1-0 (-) 85 93
Mastercraftsman (Galileo){9-f}(0.76) 3/1 Triple Sharp 1st Mares' Handicap Hurdle (81), Fakenham 2001
Fetching 23,000 guineas at the July sale after earning a rating of 71 in four winless starts for Richard Hannon, Gold Desert's course and distance success came in the middle of last month. His jumping was sound at times but he wandered and was hesitant at the first, steadied into the fifth, and skewed before landing awkwardly two out. He was also shaken up briefly after the fifth but he travelled reasonably well at the business end of the race and though he was ridden for much of straight, had enough in reserve to grind down the leader on the run-in. Along with the relatively decent flat form, the strength of his case came in his being by Mastercraftsman who is one of the leading sires in the division. However, what he achieved eighteen days ago probably amounts to very little as it looked the worst race to date in the division this season. Furthermore, third placed Park Lane Dancer, the only runner to be seen since, was well beaten at Musselburgh this afternoon. He is entitled to improve for the experience, as is the often case with those from his stable, and should emerge as a fair sort. However, the yard is currently out of form which adds to the already huge task at hand.

Camahawk brg Tim Easterby f6-0-1 (69) 75 j1-0-0 (-) 60 73
Camelot (Machiavellian){25}(1.00) 0.5 Hawk High 1st Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle (G3,130) Cheltenham 2014
Hawk High finished second at this venue before winning the 2014 Fred Winter hurdle and his half-brother Camahawk will be bidding to go one better. A fair maiden on the flat, he put in a reasonable round on his hurdling debut at Wetherby but never travelled with any purpose and ultimately finished well beaten. He is capable of leaving that performance behind but he has enough to find with those possessing winning form.

Douglas Fir bg Russell Ross f1-0-0 (-) 44 j2-0-0 (-) 38 37
Australia (Danehill Dancer){14-c}(0.75) 2/1 Rocky Wednesday 3rd Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle (G2), Fairyhouse 2011
Though he left Mark Johnson after one race for just £1,800, Douglas Fir is bred to make a juvenile hurdler. However, both of his runs over hurdles have seen him beaten by over seventy lengths.

Fast Deal chg Tim Easterby f10-0-2 (57) 71 j1-0-0 (-) 57 70
Fast Company (Doyen){4-d}(1.15) 4/2 Go Tech 2nd Novice Hurdle, Wetherby 2007
A stablemate of Camahawk, Fast Deal is another who emerges from the same Wetherby contest. However, he was much the lesser fancied of the pair and would finish three lengths further behind his tailed off teammate.

Le Magnifique chg Keith Dalgleish f3-0-1 (DeF) 50 j1-0-0 (-) 0 0
Kamsin (Pentire){5-h}(0.54) 2/1 Loup de Mer 4th Grande Course de Haies de Pau (L), Pau 2010
Le Magnifique's only run on the flat this year came when down the field in a Hoppegarten maiden for Andreas Wohler. While an accurate measure of his form is difficult, it is likely closer to the mid-sixties than his RPR of 50. Sire Kamsin has a respectable record as a sire of juveniles with a third of his runners, including the useful Adjali, winning on both sides of the channel. Le Magnifique's dam is a half-sister to a pair of useful jumpers in Loup de Mer and La Coquette along with 2007 Prix du Cadran winner Le Mirable. His pedigree is enough that he should at least match his flat form over hurdles. However, while he was backed into joint-favouritism on his hurdling debut at Perth, his behaviour, hurdling and performance were those of a very inexperienced horse. Though he moved up from midfield to lead at halfway, he was dropped quickly after three out and soon pulled up. Le Magnifique comes into a difficult race with plenty to prove, although the trainer and jockey did team up to win a juvenile hurdle at Musselburgh on the eve of this contest.

Stittenham Wood brg Michael Easterby f11-1-1 (62) 69
Garswood (Halling){4-m}(3.00) 3/1 Elaando 1st Handicap Hurdle (102), Towcester 2000
Following seven flat races without a win, Stittenham Wood got off the mark at the eighth time of asking in a Newcastle handicap towards the end of September off a mark of 55. However, he has since finished well beaten in three subsequent outings and now tries his hand at hurdling. While his flat mark of 62 is fair for the discipline, it does not command automatic respect in this field. Neither of Garswood's two juveniles have been winners and the trainer's record in the division, including an improvement rate of 22.22%, are way below average. Halling is one of the better damsires represented in this race and good horses Dodging Bullets (4/2) and Elgin (4/4) appear on the damline. However, those factors alone would not offset the poor recent form and patchy profile.

Outstanding prospects
1. Glorious Zoff
Reasonable prospects
2. Genever Dragon
3. Gold Desert
Feasible prospects
4. Camahawk
5. Le Magnifique
Moderate prospects
6. Stittenham Wood
Negligible prospects
7. Fast Deal
8. Douglas Fir
 
WARWICK - note - videos to the addressed French races can be found in the links.
As far as quality of juvenile hurdles are concerned, Warwick is in the top third of racecourses in the UK and Ireland. In the shadows of one of the nicest castles in the country, Warwick hosts its first such contest tomorrow morning. A regular fixture at the meeting, this race has been won by some fine sorts over the years including We Have A Dream in 2017, who would win Grade Ones at Chepstow and Aintree, and last year's winner Allmankind who was third in the Triumph and incidentally, makes his chase debut later on the card. Of the eight declarations for tomorrow, only one has hurdling experience which is an increasingly rare composition now that the season is in full flow. Several good yards in the division will be represented and some fair flat form is bought to proceedings so it might produce a fairly useful sort or two. With average winning DIs of 1.40 median, 1.58 mean, Warwick's juvenile hurdles place much more of an emphasis on speed rather than stamina. The clear round rate of 94.94% is one of the lowest in the country suggesting that such speed makes for a more exacting test of jumping.

