Wensleydale Hurdle!!!
The Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle is a integral feature of the early season juvenile calender 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 participants this century each finished runner-up in the contest. In 2006, Katchit was beaten by Degas Art before landing the Prestbury, Finesse, Triumph and Anniversary ahead of becoming Champion Hurdler. 2011 runner-up Countrywide Flame filled the same position in the Finale and Anniversary Hurdles as well as winning that season's Triumph. The extent to which this season's participants might follow the aforementioned remains to be seen, but it would be difficult to assemble a much stronger line-up in terms of depth at this juncture. Spearheaded by a decidedly exciting French recruit, the field also consists of six other winners, three of whom are unbeaten, along with an Alan King horse who ran one of the undefeated horses to a length on his only start. While the likes of Impulsive One, Knight Salute and Magistrato are missing (the latter's Auteuil victor does face the starter), this year's Wensleydale is very much worthy of its listed status. A left handed, galloping circuit, Wetherby's winning DIs of 1.21 median, 1.33 mean essentially match standard although these are some twenty points lower than those of the average participant. Furthermore, the clear round rate of 94.56% is one of the lowest in the country and the completion rate of 82.10% also suggests Wetherby offers a good test of a young hurdler. The going is currently described as good although light and steady rain is forecast overnight and through the morning.
Triumph Odds
Porticello 25/1
Too Friendly 50/1
Sacre Pierre 66/1
Porticello bg Gary Moore j1-1-0 (-) 122 132
Sholokhov (Chichicastenango){31}(0.87) 2/1 Worldbest 3rd Grand Prix d'Automne (G1), Auteuil 2009
https://www.equidia.fr/chevaux/porticello
Francois-Marie Cottin has sent the likes of Sanctuaire, Napolitain and Star de Mohaison across the channel over the years. Cousin David has yet to match those levels as an exporter although Busselton was a creditable sort last term and this season has seen Mr Cottin take the French three-year-old division by storm with a team including leading colts Paradiso and San Bruit, and leading fillies Matilda du Berlais and La Boetie. He also saddled the first two home in the Prix Grandak prior to the pair crossing the channel for pastures new. The Prix Grandak is a debutant contest with a rich history, being the launchpad of domestic stars Saint des Saints, Bonito Du Berlais, Beaumec De Houelle, On The Go and Beaumec De Houelle, as well as talented exports in Frodon, Far West, We Have A Dream and Quel Destin. This year’s edition was taken by Porticello who having tracked the leaders throughout, made his challenge in a steady rather than explosive fashion and after taking the lead at the last, managed to pull a couple of lengths clear on the run-in. Apart from blundering at the fifth, he jumped well enough for a debutant and his style of racing was in keeping with his pedigree; being a Sholokhov nephew of the Grand Prix d’Automne third Worldbest. Notwithstanding, there is some precocity in his pedigree as his dam is a half-sister to graded placed juvenile Orcantara and the aunt of Prix Cambaceres runner-up Invicter. Furthermore, while Sholokhov is a Gold Cup winning sire, he is also responsible for Shishkin as well as classy youngsters Msassa, Esmondo and the aforementioned Invicter. Almost seven months have passed since the Prix Grandak and the form is taking a very respectable shape. Runner-up Magistrato looked very impressive when winning at Chepstow on his first run for Paul Nicholls. Third placed Imprenable won his next two starts before finishing second in the Group II Prix Georges de Talhouet-Roy. File au Poteau in fourth won a useful conditions hurdle at Auteuil earlier this month, fifth placed Coup de Coeur is one of the better chasers of his generation, the sixth placed Mourinho Has won a valuable handicap at the venue and the only other finisher is a dual winner in the provinces. Gary Moore's French hurdling recruits, which have a 33.33% strike-rate first time, are generally started in less demanding settings so it could be a real statement of intent that the yard has opted to send him to Wetherby where he will concede weight all round. While there is plenty of promise among the opposition, the Grandak performance stands unopposed as the best form on offer and the stable does come here in good health. Porticello sets a clear standard and his being a winning debutant suggests he can be ready to do himself justice first time. If there is a concern however, it could be that of the seven ex-French hurdlers to have been introduced in this contest, only the 1/2 favourite Sametegal was successful with the likes of Grandouet and Twist Magic among the beaten newcomers.
