Juvenile Hurdlers 2021/22
- Thread starter Bachelors Hall
- Start date
Fairly happy with that performance from Porticello and now shading favouritism for the Triumph, although 16/1 and a huge amount of time for that to change.
Giving weight away in a listed race, to horses with experience first time up was a decent performance though.
Giving weight away in a listed race, to horses with experience first time up was a decent performance though.
He will need to jump better but has an engine. Happy with Genuflex finishing second but is only moderate.
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Bachelors Hall
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Cheers for comments and thoughts HawkWing and Wilson
Haven't looked at either Wetherby or Down Royal in detail, and probably won't for a few days as I am not completely with it... Great shout on Genuflex HW! Though not a Triumph contender, he's better than moderate and that Ludlow form is starting to look very nice. Saint Riquier looks to further bolster that form tomorrow...
So I had a bit of a mishap yesterday where I came off my bike and cushioned the fall with my face. Had some memory... things... but while I was concussed, I probably won't die as a direct result which is pretty cool. Reviews will have to hang back as I am still a bit woozy, but I did manage to get the preview for Huntingdon done. Looks alright to me but bear in mind that I have a tenuous grip on my own so if it looks like complete gibberish then I do apologise
Though briefly a fillies' contest during the mid 2000s, this weekend's juvenile hurdle at Huntingdon continually since 2007. The standard of these contests have mostly been on the lower side of average, although winning introductions to hurdling were made in this contest by Starluck in 2008, and Nyanza in 2014. This season's edition is effectively a maiden hurdle with a couple of experienced runners bringing respectable placed form while the newcomers are headed by a pair of 70 rated flat recruits. After extreme outliers are removed, average winning DIs at the venue stand at 1.13 median, 1.36 mean which would place Huntingdon just within the more testing third of racecourses. However, the DIs for this particular contest, which is generally held on a sound surface, stand at 1.55 median, 1.60 mean, which is in keeping with Huntingdon's general characteristics of being flat, fast and easy track. Figures pertinent to clear rounds, completions, odds-on favourites and starting prices are closely tied to standard. Furthermore, the success rates and clear round records of newcomers in this contest suggest no pronounced advantage or disadvantage. The going is currently described as good although a spell of heavy showers is forecast for the morning.
Come On Jack bg Michael Easterby f3-0-0 (57) 53
War Command (Azamour){2-o}(2.11) 2/1 Idder 1st 2m1f Handicap Hurdle (112), Carlisle 2017
Costing 3,000 guineas as a foal, the standout performance in the three race career of Come On Jack came on his sole start beyond a mile when finishing fourth of seven in a Beverley novice stakes on his penultimate outing last month. The front three pulled over four lengths clear, with the trio consisting of an underperforming hot favourite along with Great Commission who was third at Sedgefield recently. The form in behind is quite insipid and Come On Jack was moderate when last seen at Chester over an extended seven furlongs. The Easterby yard has had eight winners in the sphere since 2004/05, although their winner to runner and improvement rates of 10.81% and 22.58% are quite weak. Sire War Command has had a couple of winners thus far, although both would score on their fourth attempts. In a statistical curiosity, his progeny's clear round rate of 86.84% is the lowest of any sire with ten plus runners since the long departed Hunting Lion, although none of these falls or unseats would occur first time out. Come On Jack is a nephew of average winning handicapper Idder, but that is the extent of closely related jumps winners. After being allotted a mark of 57, connections have opted to send Come On Jack hurdling and while his profile is not abysmal, it is not particularly exciting either.
Jack Kennedy bc Kevin Frost f4-0-1 (70) 76
Galileo (Champs Elysees){1-p}(0.64) 3/1 Line Drawing 1st 2m Maiden Hurdle, Tramore 2007
Former inmates of John Gosden's can be expected to bring some class to the division. However, those not subsequently trained by Milton Harris have an underwhelming winner to runner rate of 13.33% which reflects the improvement rate of just 21.31%. The latest animal to attempt to buck these figures is Jack Kennedy who left Clarehaven Stables after fetching 12,000 guineas at the Tattersalls July sale. The classically bred son of Galileo and 2015 Irish Oaks runner-up Jack Naylor, Jack Kennedy's racecourse debut came in a ten furlong novice stakes at Redcar in mid-April. While patently inexperienced, he did enough to finish a three length third of nine, splitting a pair who were subsequently rated in the late eighties. However, he failed to match this performance on his next two outings at Salisbury and Doncaster and though his being unfurnished was a feasible excuse, his allotted rating of 75 was not enough to prevent him from going to the sales. Picked up by Kevin Frost, whose sole juvenile to date ran five times without placing, he was tried in a Beverley handicap off 75, but after rearing at the start, never passed a rival and finished last of six. Jack Kennedy did not live up to his breeding on the flat, but while Galileo's improvement rate is unsurprisingly moderate at 31.34%, he does have a respectable 26.17% winners to runners rate. The first jumpers to appear on the damline are winning hurdlers Line Drawing and Fine Lace at 3/1, while Stance (4/1), Modicum (4/2), Mister McGoldrick (5/3) and Gardens Of Babylon (5/5) appear further back. Kevin Frost has little experience with juvenile hurdlers, although his record with hurdling debutants is a fair two wins from eleven runs. Jack Kennedy is entitled to some respect in this company, although his flat rating is perhaps the ceiling of his ability and he may need to find improvement to in order to master some of these on his first start since August.
Sabre Jet bg Amy Murphy f6-0-2 (61) 65 j1-0-0 (-) 62 55
Zoffany (Teofilo){19-c}(1.46) 3/1 Corton 4th 2m4f Maiden Hurdle, Worcester 2005
Amy Murphy went without a winner in her first three seasons in the sphere, but she made a discernible impact last term with three individual winners giving her a 20.83% strike rate. Furthermore, she has sent out juvenile hurdlers on forty-four occasions and counting without a single fall or unseat to date. Her first runner in the sphere this season was Sabre Jet, who went into his Stratford debut on the back of his best flat effort to date. His first two starts on turf did not match his all-weather outings over the winter. However, the application of tongue tie and cheekpieces, and a return to ten furlongs, saw him keep on well to finish second off 62 at Yarmouth. The records of Zoffany and Teofilo as sire and damsire in the sphere are solid and though the damline and level of flat form were less encouraging, his overall attitude and profile gave him fair prospects and he was clipped a couple of points in the ring to start at 12/1. Held up in touch, he was still just about amongst the leading group crossing the hill. However, was soon losing ground and though he entered the straight in third place, he was a spent force and weakened from thereon. His early jumping was not bad, but it rather deteriorated as the race progressed. Sabre Jet showed glimmers of promise and probably found the trip just beyond him. Following a wind operation, he returned to the flat at Leicester nineteen days ago over ten furlongs on heavy ground. Though the ground was unlikely to suit and he was beaten just under ten lengths, he was not entirely disgraced in his plugging on to finish seventh of fourteen. Sabre Jet is likely to appreciate this sharper test in his quest to match his flat ability and with the yard in better form than it was in August, a better performance here would not come as a surprise.
Saint Riquier grc Ian Williams f3-1-0 (-) - j1-0-0 (-) 97 104
Le Havre (Montjeu){5-g}(0.60) 3/2 Fashion Mix 1st 3300m 3yo Conditions Hurdle, Cagnes-sur-Mer 2004
https://www.equidia.fr/chevaux/saint-riquier
Several former inmates of Mikel Delzangles have done well in juvenile hurdles with the likes of Ranjaan and Dispour contributing to a solid 27.78% winner to runner rate. While his higher rated exports often command six figures in public auction, Saint Riquier joined Ian Williams after getting knocked down for €33,000 at the Arqana Summer Sale. Well beaten at Fontainbleau on his sole outing at two when slow out of the stalls, he ran a nothing race on his February reappearance at Machecoul over 2350m in testing conditions. He returned after a four month break in a 2200m French bred's maiden contest at Erbray. Initially held up in touch, he moved into a more prominent position during the second circuit and while he did not completely understand the game, Saint Riquier did enough work in the straight to eventually win by a short neck. The runner-up, in receipt of three and a half kilos, is rated in the early sixties and the remaining form would give Saint Riquier a mark on the cusp of 70. Le Havre has had one winner from six in Britain and Ireland, while his winner to runner rate in France, where his progeny are headed by the useful Chaptal, is a solid 18.92%. There are few jumpers on the damline, although Fragrant Mix at 3/1 is a reasonably capable sire of jumpers. Saint Riquier's British/Hurdling debut came at Ludlow early this month and there was little confidence in the market. Starting the day at 10/3, he opened on course at 13/2 before drifting out to 10/1 at the off. Setting off keenly but settling better before long, his hurdling left a fair bit to be desired. Stumbling slightly on landing at the first, he was tight at the third, steady and close over the fourth, slow over the next before rather missing the sixth. Notwithstanding, after initially racing in the rear, he made good headway along the back and despite getting baulked at the penultimate hurdle, was still in a challenging position on the run to the last. However, he skewed badly over the final flight and could only plug on at one pace to finish fourth by just under six lengths. At the time, the form looked fairly sketchy with the winning time a modest one and a winner a big priced, lowly rated flat recruit. However, the past week has seen the form receive a couple of significant boosts with Mister Allegro securing a brace with a strong showing at Wincanton, while runner-up Genuflex followed a facile Sedgefield success with a fine second in the Wensleydale Hurdle. Furthermore, the Ian Williams yard, who unleashed another useful looking ex-French recruit to the sphere in Malakahna earlier this week, has a winner (Speedo Boy) and a second (Oi The Clubb Oi's) from three runners in this contest. Saint Riquier will want to jump better than he did at Ludlow, although this is not improbable as his round was not terminally reckless and the bare form would still set a strong target for his rivals here. There is a concern that this trip may still be on the sharp side, but a couple of these have been difficult to settle and his stripping fitter could also give him an extra gear.