Adagio bg David Pipe f3-1-2 GAG 39.5 (BHA 87) RPR 81
Wiener Walzer (Hernando){9-e}(0.73) 3/3 Labaik 1st Supreme Novices' Hurdle (G1), Cheltenham 2017
Much has been written within these pages on the matter of juvenile hurdlers who were bought out of French claimers on the flat. Four winners from twenty-two such types since 2008/09 is not a bad record. However, while it would be reasonable to expect roughly half of them to match or improve on their flat ratings between the codes, only 18.18% have actually done so. Furthermore, of the four who have won, only Edward O'Gradys's Humaniste won first time out and there is a tendency for such horses to come on for a few runs. Particularly those trained by David Pipe who is responsible for the more expensive of two ex-French claimers due to line up tomorrow. Adagio began his career with a pair of placed efforts for Jean-Pierre Carvalho towards the backend of last year. After finishing second in a six-and-a-half furlong maiden at Krefeld, he was then third, a month later over a furlong longer, at Deauville behind a pair currently rated 92.4 and 101.2. Switching to the Pavel Vovcenko stable, he returned in the middle of August to run out a convincing eight length winner of a twelve furlong Clairefontaine claimer under Christophe Soumillon. Behind him that day were four previous winners who each had official equivalent ratings exceeding 70, although the form has not worked out well since, producing only one subsequent winner who scored in a weak Claimer at Nimes. Nevertheless, such was his superiority, a rating in the early-mid nineties would seem appropriate and be the highest flat mark in this field. Sire Wiener Walzer, the 2009 German Derby winner, had his first jumps winner on at the end of August when Adagio's full-sister Ad Acta won a weak maiden at Vertou. Damsire Hernando is the strongest represented in this race and Adagio's third dam produced Arcadio and is the great-granddam of the mercurial Supreme Novice winner Labaik. The yard does well in the division and has been in decent form as of late. Adagio's form and pedigree entitles him to respect, although given his background, it is possible that he may be seen to better effect with experience.

Camacho Man chc Jennie Candlish f10-0-1 (54) 54
Camacho (Lawman){13-c}(0.71) 3/1 Erzadjan 1st Juvenile Hurdle, Newcastle 1993
Camacho Man has ten runs under his name to date, but he has not been seen since the Tenth of December last year.On this day, he finished three-and-a-half lengths fifth of eleven in a Wolverhampton Handicap off 55. While he finished second at Newcastle three starts earlier, this was still close enough to his best achievements during the campaign. Best known for winning the 2010 Wensleydale with Maoi Chinn Tire, Jennie Candlish's winner to runner record in the sphere is an average 20%. Camacho has had some fair winners in Mr Adjudicator, El Beau and Cafe Con Leche although his overall record is just below par. Though Camacho Man is related to winners further back on the damline, including Ebaziyan at 3/3, his overall profile is patchy and his flat form is quite poor in the context of this field. As much as Camacho Man likely enjoys the status, that he remains an entireis also a negative for his prospects.

Duke Of Condicote bg Alan King 8-1-2 (79) 85
No Nay Never (Halling){A16}(3.00) 3/2 Pateese 3rd Imperial Cup (L,125), Sandown 2011
Since 2008/09, Alan King has saddled more winning juvenile hurdlers than any other trainer in the UK or Ireland. Furthermore, of all trainers with twenty of more winners in the division, only John Quinn and Willie Mullins have superior improvement rates. Yet no resident of Barbury Castle has won a juvenile hurdle since January and four have tried this season without success. Some horse will inevitably end this drought and n terms of flat form, Duke Of Condicote's exploits well in the context of this field. Following four races as a two-year-old, including finishing within four lengths of subsequent Derby runner-up Khalifa Sat, Duke Of Condicote was able to break his maiden on his seasonal return when sharing a Haydock Handicap in early June. Ran over an extended eleven furlongs on good to soft, the contest ended in a dead-heat with Bharani Star, fourth next time in the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot, splitting first place off a mark of 71. The fourth and fifth have been subsequent winners, the latter being Soldier On Parade who will be no stranger to those who follow the division. Duke Of Condicote was runner-up again next time at Windsor behind dual subsequent winner Grand Bazaar, before posting a lacklustre performance back at Haydock a fortnight later. Following a 99 day break, he returned to the track to finish second behind cosy winner Opera Gift at Yarmouth twenty-five days ago. Another race over eleven-and-a-half soft furlongs, the two with subsequent outings each finished second next time. Though No Nay Never is an influence for speed and precocity, he does not appear to have trouble producing horses who stay which is a quality that can be safely ascribed to Duke Of Condicote. However, he is still without a winning hurdler from five and grandsire Scat Daddy is also lacking in this department. Though related to a jumps winner in Switzerland at 2/1 and Patesse can be found at 3/2 on the damline, the entirety of thoroughbred family A16 is without any representatives in juvenile hurdling. Halling does get winners in the division as a damsire, including recent Wensleydale third Cabot Cliffs, and Duke Of Condicote's flat form is sufficiently strong to Alan King's drought in the sphere. However, while breeding is not the ultimate qualifier in terms of a horse's potential aptitude, the pedigree is still decidedly patchy.