Genuflex bg Milton Harris f11-1-5 (74) 79 j2-1-1 (-) 100 103
Holy Roman Emperor (Galileo){1-i}(1.13) 0.5 Gendarme 1st 2m Handicap Hurdle (88), Limerick 2021
A winner on the flat for Richard Hannon, Genuflex earned his initial victory at the third time of asking in a Windsor nursery off 74 last August. Though he failed to supplement this success in eight further attempts, Genuflex did run to form over ten furlongs during the spring and summer including on his latest outing in that sphere when showing good tenacity but failing to make all in a Nottingham classified stakes. He subsequently joined the capable Milton Harris for 20,000 guineas at the Tattersalls July Sale. By a Holy Roman Emperor who wins his fair share, and being a half-brother to a winning handicap hurdler, there was every chance he could build his profile over hurdles. He was well backed to do so on his stable/hurdling debut at Ludlow early this month and only the impressive Kempton winner, Mister Allegro, prevented his landing the 20/1 come 5/1 plunge. Though occasionally tight at his hurdles, Genuflex posted an efficient round of jumping overall and travelled well in midfield for much of the contest. In contention turning for home, he found himself outpaced between the last two and was slow getting away from the final flight. Nevertheless, he plugged on along the run-in to snatch second in the final strides. Entering calmer waters at Sedgefield twelve days ago, Genuflex's profile saw him sent off a worthy 4/11 favourite. Making his own running from the outset, he raced keenly while setting a modest tempo. Though he hit the top of the third, rather missed the sixth and ran down the penultimate flight, his jumping was neat enough overall. Genuflex entered the straight half a dozen lengths clear of his rivals and after being shaken up away from two out, was in cruise control for the rest of the race; crossing the line seventeen lengths clear of the remainder. Though he has yet to reach the best of his flat form, this was a step up on his debut effort and there is scope for further improvement. However, while there is scope for further improvement and the yard remains in excellent form, this type of contest is probably outside of his capacity.
Keepyourdreamsbig bg Olly Murphy j3-1-1 (106) 90 103
Vision d'Etat (Enrique){4-r}(0.78) 1/0 Take This Waltz 1st Prix D'Essai Des Pouliches, Enghien 2011
Though the French three-year-old hurdling scene is replete with newcomer contests akin to two-year-old maidens on the flat, such as the Prix d'Essai des Pouliches/Poulains for example, Britain and Ireland have no such contests and young jumps breds are a rare sight before their fourth birthdays. However, Keepyourdreamsbig, whose dam won the 2011 running of the Prix d'Essai des Pouliches, was one such oddity when he made his debut at Uttoxeter in late July. A representative of Vision d'Etat's final crop, a sire with a very good record in the sphere, Keepyourdreamsbig is also a nephew of Prix Aguado fifth Great Shudder along with three other winners. Passing the Tattersalls Ireland ring for €25,000 as a yearling, Keepyourdreamsbig was the first unraced newcomer to represent Olly Murphy - a trainer with a solid 20.83% winner to runner rate in the sphere. Despite taking on two previous winners, he was not without support at Uttoxeter, starting at 6/1 having opened at 10/1. Held up in touch, he made his move on the turn for home and appeared to be travelling the strongest at the distance - trading at 1.2 in-running. However, while he loomed alongside Burristo, it took him most of the run-in to finally get his measure by which time subsequent Cartmel winner Sacre Pierre had already flown. Though his jumping was safe, it did lack the winner's neatness as he was prone to giving his flights more air than necessary. Nevertheless, this was an issue that ought to resolve itself with experience and having shown enough tenacity to win the battle for second, a race of such nature looked well within his scope. Such a race occurred at the beginning of September at Worcester where he was backed into favouritism prior to the off. Taking the lead early, albeit at a sedate tempo, he jumped more neatly than on his debut with the only criticisms being that he was somewhat