Stigwood bg Alex Hales f8-0-1 (52) 66 j1-0-0 (-) 73 83
Kodiac (Sadler's Wells){22-a}(1.20) 0.5 Allow Me 1st 2m3½f Handicap Hurdle (120), Catterick 2012
During an eight race spell on the flat for Eve Johnson Houghton, the sum of Stigwood's accomplishments were a solitary placing and a rating of 52. He would then join Alex Hales, whose winner to runner rate in the sphere stands at 12.12%, for 8,000 guineas at the Tattersalls July sale. While sire Kodiac has a strong winner to runner rate of 36.67%, and half-brother Allow Me was a fairly useful handicap hurdler, Stigwood faced a massive task on his hurdling debut in a Class 2 at Market Rasen last month. Always towards the rear, Stigwood was big and untidy over several of his obstacles and was never in a position to get involved in the race before finishing a distance behind the winner. A better evaluation of his ability might be made in calmer waters, but he offered no strong promise in the context of his upcoming assignment.
Tarseem chg Dan Skelton j1-0-1 (-) 82 90
Dawn Approach (Dansili){2-f}(1.00) 3/1 Seventh Sign 1st Juvenile Hurdle, Newbury 2013
Prior to Tarseem's racecourse debut over this course and distance nearly four weeks ago, the three unraced Shadwell dispersals who went juvenile hurdling accumulated seventeen races without success between them. Tarseem, from the Height Of Fashion and sharing a third dam (Rahayeb) with Baaeed, left Shadwell for 7,000 guineas at Tattersalls in March. Rahayeb also produced winning jumpers Seventh Sign and Wujood, although that is the extent of intrigue for the sphere on the damline and sire Dawn Approach has yet to have a winning juvenile from twelve - although Paso Doble did finish third in the Adonis before scoring over hurdles in May. Dan Skelton boasts one of the stronger records in the sphere, and has sent out debutants to win first time in the past with Langer Dan in 2019, and Knotty Ash this season. A steady 5/1 second favourite ahead of his jumps bow, Tarseem showed clear signs of inexperience. Taking a keen hold, he was steep when clipping the first, slightly steady at the third, hopped through the sixth and rather left his feet in the penultimate flight. Nevertheless, his jumping could have been much worse for a newcomer and though he had no chance with the winner and lost second after hanging on the run-in, he was not entirely disgraced overall. Tarseem can be expected to improve on his debut and should have a respectable chance here, although such was his inexperience, it may take a couple more runs before he reaches his potential.
Turaco bg Gary Brown f2-0-0 (-) 66 j1-0-0 (-) 0 0
Kodi Bear (Robellino){3-n}(1.50) 0.5 Lily Trotter 1st 2m Handicap Hurdle (90), Cork 2019
During two starts as a two-year-old for Harry Dunlop, whose former inmates have a 29.03% winner to runner rate, Turaco finished fourth and sixth over a mile at Salisbury and Lingfield respectively. He did not appear to stay well enough on either occasion. Kodi Bear has had a winning juvenile and half-sister Lily Trotter (New Approach) won a moderate handicap over two, but he never looked like seeing out the trip on his hurdling debut at Wetherby. Sent off at 14/1 having opened in the ring at 9/1, he was keen before jumping the first where he went left and bumped into a rival. Settling him from there was a lost cause and he jumped badly in a prominent position before running out of steam and pulling up before the turn for home. A breathing problem was reported, although only a hood, rather than a tongue tie or a wind operation, has been employed.
Twilight Twist bg Alan King f6-1-1 (70) 74
Twilight Son (Pour Moi){14-c}(0.57) 3/1 Krosno 1st 4YO Maiden Hurdle, Naas 1998
Alan King is one of the most dominant trainers of juvenile hurdles in the game and his record with such horses at Huntingdon is a strong twelve winners from forty runners. Since 2004/05, he has had three winning debutants from seven including Walkon in 2008, and Nyanza who in 2014, became the yard's sole winner from six in this particular contest. Twilight Twist is set to represent Barbury Castle in this year's renewal. Costing 5,000 guineas at last year's Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-up, Twilight Twist earned his only victory to date when staying on well under pressure to land an ordinary Wolverhampton novice auction stakes by a narrow margin last November. He would fail to double his tally in four outings at three and reached the frame just the once when third off 70 in a twelve furlong handicap off back at Wolverhampton in mid-July. Last seen in a racing league contest at Lingfield a month later, it took him a while to settle in the rear, but while he never threatened to get involved, he did make up a few places on the straight in what was a slowly run affair. Juveniles trained for both codes by Alan King have a strong 48.81% winner to runner rate, with their first time strike rate a very solid 25.61%. However, Twilight Twist's pedigree is not so compelling. Twilight Son was a dual Group One winner over six furlongs, but was never tried over further. His sire, Kyllachy, has a very modest record in the sphere and while Dragon Pulse (another Kyllachy) has had winners, his strike rate is just 3.17%. Twilight Son's progeny consists predominantly of speedy types and his own damline is decidedly pacey. His being a reasonable 16.1hh is the only real positive in his profile at this juncture. Twilight Twist's uncle was a seven race maiden over jumps, although a winner does appear at 3/1 (alongside Iffraaj). The useful Mijhaar can be found at 3/2 while Davorin stands at 4/2 alongside another fast one in Diktat. Some of this speed is mitigated by Pour Moi, whose own progeny have a strong winner to runner rate of 44.44%, although it remains to be seen if his influence offsets the overall negatives. Ultimately, Twilight Twist still has to be respected given his connections and flat ability, although there are enough precarious elements in his profile to temper enthusiasm.
tl;dr
Come On Jack - One of his three flat outings had some potential, but even a generous interpretation would leave him with plenty to find. Trainer and pedigree have some substance without being strong enough to warrant much attention.
Jack Kennedy - Bred to be a classic contender but while debut outing for John Gosden was reasonable, he did not make the grade on the flat. New trainer is without experience in the sphere and there is nothing in the pedigree to suggest he can find the necessary improvement.
Sabre Jet - Fair maiden on flat where twice placed, and with yard capable of winning with its juveniles. Folded tamely on sole hurdles outing but wind operation and recent flat outing could see him do better here.
Saint Riquier - Did not show on first two outings but broke his duck on his third and final start for Mikel Delzangles. Novicey on stable/hurdles bow at Ludlow but not irredeemably so and form of that race has worked out very well. Stable had another juvenile win well earlier this week.
Stigwood - Lowest rated of these on flat and made little impression when thrown in deep end for hurdling debut. Plenty to prove.
Tarseem - Shadwell dispersal whose pedigree is not entirely conducive to successful hurdling career. Joined a strong yard however, and though keen and green on racecourse debut at this track four weeks ago, was not disgraced. Should improve but may need more experience.
Turaco - Hints of promise in two races for Harry Dunlop. Not seen for year prior to hurdling debut at Wetherby where he gave himself no chance of staying and jumped abysmally in the process.
Twilight Twist - Winner on flat for Alan King yard that has strong records at this venue and with this type. Form comparable to best brought into the contest, although the pedigree provokes trepidation.
Strong prospects
1. Saint Riquier
Reasonable prospects
2. Twilight Twist
3. Tarseem
4. Sabre Jet
Feasible prospects
5. Jack Kennedy
Moderate prospects
.
Negligible prospects
6. Stigwood
7. Come On Jack
8. Turaco
Haven't looked at either Wetherby or Down Royal in detail, and probably won't for a few days as I am not completely with it... Great shout on Genuflex HW! Though not a Triumph contender, he's better than moderate and that Ludlow form is starting to look very nice. Saint Riquier looks to further bolster that form tomorrow...
So I had a bit of a mishap yesterday where I came off my bike and cushioned the fall with my face. Had some memory... things... but while I was concussed, I probably won't die as a direct result which is pretty cool. Reviews will have to hang back as I am still a bit woozy, but I did manage to get the preview for Huntingdon done. Looks alright to me but bear in mind that I have a tenuous grip on my own so if it looks like complete gibberish then I do apologise
Though briefly a fillies' contest during the mid 2000s, this weekend's juvenile hurdle at Huntingdon continually since 2007. The standard of these contests have mostly been on the lower side of average, although winning introductions to hurdling were made in this contest by Starluck in 2008, and Nyanza in 2014. This season's edition is effectively a maiden hurdle with a couple of experienced runners bringing respectable placed form while the newcomers are headed by a pair of 70 rated flat recruits. After extreme outliers are removed, average winning DIs at the venue stand at 1.13 median, 1.36 mean which would place Huntingdon just within the more testing third of racecourses. However, the DIs for this particular contest, which is generally held on a sound surface, stand at 1.55 median, 1.60 mean, which is in keeping with Huntingdon's general characteristics of being flat, fast and easy track. Figures pertinent to clear rounds, completions, odds-on favourites and starting prices are closely tied to standard. Furthermore, the success rates and clear round records of newcomers in this contest suggest no pronounced advantage or disadvantage. The going is currently described as good although a spell of heavy showers is forecast for the morning.
Come On Jack bg Michael Easterby f3-0-0 (57) 53
War Command (Azamour){2-o}(2.11) 2/1 Idder 1st 2m1f Handicap Hurdle (112), Carlisle 2017
Costing 3,000 guineas as a foal, the standout performance in the three race career of Come On Jack came on his sole start beyond a mile when finishing fourth of seven in a Beverley novice stakes on his penultimate outing last month. The front three pulled over four lengths clear, with the trio consisting of an underperforming hot favourite along with Great Commission who was third at Sedgefield recently. The form in behind is quite insipid and Come On Jack was moderate when last seen at Chester over an extended seven furlongs. The Easterby yard has had eight winners in the sphere since 2004/05, although their winner to runner and improvement rates of 10.81% and 22.58% are quite weak. Sire War Command has had a couple of winners thus far, although both would score on their fourth attempts. In a statistical curiosity, his progeny's clear round rate of 86.84% is the lowest of any sire with ten plus runners since the long departed Hunting Lion, although none of these falls or unseats would occur first time out. Come On Jack is a nephew of average winning handicapper Idder, but that is the extent of closely related jumps winners. After being allotted a mark of 57, connections have opted to send Come On Jack hurdling and while his profile is not abysmal, it is not particularly exciting either.