Fact Or Fable grg J S Moore f25-0-2 (48) 64
Alhebayeb (Dansili){9}(3.00) 0.5 Uther Pendragon 3rd Novices' Hurdle, Kempton 2019
Fact Or Fable has already amassed twenty-five career starts to date, but has yet to place in the first two and is currently rated just 48. Only three of those runs were beyond seven furlongs and he was well beaten on each occasion. The fifth dam Fantan produced the brilliant Ragusa and is the matriarch of a family which includes the likes of Nietzche (5/4), Battle Group, Self Defence and Upgrade (5/5), Simply Ned and Degas Art (5/6) and Wicklow Brave (5/7). Closer on the damline are winners Bold Statement (3/1) and Tarski (2/1) while half-brother Uther Pendragon was placed in a Kempton Novices' Hurdle for the yard last year. Alhebayeb is only on his second crop of juveniles but he can already count Duffle Coat amongst his progeny. This is where the encouragement ends however as Fact Or Fable's overall form is poor and the yard is winless in the division since 2008/09.

Fiscal Prudence bg Harry Whittington f2-0-0 (-) 70
Fracas (Leroidesanimaux){8-i}(0.86) 2/2 Morga 2nd Handicap Hurdle (A,130), Fairyhouse 2016
Making his debut at The Curragh last August over seven furlongs, Fiscal Prudence returned to the venue later that month to compete in another maiden over a mile. He was beaten thirteen lengths in the first race but was just over nine lengths fifth next time behind Mogul, finishing ahead of two horses rated over 100. Gelded in March, he was withdrawn from the Tattersalls July sale to go directly from the Jim Bolger yard to join Harry Whittington. A trainer with a solid 42.86% winners to runners rate in the sphere, his improvement rate of 66.67% is very healthy and he has already had a winner this season with another Irish import See The Eagle Fly. Though Fiscal Prudence has been off the track for over a year, his trainer is no slouch when it comes to readying horses after such an absence. Since the start of 2013, Harry Whittington has sent out twelve horses returning after a break of over twelve months with five of them being winners. His clear round rate of 98.18% with juveniles is also one of the best in this field. Half of Fracas's four juveniles have been winners and Fiscal Prudence is a cousin of Morga out of a half-sister to jumps winners Via Archimede and Ard San Aer, herself out of a half-sister to another winner South Leinster. On bare flat form, Fiscal Prudence has ground to find on a couple of these. However, his pedigree is respectable and he is in the right hands if he is to overcome his absence in a creditable fashion.

Galidermes bg Charlie Mann f13-3-3 FrF (66) 38
Hunter's Light (Galileo){6-a}(0.58) 2/1 Theos Quercus 1st 4yo Hurdle, Dieppe 2001
The second horse in the field to emerge from a French claimer, Galidermes was a winner of three of his thirteen starts on the flat for Joël Boisnard - the source of one winning juvenile from four since 2008/09 (all ran over hurdles prior to their import). Two of his wins came on his last two starts with his latest win coming in a 2,100 metre claimer at Montignac - a course so provincial that it does not even appear on Zone-Turf, and looks like it is hosted in someone's back garden. This win came five days after he scored over 1,700 metres at the similarly quaint Granville. Neither of those races have produced subsequent winners but the equivalent rating of 66 looks feasible. Hunter's Light has yet to score in the discipline but Galileo is a useful damsire and Galidermes is out of a sister to four-year-old hurdle winner Theos Quercus. Dual winner Herleva (2/2) and the useful Verasi (5/4) also appear on the damline. Charlie Mann has a solid 28.13 winners to runners rate in the sphere and has won with French flat imports including Fixed Rate and Superb Story. However, those both had ratings exceeding 85 and neither came out of claiming company. Certainly not for the €6,001 paid for Galidermes.

Grouseman bg Pam Sly f7-0-0 (50) 56
Kyllachy (Danehill Dancer){8-d}(1.91) 2/1 Pivot Bridge 1st Handicap Hurdle (B,110), Killarney 2014
Fifth on his latest two outings on the flat, Grouseman embarks on his hurdling career with a mark of 50. Though he is out of a half-sister to winner Pivot Bridge, and his third-dam produced winners Right Stuff and Noble Calling, his sire's record in the division is ominous. Since 2008/09, Kyllachy has had twenty-three horses run in sixty races as juvenile hurdlers without registering a single victory. A record unmatched by any other stallion. Pam Sly does get winners in the sphere but her winners to runners rate of 17.65% is not likely enough to disrupt Kyllachy's impressive flow.