big and skewed over the third and slightly tight at the fourth, two out and the last where he was bumped on the approach. Injecting more pace turning for home, he was challenged up the straight by Corporal Jones (who would return slightly lame) and after leaving him behind on the run-in, had built up enough of a lead to fend off the fast finishing Boulette by half a length. With more assured hurdling than first time, this marked an improvement of roughly half a dozen pounds with promise of further to come with experience. Keepyourdreamsbig was last seen at the start of the month in a tight looking contest at Fontwell. He had been supported from a morning show of 9/4 to 6/4 joint favouritism at the off, but ran a race which was too bad to be true. Apart from hitting the fifth, his jumping was sound enough and he appeared to be travelling well until midway along the back where he dropped away quickly before pulling up on the home turn. No explanation was given for the performance, nor were any abnormalities found post-race. Notwithstanding, even if this last outing is ignored, Keepyourdreamsbig still has something to find with a few of these, including Sacre Pierre, and while the yard has been in good form recently, there are questions to answer in this company.
Oceanline bg Alan King f10-2-4 (85) 91 j1-0-1 (-) 108 113
Adaay (Dalakhani){14-f}(0.33) 2/2 Karezak 2nd Finale Juvenile Hurdle (G1), Chepstow 2014
Dual Triumph winning trainer Alan King has one of the strongest records in the juvenile hurdling division and is the winningmost trainer in the sphere since 2004/05. His record in this particular contest is also respectable with two wins and three seconds from eleven runners; although several of his good ones have been beaten in this race including Katchit, Sceau Royal and Master Blueyes. Representing Barbury Castle this year is the sole maiden hurdler in the lineup; Oceanline. Having made his racecourse debut last October, Oceanline went into his three-year-old campaign with a rating of 78. He got off the mark on his fourth start of 2021 when stepping up to a mile and six furlongs, landing the odds in a five runner Nottingham handicap off 75 in early June. Though he failed to double up at Haydock a week later and finished down the field in a valuable handicap at the same track, he returned to winning ways in a Sunday Series contest at Sandown in mid August. Racing off 82, he was outpaced for a while but after taking up the running a furlong and a half from home, kept on doggedly and pulled clear to win by just over a length. Sire Adaay is having his first crop of hurdlers this term and being small of stature and having only winning form below a mile, he does not fit the profile of a strong stallion in the sphere. Nevertheless Oceanline has proved himself that stamina is no concern and damsire Dalakhani is a positive influence in the sphere with Zubayr, Zanavi and Zarib amongst his broodmares’ progeny. Furthermore, the damline of Oceanline is not without merit as uncle Karashar was a winner over hurdles, the third dam produced the useful Kasthari and the dam of Kalann while, most notably, cousin Karezak was a useful juvenile for the yard in 2014/15. Oceanline hurdling debut came in a four runner affair at Stratford twenty-five days ago where he and Too Friendly had the market and the race between themselves. After winning the well fought contest for favourtism in the ring, Oceanline would be the one to set a steady tempo. He moved smoothly and jumped well until getting close to the fifth, although he was good again when ridden into the next. However, he was tight at the seventh just before the hill, and was getting niggled along from thereon. Firmly pushed along entering the straight, he still held an advantage at the last and though he was joined on landing, he showed good resolve to maintain his battle until his rival found the decisive gear in the dying strides. Other than the final result, there is little complaint to be had about this performance and there was plenty to like about his jumping and attitude. Furthermore, as there may be a stronger pace here from which he can get a lead, there is a good chance he can reverse placings with Too Friendly which would also give him solid prospects overall.