Jack Kennedy bc Kevin Frost f4-0-1 (70) 76
Galileo (Champs Elysees){1-p}(0.64) 3/1 Line Drawing 1st 2m Maiden Hurdle, Tramore 2007
Former inmates of John Gosden's can be expected to bring some class to the division. However, those not subsequently trained by Milton Harris have an underwhelming winner to runner rate of 13.33% which reflects the improvement rate of just 21.31%. The latest animal to attempt to buck these figures is Jack Kennedy who left Clarehaven Stables after fetching 12,000 guineas at the Tattersalls July sale. The classically bred son of Galileo and 2015 Irish Oaks runner-up Jack Naylor, Jack Kennedy's racecourse debut came in a ten furlong novice stakes at Redcar in mid-April. While patently inexperienced, he did enough to finish a three length third of nine, splitting a pair who were subsequently rated in the late eighties. However, he failed to match this performance on his next two outings at Salisbury and Doncaster and though his being unfurnished was a feasible excuse, his allotted rating of 75 was not enough to prevent him from going to the sales. Picked up by Kevin Frost, whose sole juvenile to date ran five times without placing, he was tried in a Beverley handicap off 75, but after rearing at the start, never passed a rival and finished last of six. Jack Kennedy did not live up to his breeding on the flat, but while Galileo's improvement rate is unsurprisingly moderate at 31.34%, he does have a respectable 26.17% winners to runners rate. The first jumpers to appear on the damline are winning hurdlers Line Drawing and Fine Lace at 3/1, while Stance (4/1), Modicum (4/2), Mister McGoldrick (5/3) and Gardens Of Babylon (5/5) appear further back. Kevin Frost has little experience with juvenile hurdlers, although his record with hurdling debutants is a fair two wins from eleven runs. Jack Kennedy is entitled to some respect in this company, although his flat rating is perhaps the ceiling of his ability and he may need to find improvement to in order to master some of these on his first start since August.
Sabre Jet bg Amy Murphy f6-0-2 (61) 65 j1-0-0 (-) 62 55
Zoffany (Teofilo){19-c}(1.46) 3/1 Corton 4th 2m4f Maiden Hurdle, Worcester 2005
Amy Murphy went without a winner in her first three seasons in the sphere, but she made a discernible impact last term with three individual winners giving her a 20.83% strike rate. Furthermore, she has sent out juvenile hurdlers on forty-four occasions and counting without a single fall or unseat to date. Her first runner in the sphere this season was Sabre Jet, who went into his Stratford debut on the back of his best flat effort to date. His first two starts on turf did not match his all-weather outings over the winter. However, the application of tongue tie and cheekpieces, and a return to ten furlongs, saw him keep on well to finish second off 62 at Yarmouth. The records of Zoffany and Teofilo as sire and damsire in the sphere are solid and though the damline and level of flat form were less encouraging, his overall attitude and profile gave him fair prospects and he was clipped a couple of points in the ring to start at 12/1. Held up in touch, he was still just about amongst the leading group crossing the hill. However, was soon losing ground and though he entered the straight in third place, he was a spent force and weakened from thereon. His early jumping was not bad, but it rather deteriorated as the race progressed. Sabre Jet showed glimmers of promise and probably found the trip just beyond him. Following a wind operation, he returned to the flat at Leicester nineteen days ago over ten furlongs on heavy ground. Though the ground was unlikely to suit and he was beaten just under ten lengths, he was not entirely disgraced in his plugging on to finish seventh of fourteen. Sabre Jet is likely to appreciate this sharper test in his quest to match his flat ability and with the yard in better form than it was in August, a better performance here would not come as a surprise.
Saint Riquier grc Ian Williams f3-1-0 (-) - j1-0-0 (-) 97 104
Le Havre (Montjeu){5-g}(0.60) 3/2 Fashion Mix 1st 3300m 3yo Conditions Hurdle, Cagnes-sur-Mer 2004
https://www.equidia.fr/chevaux/saint-riquier
Several former inmates of Mikel Delzangles have done well in juvenile hurdles with the likes of Ranjaan and Dispour contributing to a solid 27.78% winner to runner rate. While his higher rated exports often command six figures in public auction, Saint Riquier joined Ian Williams after getting knocked down for €33,000 at the Arqana Summer Sale. Well beaten at Fontainbleau on his sole outing at two when slow out of the stalls, he ran a nothing race on his February reappearance at Machecoul over 2350m in testing conditions. He returned after a four month break in a 2200m French bred's maiden contest at Erbray. Initially held up in touch, he moved into a more prominent position during the second circuit and while he did not completely understand the game, Saint Riquier did enough work in the straight to eventually win by a short neck. The runner-up, in receipt of three and a half kilos, is rated in the early sixties and the remaining form would give Saint Riquier a mark on the cusp of 70. Le Havre has had one winner from six in Britain and Ireland, while his winner to runner rate in France, where his progeny are headed by the useful Chaptal, is a solid 18.92%. There are few jumpers on the damline, although Fragrant Mix at 3/1 is a reasonably capable sire of jumpers. Saint Riquier's British/Hurdling debut came at Ludlow early this month and there was little confidence in the market. Starting the day at 10/3, he opened on course at 13/2 before drifting out to 10/1 at the off. Setting off keenly but settling better before long, his hurdling left a fair bit to be desired. Stumbling slightly on landing at the first, he was tight at the third, steady and close over the fourth, slow over the next before rather missing the sixth. Notwithstanding, after initially racing in the rear, he made good headway along the back and despite getting baulked at the penultimate hurdle, was still in a challenging position on the run to the last. However, he skewed badly over the final flight and could only plug on at one pace to finish fourth by just under six lengths. At the time, the form looked fairly sketchy with the winning time a modest one and a winner a big priced, lowly rated flat recruit. However, the past week has seen the form receive a couple of significant boosts with Mister Allegro securing a brace with a strong showing at Wincanton, while runner-up Genuflex followed a facile Sedgefield success with a fine second in the Wensleydale Hurdle. Furthermore, the Ian Williams yard, who unleashed another useful looking ex-French recruit to the sphere in Malakahna earlier this week, has a winner (Speedo Boy) and a second (Oi The Clubb Oi's) from three runners in this contest. Saint Riquier will want to jump better than he did at Ludlow, although this is not improbable as his round was not terminally reckless and the bare form would still set a strong target for his rivals here. There is a concern that this trip may still be on the sharp side, but a couple of these have been difficult to settle and his stripping fitter could also give him an extra gear.
Stigwood bg Alex Hales f8-0-1 (52) 66 j1-0-0 (-) 73 83
Kodiac (Sadler's Wells){22-a}(1.20) 0.5 Allow Me 1st 2m3½f Handicap Hurdle (120), Catterick 2012
During an eight race spell on the flat for Eve Johnson Houghton, the sum of Stigwood's accomplishments were a solitary placing and a rating of 52. He would then join Alex Hales, whose winner to runner rate in the sphere stands at 12.12%, for 8,000 guineas at the Tattersalls July sale. While sire Kodiac has a strong winner to runner rate of 36.67%, and half-brother Allow Me was a fairly useful handicap hurdler, Stigwood faced a massive task on his hurdling debut in a Class 2 at Market Rasen last month. Always towards the rear, Stigwood was big and untidy over several of his obstacles and was never in a position to get involved in the race before finishing a distance behind the winner. A better evaluation of his ability might be made in calmer waters, but he offered no strong promise in the context of his upcoming assignment.
Tarseem chg Dan Skelton j1-0-1 (-) 82 90
Dawn Approach (Dansili){2-f}(1.00) 3/1 Seventh Sign 1st Juvenile Hurdle, Newbury 2013
Prior to Tarseem's racecourse debut over this course and distance nearly four weeks ago, the three unraced Shadwell dispersals who went juvenile hurdling accumulated seventeen races without success between them. Tarseem, from the Height Of Fashion and sharing a third dam (Rahayeb) with Baaeed, left Shadwell for 7,000 guineas at Tattersalls in March. Rahayeb also produced winning jumpers Seventh Sign and Wujood, although that is the extent of intrigue for the sphere on the damline and sire Dawn Approach has yet to have a winning juvenile from twelve - although Paso Doble did finish third in the Adonis before scoring over hurdles in May. Dan Skelton boasts one of the stronger records in the sphere, and has sent out debutants to win first time in the past with Langer Dan in 2019, and Knotty Ash this season. A steady 5/1 second favourite ahead of his jumps bow, Tarseem showed clear signs of inexperience. Taking a keen hold, he was steep when clipping the first, slightly steady at the third, hopped through the sixth and rather left his feet in the penultimate flight. Nevertheless, his jumping could have been much worse for a newcomer and though he had no chance with the winner and lost second after hanging on the run-in, he was not entirely disgraced overall. Tarseem can be expected to improve on his debut and should have a respectable chance here, although such was his inexperience, it may take a couple more runs before he reaches his potential.