Lustleigh bc Dan Skelton j1-0-0 (-) 88 91
Kayf Tara (Midnight Legend){11-d}(0.89) 1/0 My Petra 1st 1965 Chase (G2,136), Ascot 2008
Kayf Tara is without a winning juvenile since Katies Tutor scored in 2006 and his tally of sixteen individual campaigns since 2008/09 has Kyllachy looking over his shoulder. There is no doubting his credentials as a jumps stallion however and Lustleigh, a son of the very useful My Petra, herself a full-sister to the equally talented duo of Midnight Appeal and Lake Legend, is better bred than most failures in the division. He was well supported ahead of his racecourse debut at Wetherby just over three weeks ago and though he would fall at the last when beaten, made a good showing. Leading from the outset, he jumped slightly right at the first, got close to the second, slightly close to the third and sixth before getting too low at his final two jumps. He was only headed on the approach to the last but was a tired horse by that stage. Despite his imperfect jumping, it was still reasonable enough to set a searching gallop and if he shows no ill-effect for the experience, there should be more to come. Particularly as he represents a yard with above average figures across all metrics, which also won this race last season with Allmankind.

Strong prospects
1. Fiscal Prudence
Reasonable prospects
2. Lustleigh
3. Duke Of Condicote
Feasible prospects
4. Adagio
Moderate prospects
5. Galidermes
Negligible prospects
6. Camacho Man
7. Grouseman
8. Fact Or Fable
 
An exciting week ahead in store for juvenile hurdling with Cheltenham hosting the Grade 2 Prestbury Juvenile Hurdle on Saturday. Entries at this stage include Duffle Coat, Hell Red, Overpriced Mixer, Adagio, Cabot Cliffs and a Dan Skelton newcomer who won at Auteuil back in September. Ludlow hosts a race on Thursday which could also be useful with five winners, two winning French bumper horses and a handful of interesting flat recruits still in the race. Wednesday's race at Bangor looks a little less exhilarating... As an aside, Poker Master makes his handicap debut at Huntingdon tomorrow afternoon and he currently heads the market at the time of writing. While I can not make an assessment of the quality of his rivals, his mark does not look favourable (despite Gold Desert running a fair race last week), his yard has no record of three-year-olds in handicaps, and I am not convinced that the trip will suit. A big run would come as a surprise but weirder things happen in racing on a regular basis.

The previews for the aforementioned races should be up as and when, but in the meantime, here are the reviews for last week's races.

FAIRYHOUSE
Preview review
I failed to do a preview for the reserve as for some reason, she was not listed as such when I initially drew up my spreadsheet for the race. She would likely have been quite readily dismissed and she ran no sort of race in the event. The strong prospect won and the second and third were the top reasonable prospects. Craic Eile was still near the front when unseating and while he would likely have faded, he put in some very decent jumps along the way. Apart from missing the reserve, there were no major oversights in the preview that warrant addressing.

Race review
While the race did not look to match the potential of previous renewals, all but two of the thirteen starters had hurdling experience and several had either performed respectably or had pretentions of doing so. The quality of jumping was largely acceptable and an honest pace was set. While the winning time was considerably slower than that of the useful looking maiden which followed, it was still better than the low grade handicaps later on the card. There were reasons for the runners finishing where they did and the form looks reliable.

Jeff Kidder had shown solid form on his first two outings over hurdles, splitting Longclaw and Orchestral Rain at Roscommon before finding only Scholastic too good at Punchestown next time. He had won on the flat between those efforts and returned to that sphere without disgrace ahead of this outing. His jumping had been a cause for some trepidation at Punchestown but was much more fluent on the softer ground here. It was not a perfect round as he rather steadied at the first, clipped the top of the second and was slightly awkward at the seventh. Nevertheless, it was a clean round overall and travelled kindly throughout. Always racing prominently while tracking the frontrunners, he found himself boxed in when attempting to challenge turning for home. Nevertheless, he was able to get a clear run approaching the last where a good jump gave him momentum which he carried strongly to the line. The bare form is merely above average but it was still a career best performance and with a discernible improvement in his attitude and aptitude, there is no reason why he can not progress further. 117

Bigz Belief was only moderate on the flat but had already shown enough in two runs at Punchestown and a recent outing at Galway that he is a better horse over hurdles. He had previously been let down by his jumping, particularly in the latter stages of a race. However, while there were still slight errors throughout this race, there was nothing too alarming and his round was completed with neat and quick jumps over the final two obstacles. Tracking the leader from flag fall, he edged into a narrow lead approaching the penultimate flight and after repelling the challenge of Sideshift, was only headed after the half-furlong marker. Another posting a career best effort, Bigz Belief was suited by the fair nature of the track. Nevertheless, he is capable of getting off the mark in an ordinary contest provided there is not too much emphasis placed on stamina. 114

Sideshift won a handicap off 60 on the flat for Michael O'Callaghan ahead of a respectable hurdling debut at Galway. There was room for improvement in the jumping department there of which he found a fair amount on this occasion. While he got in close to the fifth, dived slightly at two out and trailed his front legs through the last, he was much more assured here. Although he was fitter and cleaner for the experience, he did not appear to improve from a form perspective, owing largely to the fact that he faded in the closing stages. He has the ability to win an ordinary contest but his stamina is not completely assured and would not be one of the leading lights in his yard. 111