Sacre Pierre bg Donald McCain j2-2-0 (113) 98 109
On Est Bien (Goldneyev){8-a}(1.22) 1/1 Gold Tweet 1st Prix Hopper (G3 4yo Chase), Compiegne 2021
An unraced horse with a good French pedigree prior to making a winning debut at Uttoxeter, Sacre Pierre is a full-brother to the good young jumper Gold Tweet along with two others who have shown respectable form in Apollo Creed and Chuck Bass. Granddam Jance was a good three-year-old hurdler in 1996 while the 1999 Prix Alain du Breil third Kidder appears at 3/1 on the damline. Fetching €8,000 at the Osarus two-year-old breeze up, his trainer Donald McCain has a strong record in the sphere with a 29.09% winners to runners rate, although his best result from three runners in this contest came when Breakfast finished third in the 2018 running. There was not a great deal of confidence in the market ahead of his Uttoxeter bow in late July as he drifted from a morning show of 11/2 before starting the race at twice that price. Nevertheless, he settled nicely in the rear and was not asked to make his move until three furlongs from home. Though his response to being shaken up was not immediate, he got to within a length of the leaders at the last and showed very good acceleration once given the office by Brian Hughes to win by six lengths. The form has since been boosted with Keepyourdreamsbig winning at Worcester next time out. Irishracing reported that Sacre Pierre was "not that fluent", but this does him a disservice. While he was sticky at the second, a bit late at the fifth and got close to the last, his better jumps outweighed his flawed ones and he was actually quite neat by and large. He made his second appearance five weeks later at Cartmel and he set the standard over his three rivals. A solid, long odds-on favourite, Sacre Pierre initially tucked in behind the leaders before going to the front entering the wood side second time round. His early jumping lacked fluency as he was steady and close at the first two before clipping the fourth. However, he soon remembered his job at the halfway stage and was neat over the next three. Though he was briefly and narrowly headed leaving the back, Sacre Pierre soon found another gear to see off his challenger. He did wander quite erratically on the approach to the last, but this was much more likely due to a lapse in concentration than any temperament concerns as he was smooth around all of the other turns, and ran true along the run-in. Beyond his being in good shape and confirming the promise of his debut, not much more was learned from that outing. The form was nothing special, but he is capable of jumping well and is not short of an engine. Sacre Pierre had an intended engagement at Market Rasen a month ago, but was withdrawn after coming down with a case of self certificate (found stiff). Still very much unexposed with his yard in decent nick, it will be interesting to see how he handles this step up in class; even if his bare form leaves him with a bit to find.
Too Friendly bg Dan Skelton f6-1-2 (85) 91 j1-1-0 (-) 110 114
Camelot (One Cool Cat){14-c}(0.86) 2/2 Arch Stanton 2nd 3m½f Handicap Hurdle (97), Roscommon 2018
In 2019, the Gredleys sent Allmankind to Dan Skelton for whom he won graded contests at Cheltenham and Chepstow prior to placing third in the Triumph. Last season, Stepney Causeway followed suit and landed a four timer during his first campaign in the sphere. This time around, the first such horse was Too Friendly who left George Scott with a rating of 85. Placed on his first two racecourse appearances at Lingfield over the winter, Too Friendly returned after a break to win the ten furlong maiden at Doncaster’s Lincoln meeting, winning under a confident ride with something to spare from dual subsequent winner Dhushan. He then took a step up in class when contesting the Listed Blue Riband Trial at Epsom and while he finished sixth of eight, it still marked a career best. Too Friendly had taken a keen hold at Epsom and though cheekpieces were applied for his two subsequent outings, they failed to negate the issue as he finished closer to last than first in handicaps at Royal Ascot and at Newmarket. In Dan Skelton, Too Friendly joins one of the strongest yards in the division who along with a healthy winners to runners rate of 38.27%, also boasts some talented sorts in Bedrock, Azzuri, Nube Negra and Cabot Cliffs along with the aforementioned Gredley representatives. While Too Friendly’s granddam was the highly talented filly Marling, jumpers are a sparse breed on the damline with moderate Arch Stanton (2/2) being the only nearby relative to show form in the sphere. Camelot made a strong start to his career as a stallion in the division with his first crop spearheaded by Sir Erec and Gardens Of Babylon. His rate rather flattened out after the first crop, but this term has gotten off to a good start with wins from Realist in Ireland, and from Too Friendly himself on his hurdling debut at Stratford early this month. Though coming off second best in a flip flop battle for favourtism with Oceanline, he got his revenge in the race itself. His jumping did not get off to the cleanest start as he hopped and stumbled slightly at the first, and he was slightly reticent when big over the third. Nevertheless, despite racing keenly in the early stages, Too Friendly was travelling much the better going over the hill second time. He had to be asked to reach top gear but his response was fairly swift and though outjumped at the last by his resolute rival, Too Friendly had enough to cross the line a length to the good. He could have settled a bit better and there his hurdling could have been more consistent, but the positives outweighed the negatives and atop a solid foundation is ample scope for further improvement. Too Friendly just about leads the field on domestic form and although he was probably better suited than Oceanline by how the Stratford race developed, he still commands a great deal of respect.