Turaco bg Gary Brown f2-0-0 (-) 66 j1-0-0 (-) 0 0
Kodi Bear (Robellino){3-n}(1.50) 0.5 Lily Trotter 1st 2m Handicap Hurdle (90), Cork 2019
During two starts as a two-year-old for Harry Dunlop, whose former inmates have a 29.03% winner to runner rate, Turaco finished fourth and sixth over a mile at Salisbury and Lingfield respectively. He did not appear to stay well enough on either occasion. Kodi Bear has had a winning juvenile and half-sister Lily Trotter (New Approach) won a moderate handicap over two, but he never looked like seeing out the trip on his hurdling debut at Wetherby. Sent off at 14/1 having opened in the ring at 9/1, he was keen before jumping the first where he went left and bumped into a rival. Settling him from there was a lost cause and he jumped badly in a prominent position before running out of steam and pulling up before the turn for home. A breathing problem was reported, although only a hood, rather than a tongue tie or a wind operation, has been employed.
Twilight Twist bg Alan King f6-1-1 (70) 74
Twilight Son (Pour Moi){14-c}(0.57) 3/1 Krosno 1st 4YO Maiden Hurdle, Naas 1998
Alan King is one of the most dominant trainers of juvenile hurdles in the game and his record with such horses at Huntingdon is a strong twelve winners from forty runners. Since 2004/05, he has had three winning debutants from seven including Walkon in 2008, and Nyanza who in 2014, became the yard's sole winner from six in this particular contest. Twilight Twist is set to represent Barbury Castle in this year's renewal. Costing 5,000 guineas at last year's Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-up, Twilight Twist earned his only victory to date when staying on well under pressure to land an ordinary Wolverhampton novice auction stakes by a narrow margin last November. He would fail to double his tally in four outings at three and reached the frame just the once when third off 70 in a twelve furlong handicap off back at Wolverhampton in mid-July. Last seen in a racing league contest at Lingfield a month later, it took him a while to settle in the rear, but while he never threatened to get involved, he did make up a few places on the straight in what was a slowly run affair. Juveniles trained for both codes by Alan King have a strong 48.81% winner to runner rate, with their first time strike rate a very solid 25.61%. However, Twilight Twist's pedigree is not so compelling. Twilight Son was a dual Group One winner over six furlongs, but was never tried over further. His sire, Kyllachy, has a very modest record in the sphere and while Dragon Pulse (another Kyllachy) has had winners, his strike rate is just 3.17%. Twilight Son's progeny consists predominantly of speedy types and his own damline is decidedly pacey. His being a reasonable 16.1hh is the only real positive in his profile at this juncture. Twilight Twist's uncle was a seven race maiden over jumps, although a winner does appear at 3/1 (alongside Iffraaj). The useful Mijhaar can be found at 3/2 while Davorin stands at 4/2 alongside another fast one in Diktat. Some of this speed is mitigated by Pour Moi, whose own progeny have a strong winner to runner rate of 44.44%, although it remains to be seen if his influence offsets the overall negatives. Ultimately, Twilight Twist still has to be respected given his connections and flat ability, although there are enough precarious elements in his profile to temper enthusiasm.
tl;dr
Come On Jack - One of his three flat outings had some potential, but even a generous interpretation would leave him with plenty to find. Trainer and pedigree have some substance without being strong enough to warrant much attention.
Jack Kennedy - Bred to be a classic contender but while debut outing for John Gosden was reasonable, he did not make the grade on the flat. New trainer is without experience in the sphere and there is nothing in the pedigree to suggest he can find the necessary improvement.
Sabre Jet - Fair maiden on flat where twice placed, and with yard capable of winning with its juveniles. Folded tamely on sole hurdles outing but wind operation and recent flat outing could see him do better here.
Saint Riquier - Did not show on first two outings but broke his duck on his third and final start for Mikel Delzangles. Novicey on stable/hurdles bow at Ludlow but not irredeemably so and form of that race has worked out very well. Stable had another juvenile win well earlier this week.
Stigwood - Lowest rated of these on flat and made little impression when thrown in deep end for hurdling debut. Plenty to prove.
Tarseem - Shadwell dispersal whose pedigree is not entirely conducive to successful hurdling career. Joined a strong yard however, and though keen and green on racecourse debut at this track four weeks ago, was not disgraced. Should improve but may need more experience.
Turaco - Hints of promise in two races for Harry Dunlop. Not seen for year prior to hurdling debut at Wetherby where he gave himself no chance of staying and jumped abysmally in the process.
Twilight Twist - Winner on flat for Alan King yard that has strong records at this venue and with this type. Form comparable to best brought into the contest, although the pedigree provokes trepidation.
Strong prospects
1. Saint Riquier
Reasonable prospects
2. Twilight Twist
3. Tarseem
4. Sabre Jet
Feasible prospects
5. Jack Kennedy
Moderate prospects
.
Negligible prospects
6. Stigwood
7. Come On Jack
8. Turaco
Bachelors Hall
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Just watched the race and want to look at the sectionals but very difficult not to be impressed at first glance. Those he beat were useful benchmarks and even if they were just trees on the day, he couldn't have won any easier. Lovely pedigree being a half-brother to Le Lude, 2/1 with A Plus Tard, Kap Auteuil and File Au Poteau, and 3/1 with l'Aubonniere and Dottore. If I had any criticism, while he did not put a foot wrong, it is that he jumps like a chaser in the shape he makes - which makes sense given his breeding. That wouldn't be enough to stop him from doing very well in the sphere and he is one to look forward to. Quite how far he goes may depend on who else comes out...
Elliot generally sends his likelier types here. 12s the best that I can see. Wouldn't turn anyone off it. Expected it to be more an 8/1 shot. Not sure what the sectionals would say but from the eye it was a very soft pace - gave the second a stone (relatively moderate but fancied) as well.
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Bachelors Hall
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Apologies for radio silence. While mood and general wellbeing are perfectly manageable, conditions for producing content are not ideal. If I am not exhausted from work, the constant blaring of the downstairs neighbour's telly makes it impossible to do any work. I have joined the local library though and while toilet breaks are an issue when the place is unstaffed, I have at least been able to write a 6,115 word essay for tomorrow's very exciting Prestbury Hurdle. (341 word tl;dr). Enjoy!
Cheltenham's Prestbury Hurdle will be the first graded contest of the season in the division. For as long as there has been a Mackeson Gold Cup, a juvenile hurdle has also been held at the meeting. Prior to its elevation to Grade 2 status in 2004, the last two horses to place in both the Prestbury and the Triumph were Katarino, winner of both events on 1998/99, and Against The Grain who was second in each contest during the 1984/85 season. However, since 2004, the race has produced two Triumph winners (Katchit 2006/07, Defi du Seuil 2016/17), five Triumph seconds (Fair Along 2005/06, Franchoek 2007/08, Barizan 2009/10, Far West 2012/13 and Adagio 2020/21) and another five who would finish third. Indeed, while the Finesse and Adonis have produced three winners of the Triumph, the Prestbury has been the most prolific British Triumph Hurdle trial in terms of combined wins and placings. Furthermore, since 2004, the Prestbury also had seven Finale winners, three winners of the Anniversary, and another three in Punchestown's Champion 4YO contest. Five Prestbury graduates ran into a place in the Fred Winter, although none of them won either contest.*
This year's renewal looks up to scratch as with the exceptions of Impulsive One (unlikely to be suited by Cheltenham), Porticello (would concede weight) and In This World (won last week), the country's leading juveniles to date are set to face the starter. Knight Salute and Magistrato set the standard on their wins at Kempton and Chepstow respectively, Aliomaana receives a helpful allowance, the undefeated Mister Allegro has revealed himself an absolute natural while Caramelised and Addosh posted fine performances during the early season. French flat recruits Rocky Man and Saint Riquier have shown enough to win races in the sphere and the field is completed by Gary Moore's debutant Yorksea.*
Given the quality of runner Cheltenham typically attracts, the average beaten DIs of 1.00 median and 1.36 mean are already low. Nevertheless, the winning DIs of 0.97 and 1.08 are lower still which is indicative of the necessity for stamina at the venue. While few would claim that Cheltenham is an especially easy course to jump around, its clear round rate of 97.07% is still one of the highest in the country, suggesting that bad jumpers tend not to get sent to Cheltenham. Hurdles experience is beneficial in this contest as debutants in the sphere are without a win from eighteen attempts, although four (Afsoun, Roc d'Apsis, Baraka de Thaix and Hargam) have reached the frame. Moreover, winning hurdling form is also quite essential as the races only previously successful maidens were Pistolet Noir (second favourite in the 2009 renewal) and Sam Winner (already thrice runner-up at Auteuil in 2010). The going at Cheltenham is currently good, good to soft in places, and there is no rain forecast overnight.