Complete Fantasy had ran to only a moderate level on the flat in June and his hurdling debut ended quickly after his saddle slipped at Punchestown. He put in a clear round next time at Sligo, but was steady going into most of his hurdles and finished tailed off. Nevertheless, though he was slow at the second and third here, he put up a much more fluent round of jumping and was still in contention approaching the last. However, he got the final flight completely wrong and lost a great deal of momentum which ended his chances of finishing closer. Much his best performance in over a year, Complete Fantasy should be competitive at this level provided that this was not a fluke. 109

Toughari achieved little in his first six starts on the flat and a lack of fluency contributed to an insipid hurdling debut at Killarney. The application of blinkers on a return to the flat saw him run away with a handicap in the mud at Fairyhouse and he was backed from 16/1 in the morning to 6/1 at the off here. However, he was either close or steady at half of his jumps here and while he was in contention in the straight, could not find enough to make an impact on the finish. Nevertheless, this was an improved showing and with more assured jumping, he can get involved in a weaker contest. 108

Alexei Vronsky was another winner on the flat for Michael O'Callaghan and ran a fair race in fourth on his jumps debut at Galway. His jumping was respectable first time and apart from getting slightly close at the penultimate flight, put in a decent round here. Racing in mid-division, he attempted to make ground turning for home but was unable to reach a challenging position and would finish a fairly tired eighteen lengths behind the winner. While he clearly jumps well enough to be competitive in an ordinary race, he may well find his stride on better ground. 98

Flylikeaneagle won twice on the flat for Mark Johnston as a two year old, but was let go quite cheaply at the Tattersalls July sale and has yet to show a great deal for his new yard. He was green and steady at most of his hurdles when outclassed at Ballinrobe on his hurdling bow and was steady and slow over most of the obstacles on this occasion. He improved slightly for the experience but would still have a fair way to go before he can be effective in this discipline. In a subsequent stewards inquiry, Flylikeaneagle reportedly hung left. 89

Saga Malta is related to a few fair hurdlers and was making her racecourse debut here. Always off the pace, she was awkward over the first few obstacles and got in close to the sixth before finishing well beaten. She can improve for the experience but there is nothing to get too excited about at this juncture. In a subsequent stewards report, she was said to have ran very green. 82

Ahaziah went into the race a maiden after ten starts, representing a yard without a winner from three horses in the sphere. An Alhebayeb x Owington cross, he is not related to any jumpers with discernible form. Racing in the rear, Ahaziah skewed over the first and third, steadied when getting in close to the fourth and was steady again at the penultimate flight in the process of finishing well beaten. There is little enthusiasm to be had over his immediate prospects. 88

Sweet Will represented a good stable in the sphere but was tailed off on his hurdling debut at Sligo and it was the same case here. Though untidy at the first, he put in a decent round thereafter but he never left the rear of the field. He was the subject of a stewards report after the race where it was revealed by the veterinary officer that he had an overreach on his left fore and was found clinically abnormal. 84

Urban Boom came into his hurdling debut at Sligo on the back of a sequence of duck eggs before jumping poorly in the rear and tailing off. Slightly more use of him was made in midfield on this occasion but after being badly hampered at the first, his round was littered with mistakes and he once again finished tailed off. 73

Finsceal Blue has now had three runs over hurdles, jumping poorly in the rear before tailing off on each occasion. This was perhaps his best round, but it still included three notable errors. 17

Craic Eile achieved nothing in all but one of his seven starts on the flat, but while he was well beaten on his hurdling debut at Punchestown, his jumping was fairly impressive. His jumping was not quite as good next time at Galway where he tired late on, but apart from diving at the first, he did jump quite spectacularly from the front here. There was some air between himself and his hurdles through the first half of the race, but he was also quick in the process and he got neater as the race progressed. He kept his lead until the approach to the penultimate flight where he did not take off quickly enough, tripping over the hurdle and leaving his jockey with no chance of retaining the partnership. He looked vulnerable at the time and lost five positions while galloping loose suggesting he would most likely have been ran out of the finish in any case. Talk of a chasing career is premature and whimsical, but if he can develop his stamina then it is not too difficult to envisage him faring respectably in that discipline should the opportunity present itself. 105

MUSSELBURGH
Preview review
The first three places were filled by those in the top four prospects, although there were a couple of cases of over and underestimation. Red Missile ran a fine enough race and improved a fair deal on his debut, although he has yet to match his outstanding piece of flat form which itself was a fair deal better than anything he had previously achieved. Breguet Boy had fine credentials going into the contest but too much emphasis was put on jockey bookings, especially as he was much the best backed of the stable's runners.

Race review
The race looked fairly ordinary beforehand and while the front two are not outstanding sorts, they pulled clear of a strung out field and had every reason to do so. The pace was a sound one without being too searching as the front three raced prominently throughout and the winning time was the slowest of four races at the distance on the card. Nevertheless, the finish was fought out between two newcomers rated in the mid-high seventies on the flat and there is no reason why neither can progress from here.