Addosh bf Stuart Edmunds f11-1-4 (71) 78 j2-1-1 (108) 96 108
The Gurkha (Dubawi){10-a}(0.63) 3/2 State Crown 1st 2m1f Handicap Hurdle (110), Newton Abbot 2021
Of all the active trainers in Britain and Ireland who have had fifteen of more juvenile hurdlers since 2004/05, only Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls have a strike rate higher than the 25.64% of Stuart Edmunds. Before Addosh made her hurdling debut at Stratford, the yard's first-time strike rate of 42.86% was bettered only by Nicky Henderson and Desmond McDonogh. Prior to selling for 15,000 guineas at Tattersalls in July, she had amassed a win and three places on the flat for Hugo Palmer and her BHA mark of 71 made her strong at the weights both at Stratford and again here. Her pedigree is not without its potential either as while The Gurkha is one of Galileo's speedier sons, he is related to good jumpers and the sireline does well in the sphere. Damsire Dubawi has a 26.67% winner to runner rate in that role which includes Leoncavallo and State Crown - the latter being a 3/2 relative of Addosh who won a handicap hurdle as a juvenile last season. Steady in the market throughout the day, she did drift out to 15/2 in the Stratford ring, but this was on account of the confidence behind Caramelised and she still started second favourite. Held up in the early stages, she pulled hard in patches but was able to settle reasonably well before too long. Towards the rear at the fifth, she made robust headway in a short amount of time along the back and was travelling strongly just behind the leaders two flights later. Addosh was the last pursuer on the bridle approaching the home turn, but had been completely outpaced by the winner who was long gone before they could see the stands. Nevertheless, while no match for the winner, the remainder of the field were left in her wake and there were sixteen and thirteen lengths between herself, the third and the fourth. Addosh jumped some of her hurdles quite well, although she was steep at the first, very untidy at the third and low at the last while also showing a slight tendency to go right. Overall, it was a satisfactory introduction there was enough to suggest she has a future in this sphere. This suggestion manifested in the traditionally useful Class 2 contest at Market Rasen five weeks ago where her chances were much stronger than the 14/1 offered overnight. She was even available at 9/1 in the ring and while her being backed into 5/1 by flagfall may have been stable confidence, it would very feasibly have been an appropriate self-adjustment of the market. Just as she had been on her debut at Stratford, she was held up in the rear once again; albeit off a much slower pace. Though rather hopping over the first, she jumped well in this contest and travelled powerfully to get within striking distance as the pace increased around the home turn. She was slightly tight at the penultimate flight but this did not cost her any momentum and needed only to be nudged on the approach to the last to get to the front. Popping over the flight neatly, she was pushed out to score by a comfortable five and a half lengths. Reversing Stratford placings in no uncertain terms with Caramelised, this was a big step up on her debut performance. Addosh was still a little off her flat best but the way she travelled and jumped here is indicative of her fulfilling the promise shown first time round. The performance still leaves her with a few pounds to find with the best of these however, and given that the Market Rasen contest was a most suitable speed test, she may not enjoy the same luxury here.