Triumph Odds
Addosh 25/1
Magistrato 25/1
Rocky Man 25/1
Knight Salute 33/1
Mister Allegro 40/1
Caramelised 66/1
Aliomaana 100/1
Caramelised bc Alan King f4-0-0 (73) 75 j3-2-1 (125) 116 120*
Dansili (Cozzene){9-e}(1.67) 2/2 Lord Condi 1st 2m1½f Novices' Hurdle, Plumpton 2018
On top of being the winningmost trainer of juvenile hurdlers since 2004/05, Alan King has a winner to runner rate of 47.53% and an overall strike rate of 23.25%. His record in this particular contest is not without merit as he has landed back to back renewals with Katchit and Franchoek in 2006 and 2007, although his best placing from eight since Franchoek came when Cracker Factory finished runner-up in 2018. This year, he is represented by a Caramelised. A four race maiden for Richard Hannon, he had finished nearer last than first on each outing and had shown himself a free running sort. His rating of 73 is well above average for a summer recruit and his hurdling career began with a double at Stratford in July and August. Concerns over an inability to settle manifested on his hurdling debut as he pulled hard up to the point he was sent for home. Shaken up to take a length advantage on the approach to the last, it took no more than a hands and heels drive to quickly extend his lead and cross the line seven lengths to the good. Caramelised posted a safe round of jumping without being consistently fluent, and the form of the race was boosted when the runner-up, Fred Bear, landed division one of Caramelised's contest half an hour before he faced the starter himself. Backed as though defeat was out of the question, he went from 4/7 to 4/9 in the ring, causing all his rivals to be squeezed out by his market share. Initially tucked in just behind the leaders, he settled better than he had first time around and though he was lit up after the third, Tom Cannon regained the bit by the time they reached the hill second time; which is also where Caramelised moved stylishly into the lead. Shaken up ever so gently on the turn for home, he entered the straight with an advantage of half-a-dozen lengths and, without any impetus from the rider, that gap was extended to thrice the amount at the line with Addosh nineteen lengths behind in second. Apart from getting slightly big at the first and maybe brushing the top of two out, Caramelised put in an exhibition round of jumping that would not have looked out of place during a veteran hurdler's schooling session. Furthermore, the fact that he completed the run-in in a faster time than the previous race while on the bridle shows that he has a tremendous amount of speed for the division. Caramelised was last seen in a useful Market Rasen contest that has been traditionally targeted by his handler. The withdrawal of Sacre Pierre made his task easier on paper and while he was slightly weak in the market, he was still sent off the 5/6 favourite. Very keen going to post, Caramelised also struggled to settle in the race itself and was taking a keen hold behind the slow pace set by the leaders. He found himself left in the lead at the fourth and while he did not go tearing off in front, he was never travelling with any particular ease. His hurdling was also much below the standard of what he posted second time out as he made errors at every flight; big at the first, close at the second, tight into the third, big again at the fourth, right at the fifth, clipped the sixth, untidy at two out and tight over the last. Though he traded at 1.60 in-running, a fraction lower than his starting price, he was never able to put his mark on the race and had little answer once he forfeited his lead shortly after the penultimate flight. It was not a disgraceful performance as he was still better than all of his other outings apart from his impressive Stratford win. It is more likely he was hampered by the sense of occasion on this particular day, and his being left in an involuntary lead, than his being exposed as no better than this. He could possibly benefit from a gelding operation, but for the time being, connections have placed their faith in a first-time hood. Caramelised's best form is within half a stone of the leading contenders here and given he had feasible excuses at Market Rasen, he should not be generally written off. Nevertheless, while he is likely to benefit from the way this contest is set to be run, he would still have something to prove in this company.
Knight Salute bg Milton Harris f7-1-1 (75) 85 j2-2-0 (126) 114 127
Sir Percy (Unfuwain){11-c}(0.50) 2/1 Kalko 1st Juvenile Hurdle, Kelso 1993
Costing 14,000 guineas at the Tattersalls July Sale, Knight Salute would not have caught many an eye with his purchase fee. Starting his career with Andrew Balding, he followed up a debut second at Wolverhampton with a win at Sandown before being allowed to take his chance in the listed Stonehenge Stakes at Salisbury. Not disgraced in finishing fifth of seven, he shaped as though he would be suited by further; as per his pedigree. He subsequently finished last on his final outing at two and on all three starts at three, although these runs all came over an inadequate trip. Still within the 82nd percentile of rated flat recruits it was surprising to see him drift out to 18/1 on his hurdling debut at Sedgefield towards the end of September. Racing in a first time hood, he was keen while held up in the rear. Nevertheless, he jumped neatly up to the closing stages where he missed the sixth, reached at the penultimate flight and got in close to the last. Notwithstanding, these latter errors were not to the detriment of his performance given his superiority on the day. Making very smooth headway towards the end of the back, he moved strongly into second place over two out and cruised into the lead approaching the last whereafter he was ridden clear to pass the line nine and six lengths clear of the remainder. Though it was standard fare as far as Sedgefield is concerned, and the winning time was modest, the twenty length fourth finished a quarter of that distance behind the winner when third at Wetherby. He was next seen at Kempton four weeks ago, having his second outing at a more fashionable venue against representatives of more fashionable yards. He was uneasy in the exchanges during the day, but he held a strong chance on paper and was backed in the ring from 13/2 to 9/2 at the off. Tracking the leaders off a fairly modest tempo, Mitch Bastyan had to display good strength to keep a good hold of his mount. Nevertheless, the jockey conserved enough energy to have Knight Salute in a useful position turning into the straight. Though momentarily outpaced between the final two flights, Knight Salute gained enough momentum to jump the last with a share of the lead and was able to see off his rival to the tune of a couple of lengths at the line. While he made mistakes under pressure first time at Sedgefield, there were no errors worth reporting in this contest and with his strong travelling and fluent jumping, Knight Salute posted the strongest winning performance seen on a British course to that point. Trainer Milton Harris continues to be in outstanding form and though it has been a good while since the yard last tasted graded success, Knight Salute has a live chance of breaking that spell.*
Magistrato bg Paul Nicholls j2-1-1 (131) 126
Kapgarde (Poliglote){3-d}(1.00) 1/0 Franche Alliance 2nd Prix Beugnot (L,63.0), Enghien 2015*
https://www.equidia.fr/chevaux/magistrato
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. Making his debut in this year’s edition, taken by recent Wensleydale winner Porticello, was Magistrato who in joining Paul Nicholls follows in the hoofprints of Far West, Frodon, Quel Destin, Qualando and Marracudja who all started in the same contest. Fresh on his racecourse debut, Magistrato soon established a clear lead which he would ohld to the final flight where he was headed by Porticello. Jumping better overall than the winner, he done more by a lack of pace than fatigue and still managed to increase his advantage over the third placed Imprenable - himself winning 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. A son of Kapgarde, Magistrato's dam showed useful form over nineteen furlongs on heavy ground and is herself a half-sister to La Bague Au Roi and Kaysersberg. As such, the 3000 meters at Auteuil was unlikely to suit and while it is to his credit that he performed satisfactorily, it perhaps indicates that he would be a more longer term prospect. Nevertheless, Magistrato also looked a useful tool for this season when making a winning British debut at Chepstow five weeks ago. Though money for Rocky Man saw him drift from a morning show of 2/5, Magistrato was still strongly fancied first time and after being available at 8/11 in the ring, contracted back into 4/7 at the off. Keen in the early stages, he made his own running at a steady tempo and though threatened for the lead at the top of the straight, was in total control at the distance and galloped on relentlessly to run out a twelve length winner from Rocky Man. Apart from being slightly untidy at the first and slow away from the fifth, there was no cause for complaint in the round of jumping as he confirmed his Auteuil proficiency. Though the race did not look strong outside of the front two, twenty-two length third placed Nazwa afforded the form some credence when finishing second off 103 on a Warwick handicap. Paul Nicholls has won this race five times from eleven runners since 2004, with two of those winners (Far West and Quel Destin) making their British debuts in the same Chepstow contest. Magistrato has the profile of a long term prospect, but he has already proven himself on good ground over the minimum trip and the likely strong pace should also suit him.*
Mister Allegro bg Anthony Honeyball f12-1-1 (50) 62 j2-2-0 (119) 109 123*
Bernardini (Shamardal){1-e}(2.16) 3/2 Meganisi 2nd 2m½f Condiitonals' Handicap Hurdle (133), Aintree 2013
Racing nine times as a two-year-old for Mark Johnston and collecting a Kempton nursery off 48 along the way, Mister Allegro was sold 13,000 guineas at last year's Tattersalls Autumn sale. His first appearance for Anthony Honeyball was reasonable for his level, finishing fourth of nine in a ten furlong Chepstow handicap off 55. However, he would beat only one of twelve rivals home in two subsequent outings which saw him start at 40/1 for his hurdles debut at Ludlow early in October. His profile for hurdling was not without merit as Bernardini (Forth Bridge, Bordoni) had two winners from five in the sphere, and his new trainer had a solid 22.22% winner to runner rate going into the contest. The apparent quality of his opposition still made his task look a difficult one, but his endeavour was made simpler by a the neatest round of jumping in the contest; besmirched only by his clipping the top of the final two flights. Travelling well in a prominent position, he was momentarily caught for toe on the home turn, but was soon pestering the leader and after jumping to the front at the last, was ridden out to score by nearly two lengths. The winning time was not great and a couple of his rivals appeared to underperform, although the runner-up did subsequently land short odds at Sedgefield before finishing second in the Wensleydale. Mister Allegro made his second hurdles appearance at Wincanton three weeks ago and while he drifted from a morning show of 9/4 to 4/1 at flagfall, he was still sent off the second favourite. Slightly keen in the early stages, Mister Allegro immediately put his stamp on the race and with quick jumping, passed the stands with a lead of over half-a-dozen lengths. Reigned in slightly on entering the back, his advantage was whittled down to within a length when getting a breather on the turn for home. Nevertheless, a quick leap at the penultimate flight saw him re-establish his advantage and his acceleration from that hurdle put the race to bed as he went on to pass the line a comprehensive seven length winner. Runner-up Sonning was a well fancied newcomer for Alan King while the third placed Burristo is an experienced yardstick who subsequently went one better at Ludlow. The degree to which the switch to hurdles has animated Mister Allegro can not be understated. Since 2004/05, just 38 of the 2,122 juvenile hurdlers rated 50 or below on the flat would win more than once; with only a handful exceeding what Mister Allegro has already achieved. Though he already looks close to the finished article, there may yet be further to come and connections decided to keep hold of him after he was initially entered in the Tattersalls Horses-in-Training sale. On flat form, it would have been difficult to envisage Mister Allegro keeping this kind of company. Nevertheless, given that he hurdles very well and his jumps form has discernible substance, it would be dangerous to write him off. If there is to be any uncertainty against his profile, it may be he finds his stamina stretched over this course at the forecast pace.*
Rocky Man bc Dan Skelton f2-1-0 (-) j1-0-1 (-) 105 112
Doctor Dino (Speedmaster){7-a}(0.33) 2/1 Rosarina 1st 3500m 4yo Conditions Hurdle, Toulouse 2009
https://www.equidia.fr/chevaux/rocky-man