Breguet Boy won three races on the flat at distances around a mile, and came into this contest with rating of 77. He had a tendency to look around on the flat which was repeated here, but it had no ill effect on his hurdling as he put up a tidy round. Tracking the leader throughout, he went into the lead at the penultimate flight. He wandered on the approach to the last where he made his only real mistake of the race, going through the top of the flight. Though he was slow in getting away, he soon regained his stride and knuckled down the better of the front pair in a battle to the line. Though he may be fairly exposed after fifteen races on the flat, he is nothing if not consistent and ran close to his best flat mark here. He may lack the scope of the runner-up, but he is a game and likable horse who also provided his sire with his first winner in the sphere. 113

Castel Gandolfo saw the racecourse three times during the summer for Jessica Harrington before joining his full-brother, Elite Hurdle runner-up, Teqany at the Fergal O'Brien yard. Though still a maiden, he achieved a fair level of form on all surfaces and appears to have developed further following a three month break. His jumping was not flawless as he was slow at the second, dived at the fifth, got in close to the sixth and skewed over the penultimate flight. He was also slightly hampered by the winner after the last but this did not affect the result. He was involved in a protracted race to the line but did not have enough to pass his more battle-hardened rival. It would be fair at this stage to excuse the defeat on the basis of his inexperience and he could be a nice recruit to the jumping game. 112

Red Missile's last flat run for William Haggas saw him earn an RPR of 89, which looks fully justified in retrospect. However, some greenness on his hurdling debut at Perth saw him nowhere near to that level, even if it was not a bad outing in isolation. With the cheekpieces reapplied from his Lingfield win, Red Missile jumped much better from the front and he kept his lead up to the penultimate flight where he made his first slight error of the race. He was also low going through a couple of panels at the last but was a beaten horse by that stage. This was an improvement on his Perth outing and he is capable of being competitive at this level. However, his best flat form is looking like an anomaly and he did sweat up before racing quite keen here so he does have questions to answer. 105

Jack Ryan won on his penultimate flat outing over seven furlongs on heavy ground, and made a respectable hurdling debut here. Apart from clipping the top of the sixth, he put in a clean round and was the best of those who were held up. He made some headway turning in but was never able to reach the leaders. Beaten nearly twelve lengths in the end, his performance was about as good as anything he achieved on the flat and he could be seen to better effect on softer ground. 101

Brodick was rated just 55 after eight runs on the flat for Karl Burke and while her sirelines are conducive to some success in the sphere, she did not particularly well first time over hurdles. After she skewed at the second, dived at the third and was big over the fourth, her jumping was fine up to two out where she landed steeply. Beaten just over twenty lengths, she can build on the effort but is not of obvious interest in the near future. 85

Nuriel was having his second racecourse appearance following a lacklustre effort at Ludlow four weeks earlier. His jumping was better on this occasion but was still awkward at a few of his hurdles. He is moving in the right direction but needs to find more before he becomes competitive. 90

Park Lane Dancer finished third on his hurdles debut at Sedgefield in what was a poor looking race at the time. He did not jump quite as well here but though he was well beaten in the end, it was not a drastic regression. There is no reason why he can not make an impact in lesser company but he may be better served with a handicap mark. 89

Clay Regazzoni opened in the ring at the same price as his winning stablemate but was over four points adrift at the off. The worst of those who raced prominently, he was keen early and his round was marked by awkward jumping and a tendency to wander into the approaches before culminating with a blunder at the last. He finished closer to the winner than he had on his debut but was still comprehensively beaten and unless he is given an especially generous mark, may find more success returning to the flat. 88

Castle View never made it past the starting stalls on two previous racecourse visits and made mistakes at all of his hurdle here before finishing tailed off. 1

SEDGEFIELD
Preview review
Prior to the running of this race, Sedgefield had seen the defeat of three juveniles who started at odds shorter than 1/2 while also being the site of Geyser's 80/1 success last season. Nevertheless, while Glorious Zoff gained membership to a dubious club, Sedgefield is not a notorious graveyard of odds-on favourites as it ranks in the middle of courses by percentage of beaten odds-on shots. Nevertheless, Glorious Zoff had every right to win this race based on his Sligo performance and went 1.01 in-running to do so. His underperformance can be explained by much poorer jumping and a possible overestimation of his Sligo form. The ground was also a potential factor as while it was yielding at Sligo, the good to soft, soft in places may not have suited him. Conversely, it will have suited the stoutly bred winner who had disappointed on his debut at Perth.

Race review
Despite having two previous course and distance winners in the line-up, the race looked like a formality for Irish raider Glorious Zoff. However, a series of jumping errors took their toll and while he looked like he had the race sewn up for much of the straight, he was clawed back by a winner who had been pulled up on his only previous start in the UK. The pace was not particularly strong and none of the runners put in a particularly fluent round. The first four were clearly better than the remainder but half of them underperforming, and the other half posting efforts that were a career best by some margin, the form does not have the most reliable appearance.