Battle Angel grf Mark Walford f12-1-2 (69) 77 j1-1-0 (-) 92 100
Iffraaj (Monsun){9-c}(0.68) 3/2 Mr Smith 1st 2m7½f Handicap Hurdle (100), Roscommon 2019
While her official mark of 69 would still put her within the 70th percentile of flat recruits, her rating is still the lowest available in this contest. A maiden after nine outings with Emmet Mullins, Battle Angel joined Mark Walford after fetching 15,000 guineas at the Tattersalls July Sale. She got off the mark on her British debut, a thirteen furlong Hamilton handicap in mid-July. Racing off 62, she was held up in the rear and after making headway entering the straight, she had to force her way out of a pocket at the distance. Nevertheless, she ran on well after getting a clear route and was a game length winner at the line. The form did not work out too well and her next two outings saw her finish last prior to a switch to hurdling. There were elements of promise in her profile ahead of her jumps debut at Wetherby as while Iffraaj has a below average winner to runner rate, his charges tend to hold their flat form and his trainer had two winning juveniles from nine going into the race. Though a drifter during the day, she regained her market position after being trimmed from 11/1 to 15/2 in the ring. Held up in the rear, Battle Angel became lit up after being hampered and stumbling at the first. Steady and tight at the second and third, she stumbled again at the fourth and seventh. She made steady progress down the back, at which point the leader overexerted himself in an attempt to seize the initiative. Entering the straight one of just two left chasing down the quarry, she was still tight at the penultimate flight and was steady when reaching at the last. Nevertheless, she found herself in the right place at the right time and with her rivals capitulating, found herself running out a seemingly cosy two and three quarter length winner. The race has yet to be tested collaterally, but although the runner-up was the cause of his own demise, the form is still of a reasonable standard. Notwithstanding, while there was potential in her debut, course and distance form is generally a plus, and she does receive weight all round, her form - and that of her trainer - are the weakest in what is a strong field in both regards.
tl;dr
Porticello - Winner of a strong looking renewal of an historically informative Prix Grandak. Well bred, joins strong yard and choice of first target is a strong statement. Record of ex-French newcomers fairly dodgy in this contest, but is still a most exciting recruit.
Genuflex - Confirmed promise on hurdling debut behind Mister Allegro with facile success at Sedgefield twelve days ago. Yard still in tremendous form but may find a few too good here.
Keepyourdreamsbig - Well bred and followed promising racecourse debut behind Sacre Pierre at Uttoxeter with a win at Worcester. Ran as though something amiss latest and something to prove even if returning to best.
Oceanline - Joint best of these on flat and top yard has sent several good horses to this race (not all of them won). Second to Too Friendly on jumps debut at Stratford. Race possibly not run to suit but jumped well and can do better here.
Sacre Pierre - Well bred and made a winning debut at Uttoxeter before following up at Cartmel with minimum fuss. Top yard is in good health and while bare form leaves him with something to find, will be interesting to see how he handles the step up in class.
Too Friendly - Joint best of these on flat and conqueror of Oceanline at Stratford. Did not jump or settle quite as well but had better turn of foot. Remains to be seen if he is suited by conditions here but is a horse of strong potential.
Addosh - Fairly useful on flat for Hugo Palmer and has joined a good and underrated yard for the sphere. Promising Stratford debut followed by win in a good Market Rasen race. Latter contest ran to suit however, and conditions unlikely to be replicated here.
Battle Angel - Reasonable on flat but still lowest rated in this field. Race rather fell apart when making a winning hurdles debut over course and distance. Not without potential but others have stronger overall profiles.
Strong prospects
1. Porticello
Reasonable prospects
2. Oceanline
3. Too Friendly
4. Sacre Pierre
Feasible prospects
5. Genuflex
6. Addosh
7. Battle Angel
Moderate prospects
8. Keepyourdreamsbig
Negligible prospects
.