Henri-Alex Pantall has a more expensive graduate in The Famous Five while Dan Skelton has already taken in Message Personnel. Flying under the radar however is the twice raced son of Doctor Dino, Rocky Man. Half of Doctor Dino's British and Irish juveniles, which includes Sceau Royal, Good Ball and Dino Mite, won during their first campaigns and his three-year-old jumpers in France have an outstanding winner to runner rate of 42.86% from ninety-one horses. Though the damline is less prolific in the sphere, which is understandable given that the third dam was a Chilean import, Rocky Man's auntie did win a four-year-old hurdle at Toulouse. After making an inconspicuous debut at Machecoul back in February, Rocky Man got off the mark in emphatic style when winning a restricted two mile contest at Saumur. Initially racing in the lead, he was restrained to settle behind the leaders passing the stands first time. He would take up the running again leaving the back for the final time and was ridden into the best part of a ten length lead at the distance before being eased in the last hundred metres. The race, being worth just €10,500, has not produced any subsequent winners, although the well beaten runner-up has run consistently in subsequent outings so his valeur of 29.0 (63.8) gives some indication of the form's merit. Rocky Man's DI of 0.33, along with his winning over two miles during the spring, may leave him vulnerable to the pacier juveniles in the upper echelons, and he found himself at the hands of a comprehensive drubbing by Magistrato on his British/hurdling debut at Chepstow five weeks ago. He does possess a strong reputation however and was subject to solid market support beforehand which saw him sent off the 3/1 second favourite. Tracking the leader throughout, posted a perfectly acceptable round of jumping with only his being slightly steady and tight at the first, and somewhat untidy and slow getting away from the last, being his only blemishes. Rocky Man briefly threatened the lead at the top of the straight, but had no answer for Magistrato's relentless galloping. Dan Skelton has a strong looking team of juveniles for this campaign and his two previous runners in this contest have been good ones; Allmankind won in 2019 while the useful Cabot Cliffs was fourth last season. There is plenty to like about Rocky Man and he should be able to get off the mark this term. However, there is no obvious reason why he might reverse placings with Magistrato and he may be suited by an even stronger test than the one offered here.*
Saint Riquier grc Ian Williams f3-1-0 (-) - j2-0-1 (112) 100 110
Le Havre (Montjeu){5-g}(0.60) 3/2 Fashion Mix 1st 3300m 3yo Conditions Hurdle, Cagnes-sur-Mer 2004
https://www.equidia.fr/chevaux/saint-riquier
Several former inmates of Mikel Delzangles have done well in juvenile hurdles with the likes of Ranjaan and Dispour contributing to a solid 27.78% winner to runner rate. While his higher rated exports often command six figures in public auction, Saint Riquier joined Ian Williams after getting knocked down for €33,000 at the Arqana Summer Sale. Well beaten at Fontainbleau on his sole outing at two when slow out of the stalls, he ran a nothing race on his February reappearance at Machecoul over 2350m in testing conditions. He returned after a four month break in a 2200m French bred's maiden contest at Erbray. Initially held up in touch, he moved into a more prominent position during the second circuit and while he did not completely understand the game, Saint Riquier did enough work in the straight to eventually win by a short neck. The runner-up, in receipt of three and a half kilos, is rated in the early sixties and the remaining form would give Saint Riquier a mark on the cusp of 70. Le Havre has had one winner from six in Britain and Ireland, while his winner to runner rate in France, where his progeny are headed by the useful Chaptal, is a solid 18.92%. There are few jumpers on the damline, although Fragrant Mix at 3/1 is a reasonably capable sire of jumpers. Saint Riquier's British/Hurdling debut came at Ludlow early last month and there was little confidence in the market. Starting the day at 10/3, he opened on course at 13/2 before drifting out to 10/1 at the off. Starting the race keenly but settling better before long, his hurdling left a fair bit to be desired. Stumbling slightly on landing at the first, he was tight at the third, steady and close over the fourth, slow over the next before rather missing the sixth. Notwithstanding, after initially racing in the rear, he made good headway along the back and despite getting baulked at the penultimate hurdle, was still in a challenging position on the run to the last. However, he skewed badly over the final flight and could only plug on at one pace to finish fourth behind Mister Allegro and Genuflex by just under six lengths. Saint Riquier was then seen at Huntingdon on Halloween where he was more solid in the market and sent off the 13/8 favourite. Held up in midfield and settling better in first-time cheekpieces, Saint Riquier also improved in the hurdling department. Unfazed by getting blocked on landing at the first, he jumped his hurdles well enough with his only errors being getting close to the fifth and skewing when slow at the next. Making headway to join the leaders at the top of the straight, he led briefly on the run between the final two and held a share of the lead at the last. However, while he ran gamely enough to the line, Alan King's Twilight Twist was able to pull out a decisive length with the front two pulling a long way clear. Ian Williams does not typically overface his juveniles at Cheltenham and indeed had the Fred Winter second in 2005. Nevertheless, his two runners in this contest failed to fire and while Saint Riquier should not end the season a maiden, he would have most to find out of the experienced runners here.*
Yorksea chg Gary Moore f6-1-0 (33,0 - 72.6) 66
Sea The Stars (Pivotal){13-c}(1.82) 7/4 Proschema 2nd West Yorkshire Hurdle (G2), Wetherby 2021*
https://www.equidia.fr/chevaux/yorksea
Gary Moore has a healthy record with his French flat recruits with ten of his twenty-three winning as juveniles, four of who would score first time out. The latest such horse to see a British hurdle is Yorksea, who fetched €32,000 Arqana Summer. He was initially trained by Frédéric Head, whose former inmates have a strong 45.45% winner to runner rate, the strongest of these being Youmdor from last season. However, given the general strength of his exports, only 21.05% will show improvement for the switch to hurdles which would be essential for the 72.6 rated Yorksea. Making his debut at Deauville last November, Yorksea cut little ice first time and would also finish down the field twice at Chantilly as well as on his handicap debut at Saint Cloud off 32 (70.4). A step down in class and a revised valeur of 30.5 (67.1) saw him get off the mark at the fifth time of asking in a 2100m handicap at Angers towards the end of May in a race named after his owner's wonder mare Goldikova. Starting at 16/1, Yorksea raced on the outer and moved from midfield to a more prominent position a mile from home. He went into a clear lead at the six furlong point and though he was headed at the distance when turning for home, he rallied gamely against the rail to get up in the final strides from a next time out winner. Yorksea's last race in France came in a good ground Saint Cloud handicap over 3000m in mid-June. Racing prominently once again, he looked in trouble turning into the straight and faded late on to finish just over four lengths behind the winner in fifth. Sire Sea The Stars (Starchitect, Stars Over The Sea) has a solid 33.33% winner to runner rate in the division, although Pivotal's record as a damsire has a more modest rate of 13.24%. Out of the Group One winning filly Queen's Jewel, Yorksea's damline offers no clues insofar as hurdling is concerned with its roots in Argentina. Useful hurdler Proschema does appear at 7/4, although that is so distant enough that it passes into trivial rather than useful information. Overall, Yorksea still looks an interesting recruit to the division and there are races to be won with him. However, Gary Moore has had just one placing from seven runners in this contest (Botox Has second in 2019) so unless Yorksea is schooling and training like a Champion Hurdler, his task looks a stiff one here.*
Addosh bf Stuart Edmunds f11-1-4 (71) 78 j3-1-1 (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 is indicative of her fulfilling the promise shown first time round. Her latest outing came in the Wensleydale Hurdle at Wetherby just over a fortnight ago where she appeared to face a stern examination, although she did receive outside support in the ring, trimmed into 9/1 from an opening 11/1. Settled fairly comfortably while held up in last, she was still bringing up the rear when turning into the straight. Nevertheless, Addosh was travelling well on the approach to three out and had moved to within a length of the lead when missing the flight, stumbling and unseating her rider. This was an unfortunate turn of events as apart from going right when slow at the first, she had posted a very tidy round of jumping to that point. Her departure came before the race had unfolded in earnest and any speculation on how she may have finished the race would be absolute guesswork. She did appear to be suited by the slow tempo of the contest, in keeping with her previous best efforts coming with an emphasis on speed which is a luxury unlikely to be afforded here.*
Aliomaana chf Milton Harris f5-0-2 (74) 75 j4-1-2 (115) 108 119
Raven's Pass (Sea The Stars){8-f}(1.29) 2/1 Celestial Force 1st 2m1f Handicap Hurdle (120), Newton Abbot 2021
Though she failed to win for John Gosden, Aliomaana grabbed a couple of seconds on the all weather prior to fetching 17,000 guineas at the Tattersalls July Sale. Juveniles formerly trained by John Gosden often leave little wriggle room for their new handlers, although Milton Harris got three wins out of Pyramid Place last term and Aliomaana made it two from two at Perth towards the end of September. Quietly fancied ahead of her hurdling debut at Stratford in August, she was not the tidiest jumper but raced with plenty of enthusiasm before tiring late on to finish third. The first part of that story was similar two weeks later at Perth as, pulling herself into the lead shortly after the start, she was slightly distracted when steady at the first, but got over the second alright despite wandering on the approach. Though still fairly fresh, she had settled into a sensible rhythm up front and while she was rather skewed at the third and briefly lost her footing on some loose turf passing the stands, was still decent enough over the next. Hopping through the next in a fashion quite accurately described by Mike Cattermole as unconventional, Mitch Bastyan cajoled her at the right moment over the next two and got very neat leaps out of her in the process. While Aliomaana briefly looked in danger from the looming presence of New Reality, she bounded on nicely on the run to the last and appeared the likeliest winner at the time. Unfortunately, having a lapse in concentration, she did not lift her feet high enough and ended up rolling onto the ground. Mercifully, she got up ok and showed no ill effects from the experience when putting thing right on her return to the Scottish venue. She started the day as even money favourite and though she drifted during the morning and reached 7/4 on course, she was trimmed into 11/8 at the off. She was a little buzzy down at the start, but this is more due to her lively character than any temperament issues. Aliomaana was sent straight into the lead and showing good speed both over the hurdles and in between, her advantage was a wide one by the time she passed the stands. It would be folly to suggest her rivals gave her too generous a lead however as they were constrained by their own slow jumping as much as they were outpaced by the leader. Furthermore, while Aliomaana had been untidy at times during her first two spins over hurdles, save for an unorthodox quasi-hop at the first and getting tight at the second; neither imperfection costing her any momentum; she was very neat and nimble. Putting in another acceleration three from home, she travelled strongly to the penultimate flight where she wandered on the approach and got in rather close. She was ridden away from that hurdle before being allowed to jump the last as steadily as she liked. Popping over the final hurdle, she was pushed out to see the race through, crossing the line twenty-nine lengths clear of a spread-eagled field. While the margin may appear to be too good to be true, and her rivals did jump slowly, her completing the course in a time at least two seconds quicker than any of the older horses in the other three races held at the trip on the card affords her performance a great deal of substance. Aliomaana was last seen in a fillies' contest at Fakenham seventeen days ago where she was sent off the 11/8 favourite. Such a venue seemed ideal for her frontrunning prowess. However, she was not the only habitual pacesetter in the line-up and with two of her rivals going for eachothers' throats from the outset, Aliomaana was tucked in behind the leaders. Racing keenly, made a couple of errors early on when getting close to the first and going steep over the fourth. Nevertheless, her jumping was sound overall and she went into the lead leaving the back. She clipped the top of the penultimate flight and after being pressed by a held-up stayer, forfeited her lead turning for home. Slow to get away from the last, Aliomaana was one paced from there and was beaten eight lengths in the end while conceding seven pounds. Notwithstanding, she still finished upwards of twenty-six lengths of the remainder and although the defeat was disappointing, it was still of an honourable nature considering the complexion of the race. There are a few pounds to find with the leading contenders but the sex allowance puts her right in the picture and while Mitch Bastyan will be unable to claim the usual three, his talent on this filly negates this deficit. Several of her rivals have made the running in the past, although this has often been on sufferance and it is possible that Aliomaana could get things her own way. However, an issue might be whether or not Aliomaana can do what she did at Perth over the contours of Cheltenham.