Le Magnifique ran three times on the flat for Andreas Wohler, finishing down the field in a German maiden behind a couple of participants in their version of the Derby on his latest start in the sphere. He was backed into joint-favouritism ahead of his UK/hurdles debut at Perth but though he moved from midfield to lead at halfway, he soon tired before being pulled up. He ran and jumped green on that occasion but he travelled better here in a first time hood and was clearly fitter for the outing. There was no improvement in his hurdling however as apart from jumping the first fine, he made mistakes at the rest of his obstacles. These errors generally came through getting too close to his hurdles, including at the last where he pecked on landing and appeared to lose any chance of springing an upset. Nevertheless, he was able to straighten himself out and stayed on stoutly to grind out a win close to the line. A turnover of this nature should be treated with scepticism and it is fair to assume that the favourite was not at his best here. Notwithstanding, Le Magnifique did demonstrate a willing attitude, went through the ground well enough, and the remaining rivals have less in the way of excuses so it would be unwise to be too dismissive of this performance. An unexposed sort who is bred to do better over further, he ought to have a nice future over jumps. 114

Glorious Zoff was not much better than a fairly useful maiden on the flat for Charlie Hills, but he looked to have a touch of class about him when making a winning hurdling debut at Sligo. While it was only a maiden contest, a few of his rivals had reasonable form to their names and Glorious Zoff dispatched of them with impetuous ease. His jumping was not always perfect but in the absence of fluency was intelligence. However, his round here was a shadow of its Sligo glory and the mistakes he made were exacerbated either by an unfortunate occurrence of slipping or stumbling on landing, or by having his path blocked by other rivals. It would not be accurate to describe him as wholly unlucky however as he also showed signs of greenness, particularly on the run between the final two flights. Furthermore, he also failed to completely see out the trip which is a factor which will be a problem in the future if he expends more energy than necessary at his hurdles. Ultimately, this performance does smudge the veneer of his reputation and while he is clearly much better than this, a top class horse should be overcome the pitfalls offered by Sedgefield. 120

Gold Desert won over course and distance on his hurdles debut and though he won a poor race by just a length, the 71 rated ex-Richard Hannon inmate looked sure to improve for the experience. Racing prominently throughout, he took up the running midway down the back and while he was outpaced turning for home, he was still able to stay on in the straight. As with his debut, his jumping was largely fine but for slightly skewing at the first, getting low at the third, being awkward at the sixth and hopping over two out. His sirelines suggest he can do better in this discipline and this performance marks a new career best for the son of Mastercraftsman. While he looks not much better than average, he should continue to progress. 118

Genever Dragon was another who won his hurdling debut over course and distance, and while the race he won was no better than average, it still looked much better than the one taken by Gold Desert. However, while he jumped and travelled well on his debut, he was pulling hard early on and got in close to a few hurdles before clipping the top of the last. Though still in tough with the leaders at three out, he soon lost touch with them turning for home and would eventually finish twenty lengths behind the third. Given to inconsistency on the flat, he was a stone below his best on this showing and while he is capable of better, he is not a safe conveyance to reproduce same. 96

Fast Deal finished just behind stablemate Camahawk when last on his hurdles debut at Wetherby, but was able to reverse placings here. Nevertheless, while he jumped the first few obstacles fine from the rear, he was slow and awkward in the middle stages and would lose touch before finishing tailed off. While this is an improvement on bare form, it still leaves plenty to be desired. 80

Camahawk put in a reasonable round at Wetherby but after a blunder at the second, he was big over the third and got in close to the next. From there, he lost his position in midfield and weakened to finish tailed off. 78

Douglas Fir's three hurdles outings have all come at this venue, and has improved on each occasion. Sent into the lead from the outset, he steadied going into the first despite his rider's urgings and did so again approaching the third. He lost his position halfway through the race and eventually finished seventy-four lengths behind the winner. 40

WARWICK
Preview review
A couple of items warrant addressing after this race, namely the overestimation of Fiscal Prudence and the underestimation of Adagio. Fiscal Prudence underachieved primarily because he was ridiculously fresh on his first outing in over a year. This might not be as much of a problem for a more experienced horse, and indeed, the trainer had a good record with this type. However, no juvenile hurdler has won after an absence of more than a year since the 2012/13 season. This is not from a shallow pool either as 39 three-year-olds and 30 four-year-olds have attempted to overcome this absence during this time. In the case of Adagio, his prospects were shirked largely due to his being bought out of a French claimer. Research has demonstrated that such horses have shown a propensity to improve considerably for experience - particularly when handicap marks enter the equation. Nevertheless, the sample size is still relatively small and French imports from the flat have won first time, albeit not those out of claimers. It was pointed out prior to the race on RTV that Adagio's new owners were some of the bigger names associated with the yard, although given that ownership of the horse was publicly offered after he joined the stable, the relevance of this information is flimsy as he was not a bought to order type.

Race review
All bar one of the eight runners were making their hurdling debuts but a couple of the newcomers had the potential to be fairly useful recruits. In keeping with the lack of experience, a lot of the jumping on display was very erratic which would put a dent in the overall quality of form. The slow early tempo caused several runners to take a keen hold in the early stages and the winning time was an understandable seven seconds slower then the Class 4 handicap later on the card - although it was still quicker than the concluding bumper. The front three finishing as they did looks fairly reliable but the composition of a slowly run race at Warwick on good ground is not readily replicated on other courses during the winter.