tl;dr
Caramelised - Impressive when landing brace at Stratford during the summer and had excuses when disappointing at Market Rasen. Can take a hold so connections will be hoping that headgear helps this entire to better settle.
Knight Salute - Modest flat form at three was deceptive and has basically done everything right in winning at Sedgefield and Kempton. Strongest British form on offer and conditions should suit.
Magistrato - Debut second at Auteuil working out very well and made an impressive British debut at Chepstow. Yard does well with his type in this contest and is sure to stay up the hill.
Mister Allegro - Very modest on flat in context of this contest, and landed surprise when making a winning hurdles debut at Ludlow. However, form of that race is working out and proved that was no fluke when following up at Wincanton. Jumps very well but could find stamina stretched here.
Rocky Man - Won at second time of asking on French flat in a slog. Runner-up on British debut at Chepstow and should win races although little reason for him to reverse placings with Magistrato.
Saint Riquier - Winner on flat in France but disappointed when fourth to Mister Allegro on British/hurdles bow (drifted beforehand). Settled and jumped better next time at Huntingdon but bit to find here.
Yorksea - Handicap winner in France and joins strong yard for British/hurdles campaign. Flat form not exceptional however and faces stiff task on debut.
Addosh - Fairly useful flat winner and reversed Stratford defeat at hands of Caramelised in no uncertain terms at Market Rasen. Was in process of running nice race in the Wensleydale but unseated before getting chance to prove herself. Suited by speed tests which is unlikely in this field.
Aliomaana - Reasonable maiden for John Gosden who almost confirmed debut promise when unseating at Perth with race at her mercy. Emphatic winner back at the venue and performed creditably latest when race was not ran to suit. Form gives her a chance although uncertain if she will be suited by Cheltenham.
Strong prospects
1. Knight Salute
Reasonable prospects
2. Magistrato
3. Aliomaana
Feasible prospects
4. Mister Allegro
5. Caramelised
6. Rocky Man
7. Addosh
Moderate prospects
8. Yorksea
Negligible prospects
9. Saint Riquier
Cheltenham's Prestbury Hurdle will be the first graded contest of the season in the division. For as long as there has been a Mackeson Gold Cup, a juvenile hurdle has also been held at the meeting. Prior to its elevation to Grade 2 status in 2004, the last two horses to place in both the Prestbury and the Triumph were Katarino, winner of both events on 1998/99, and Against The Grain who was second in each contest during the 1984/85 season. However, since 2004, the race has produced two Triumph winners (Katchit 2006/07, Defi du Seuil 2016/17), five Triumph seconds (Fair Along 2005/06, Franchoek 2007/08, Barizan 2009/10, Far West 2012/13 and Adagio 2020/21) and another five who would finish third. Indeed, while the Finesse and Adonis have produced three winners of the Triumph, the Prestbury has been the most prolific British Triumph Hurdle trial in terms of combined wins and placings. Furthermore, since 2004, the Prestbury also had seven Finale winners, three winners of the Anniversary, and another three in Punchestown's Champion 4YO contest. Five Prestbury graduates ran into a place in the Fred Winter, although none of them won either contest.*
This year's renewal looks up to scratch as with the exceptions of Impulsive One (unlikely to be suited by Cheltenham), Porticello (would concede weight) and In This World (won last week), the country's leading juveniles to date are set to face the starter. Knight Salute and Magistrato set the standard on their wins at Kempton and Chepstow respectively, Aliomaana receives a helpful allowance, the undefeated Mister Allegro has revealed himself an absolute natural while Caramelised and Addosh posted fine performances during the early season. French flat recruits Rocky Man and Saint Riquier have shown enough to win races in the sphere and the field is completed by Gary Moore's debutant Yorksea.*
Given the quality of runner Cheltenham typically attracts, the average beaten DIs of 1.00 median and 1.36 mean are already low. Nevertheless, the winning DIs of 0.97 and 1.08 are lower still which is indicative of the necessity for stamina at the venue. While few would claim that Cheltenham is an especially easy course to jump around, its clear round rate of 97.07% is still one of the highest in the country, suggesting that bad jumpers tend not to get sent to Cheltenham. Hurdles experience is beneficial in this contest as debutants in the sphere are without a win from eighteen attempts, although four (Afsoun, Roc d'Apsis, Baraka de Thaix and Hargam) have reached the frame. Moreover, winning hurdling form is also quite essential as the races only previously successful maidens were Pistolet Noir (second favourite in the 2009 renewal) and Sam Winner (already thrice runner-up at Auteuil in 2010). The going at Cheltenham is currently good, good to soft in places, and there is no rain forecast overnight.
Triumph Odds
Addosh 25/1
Magistrato 25/1
Rocky Man 25/1
Knight Salute 33/1
Mister Allegro 40/1
Caramelised 66/1
Aliomaana 100/1
Caramelised bc Alan King f4-0-0 (73) 75 j3-2-1 (125) 116 120*
Dansili (Cozzene){9-e}(1.67) 2/2 Lord Condi 1st 2m1½f Novices' Hurdle, Plumpton 2018
On top of being the winningmost trainer of juvenile hurdlers since 2004/05, Alan King has a winner to runner rate of 47.53% and an overall strike rate of 23.25%. His record in this particular contest is not without merit as he has landed back to back renewals with Katchit and Franchoek in 2006 and 2007, although his best placing from eight since Franchoek came when Cracker Factory finished runner-up in 2018. This year, he is represented by a Caramelised. A four race maiden for Richard Hannon, he had finished nearer last than first on each outing and had shown himself a free running sort. His rating of 73 is well above average for a summer recruit and his hurdling career began with a double at Stratford in July and August. Concerns over an inability to settle manifested on his hurdling debut as he pulled hard up to the point he was sent for home. Shaken up to take a length advantage on the approach to the last, it took no more than a hands and heels drive to quickly extend his lead and cross the line seven lengths to the good. Caramelised posted a safe round of jumping without being consistently fluent, and the form of the race was boosted when the runner-up, Fred Bear, landed division one of Caramelised's contest half an hour before he faced the starter himself. Backed as though defeat was out of the question, he went from 4/7 to 4/9 in the ring, causing all his rivals to be squeezed out by his market share. Initially tucked in just behind the leaders, he settled better than he had first time around and though he was lit up after the third, Tom Cannon regained the bit by the time they reached the hill second time; which is also where Caramelised moved stylishly into the lead. Shaken up ever so gently on the turn for home, he entered the straight with an advantage of half-a-dozen lengths and, without any impetus from the rider, that gap was extended to thrice the amount at the line with Addosh nineteen lengths behind in second. Apart from getting slightly big at the first and maybe brushing the top of two out, Caramelised put in an exhibition round of jumping that would not have looked out of place during a veteran hurdler's schooling session. Furthermore, the fact that he completed the run-in in a faster time than the previous race while on the bridle shows that he has a tremendous amount of speed for the division. Caramelised was last seen in a useful Market Rasen contest that has been traditionally targeted by his handler. The withdrawal of Sacre Pierre made his task easier on paper and while he was slightly weak in the market, he was still sent off the 5/6 favourite. Very keen going to post, Caramelised also struggled to settle in the race itself and was taking a keen hold behind the slow pace set by the leaders. He found himself left in the lead at the fourth and while he did not go tearing off in front, he was never travelling with any particular ease. His hurdling was also much below the standard of what he posted second time out as he made errors at every flight; big at the first, close at the second, tight into the third, big again at the fourth, right at the fifth, clipped the sixth, untidy at two out and tight over the last. Though he traded at 1.60 in-running, a fraction lower than his starting price, he was never able to put his mark on the race and had little answer once he forfeited his lead shortly after the penultimate flight. It was not a disgraceful performance as he was still better than all of his other outings apart from his impressive Stratford win. It is more likely he was hampered by the sense of occasion on this particular day, and his being left in an involuntary lead, than his being exposed as no better than this. He could possibly benefit from a gelding operation, but for the time being, connections have placed their faith in a first-time hood. Caramelised's best form is within half a stone of the leading contenders here and given he had feasible excuses at Market Rasen, he should not be generally written off. Nevertheless, while he is likely to benefit from the way this contest is set to be run, he would still have something to prove in this company.