Adagio came into the race on the back of an eight length win in a Clairefontaine claimer in the middle of August, following which he was claimed for €25,555. While it was not a polished round of hurdling first time out, he ran out a comfortable winner by a similar margin. Jumping right at the first, he was far from fluent at the second where he also found himself hampered by the faller. Nevertheless, he improved over the next few hurdles and though he was big over the fifth, he was also quick getting from one side to the other. While he took a narrow lead approaching the penultimate flight, his hurdling did deteriorate in the straight as he did not get high two out and made an almighty blunder at the last which also saw him slip on landing and lose momentum. Nevertheless, the runner-up was also untidy at the same flight and Adagio was soon able to establish an ever widening gap to the line. The negatives of the performance lie primarily in the jumping department but given that he also put in a few good jumps, this should not be a long term issue. In terms of positives, he won well from a couple of potentially useful sorts and while his pedigree is not inundated with plodders, it is stout enough to suggest that he may be seen to even better effect with more cut. Especially given that his Clairefontaine win came on heavy ground. The 50/1 available for the Triumph Hurdle makes little appeal at this juncture as the best RPR achieved by an ex-French claimer since 2008/09 was Bocamix's 123 during the 2009/10 campaign. Nevertheless, there was plenty of encouragement to be drawn from this outing and Adagio could make up into a fairly useful prospect. 117

Duke Of Condicote brought a flat rating of 79 into this contest which was the highest in the field earned in the UK. Since winning a Haydock handicap on his seasonal reappearance, he twice finished runner-up during his next three outings and it was that position which he filled again on his hurdling debut. Though he is by No Nay Never, his ability to stay the minimum trip over hurdles was not a concern beforehand and he has performed on both good and soft ground. His round got off to the most inauspicious start however as he veered very badly right at the first, during which Tom Cannon displayed a remarkable feat of strength to retain the partnership. He was then slow at the second there was some improvement thereafter as he went into the lead. This lead was lost approaching two out and though his errors in the straight were not catastrophic, they did not do his cause any favours. Nevertheless, the winner's errors were much worse and he was unable to match his victor for pace at the business end of the contest. Alan King is one of the preeminent trainers in the division but he has been slow to get off the mark during this campaign. Duke Of Condicote has provided the stable's best result in the division thus far and given that he is able to make his own running, he should be capable of collecting an ordinary prize. 110

Lustleigh was the only horse with hurdling experience coming into the race, although as this was only his second racecourse appearance, he was still the least experienced runner in this line-up. Another who took a keen hold, he was ridden more patiently than at Wetherby, tucking in behind the leaders. There was improvement in his jumping as the only flaws were that he was slow getting away from two out and just clipped the top of the final flight. However, he was readily outpaced by the two principles and almost lost third on the line. Bred to make a proper jumper, Lustleigh is more a long term prospect than a juvenile hurdler and though he is capable of being competitive in ordinary company, he might make more of an impact with a season under his belt. 93

Grouseman achieved a rating of just 50 after seven runs on the flat and being by Kyllachy offers little encouragement for his new vocation. He suffered interference at the second and third but apart from getting close to the first and fourth flights of hurdles, his jumping was not too bad. Staying on from a long way behind, he failed by only a neck in his attempt to grab third on the line. This performance matches the best of his flat form and was not entirely without merit, although he would still have enough to find in anything but moderate company. 92

Fact Or Fable failed to win in twenty-five starts on the flat and made several mistakes on his hurdling debut. Never progressing from the rear of the field, he was beaten by over thirty-four lengths and does not look an obvious improver. 82

Galidermes won three times on the flat in the French provinces but was claimed last time for just €6,001. Making errors at most of his hurdles, he was another who was never able to get on terms and he makes little appeal for the immediate future. 72

Fiscal Prudence ran with some promise in two maidens at the Curragh as a two-year-old, and joined a yard with a very good record in the sphere. However, he was remarkably fresh in the early stages and was lit up further by the drama over the first two hurdles. Pulling harder than any juvenile seen this season, he began to lose touch with the leaders after the fourth before being allowed to come home in his own time. His jumping was compromised by his freshness but he was not completely novicey. He has a respectable profile overall, but a better assessment of his prospects can only be made if he settles better next time. 60

Camacho Man has some useful relatives in his pedigree but his flat form is modest and his hurdling debut was not an encouraging one. Going big, slow and to the right over the first, his race ended at the second where he steadied into the flight, clipped the top and knuckled on landing before falling. His jumping was no better without the burden of a jockey as he was big, hesitant and awkward while running loose. 0

Peat Moss 6/11/2020 Warwick 2m Handicap Hurdle
Third in the season's curtain raiser behind Hiconic, Peat Moss would win on the third time of asking at Plumpton and was vying for favouritism on his handicap debut at Ludlow last time. However, he disappointed there and was sent off an unfancied 20/1 on this occasion in first time blinkers. Sweating before the off and keen early on, he jumped well for the most part with his only real mistake coming at the last where he was unable to get his feet far off the ground. He was rousted along midway through the back straight and drifted to the back of the main bunch. Nevertheless, he was able to stay on for a one paced fourth, beaten by just over sixteen lengths. Strictly on times, he would have won the opening juvenile hurdle but that race was not run at a true gallop. It was not a poor performance, particularly as his yard has been out of form recently. However, his mark of 105 is too high for the minimum trip and he may fare better going up in distance. 95
 
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