Knight Salute bg Milton Harris f7-1-1 (75) 85 j2-2-0 (126) 114 127
Sir Percy (Unfuwain){11-c}(0.50) 2/1 Kalko 1st Juvenile Hurdle, Kelso 1993
Costing 14,000 guineas at the Tattersalls July Sale, Knight Salute would not have caught many an eye with his purchase fee. Starting his career with Andrew Balding, he followed up a debut second at Wolverhampton with a win at Sandown before being allowed to take his chance in the listed Stonehenge Stakes at Salisbury. Not disgraced in finishing fifth of seven, he shaped as though he would be suited by further; as per his pedigree. He subsequently finished last on his final outing at two and on all three starts at three, although these runs all came over an inadequate trip. Still within the 82nd percentile of rated flat recruits it was surprising to see him drift out to 18/1 on his hurdling debut at Sedgefield towards the end of September. Racing in a first time hood, he was keen while held up in the rear. Nevertheless, he jumped neatly up to the closing stages where he missed the sixth, reached at the penultimate flight and got in close to the last. Notwithstanding, these latter errors were not to the detriment of his performance given his superiority on the day. Making very smooth headway towards the end of the back, he moved strongly into second place over two out and cruised into the lead approaching the last whereafter he was ridden clear to pass the line nine and six lengths clear of the remainder. Though it was standard fare as far as Sedgefield is concerned, and the winning time was modest, the twenty length fourth finished a quarter of that distance behind the winner when third at Wetherby. He was next seen at Kempton four weeks ago, having his second outing at a more fashionable venue against representatives of more fashionable yards. He was uneasy in the exchanges during the day, but he held a strong chance on paper and was backed in the ring from 13/2 to 9/2 at the off. Tracking the leaders off a fairly modest tempo, Mitch Bastyan had to display good strength to keep a good hold of his mount. Nevertheless, the jockey conserved enough energy to have Knight Salute in a useful position turning into the straight. Though momentarily outpaced between the final two flights, Knight Salute gained enough momentum to jump the last with a share of the lead and was able to see off his rival to the tune of a couple of lengths at the line. While he made mistakes under pressure first time at Sedgefield, there were no errors worth reporting in this contest and with his strong travelling and fluent jumping, Knight Salute posted the strongest winning performance seen on a British course to that point. Trainer Milton Harris continues to be in outstanding form and though it has been a good while since the yard last tasted graded success, Knight Salute has a live chance of breaking that spell.*
Magistrato bg Paul Nicholls j2-1-1 (131) 126
Kapgarde (Poliglote){3-d}(1.00) 1/0 Franche Alliance 2nd Prix Beugnot (L,63.0), Enghien 2015*
https://www.equidia.fr/chevaux/magistrato
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. Making his debut in this year’s edition, taken by recent Wensleydale winner Porticello, was Magistrato who in joining Paul Nicholls follows in the hoofprints of Far West, Frodon, Quel Destin, Qualando and Marracudja who all started in the same contest. Fresh on his racecourse debut, Magistrato soon established a clear lead which he would ohld to the final flight where he was headed by Porticello. Jumping better overall than the winner, he done more by a lack of pace than fatigue and still managed to increase his advantage over the third placed Imprenable - himself winning 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. A son of Kapgarde, Magistrato's dam showed useful form over nineteen furlongs on heavy ground and is herself a half-sister to La Bague Au Roi and Kaysersberg. As such, the 3000 meters at Auteuil was unlikely to suit and while it is to his credit that he performed satisfactorily, it perhaps indicates that he would be a more longer term prospect. Nevertheless, Magistrato also looked a useful tool for this season when making a winning British debut at Chepstow five weeks ago. Though money for Rocky Man saw him drift from a morning show of 2/5, Magistrato was still strongly fancied first time and after being available at 8/11 in the ring, contracted back into 4/7 at the off. Keen in the early stages, he made his own running at a steady tempo and though threatened for the lead at the top of the straight, was in total control at the distance and galloped on relentlessly to run out a twelve length winner from Rocky Man. Apart from being slightly untidy at the first and slow away from the fifth, there was no cause for complaint in the round of jumping as he confirmed his Auteuil proficiency. Though the race did not look strong outside of the front two, twenty-two length third placed Nazwa afforded the form some credence when finishing second off 103 on a Warwick handicap. Paul Nicholls has won this race five times from eleven runners since 2004, with two of those winners (Far West and Quel Destin) making their British debuts in the same Chepstow contest. Magistrato has the profile of a long term prospect, but he has already proven himself on good ground over the minimum trip and the likely strong pace should also suit him.*
Mister Allegro bg Anthony Honeyball f12-1-1 (50) 62 j2-2-0 (119) 109 123*
Bernardini (Shamardal){1-e}(2.16) 3/2 Meganisi 2nd 2m½f Condiitonals' Handicap Hurdle (133), Aintree 2013
Racing nine times as a two-year-old for Mark Johnston and collecting a Kempton nursery off 48 along the way, Mister Allegro was sold 13,000 guineas at last year's Tattersalls Autumn sale. His first appearance for Anthony Honeyball was reasonable for his level, finishing fourth of nine in a ten furlong Chepstow handicap off 55. However, he would beat only one of twelve rivals home in two subsequent outings which saw him start at 40/1 for his hurdles debut at Ludlow early in October. His profile for hurdling was not without merit as Bernardini (Forth Bridge, Bordoni) had two winners from five in the sphere, and his new trainer had a solid 22.22% winner to runner rate going into the contest. The apparent quality of his opposition still made his task look a difficult one, but his endeavour was made simpler by a the neatest round of jumping in the contest; besmirched only by his clipping the top of the final two flights. Travelling well in a prominent position, he was momentarily caught for toe on the home turn, but was soon pestering the leader and after jumping to the front at the last, was ridden out to score by nearly two lengths. The winning time was not great and a couple of his rivals appeared to underperform, although the runner-up did subsequently land short odds at Sedgefield before finishing second in the Wensleydale. Mister Allegro made his second hurdles appearance at Wincanton three weeks ago and while he drifted from a morning show of 9/4 to 4/1 at flagfall, he was still sent off the second favourite. Slightly keen in the early stages, Mister Allegro immediately put his stamp on the race and with quick jumping, passed the stands with a lead of over half-a-dozen lengths. Reigned in slightly on entering the back, his advantage was whittled down to within a length when getting a breather on the turn for home. Nevertheless, a quick leap at the penultimate flight saw him re-establish his advantage and his acceleration from that hurdle put the race to bed as he went on to pass the line a comprehensive seven length winner. Runner-up Sonning was a well fancied newcomer for Alan King while the third placed Burristo is an experienced yardstick who subsequently went one better at Ludlow. The degree to which the switch to hurdles has animated Mister Allegro can not be understated. Since 2004/05, just 38 of the 2,122 juvenile hurdlers rated 50 or below on the flat would win more than once; with only a handful exceeding what Mister Allegro has already achieved. Though he already looks close to the finished article, there may yet be further to come and connections decided to keep hold of him after he was initially entered in the Tattersalls Horses-in-Training sale. On flat form, it would have been difficult to envisage Mister Allegro keeping this kind of company. Nevertheless, given that he hurdles very well and his jumps form has discernible substance, it would be dangerous to write him off. If there is to be any uncertainty against his profile, it may be he finds his stamina stretched over this course at the forecast pace.*
Rocky Man bc Dan Skelton f2-1-0 (-) j1-0-1 (-) 105 112
Doctor Dino (Speedmaster){7-a}(0.33) 2/1 Rosarina 1st 3500m 4yo Conditions Hurdle, Toulouse 2009
https://www.equidia.fr/chevaux/rocky-man
Henri-Alex Pantall has a more expensive graduate in The Famous Five while Dan Skelton has already taken in Message Personnel. Flying under the radar however is the twice raced son of Doctor Dino, Rocky Man. Half of Doctor Dino's British and Irish juveniles, which includes Sceau Royal, Good Ball and Dino Mite, won during their first campaigns and his three-year-old jumpers in France have an outstanding winner to runner rate of 42.86% from ninety-one horses. Though the damline is less prolific in the sphere, which is understandable given that the third dam was a Chilean import, Rocky Man's auntie did win a four-year-old hurdle at Toulouse. After making an inconspicuous debut at Machecoul back in February, Rocky Man got off the mark in emphatic style when winning a restricted two mile contest at Saumur. Initially racing in the lead, he was restrained to settle behind the leaders passing the stands first time. He would take up the running again leaving the back for the final time and was ridden into the best part of a ten length lead at the distance before being eased in the last hundred metres. The race, being worth just €10,500, has not produced any subsequent winners, although the well beaten runner-up has run consistently in subsequent outings so his valeur of 29.0 (63.8) gives some indication of the form's merit. Rocky Man's DI of 0.33, along with his winning over two miles during the spring, may leave him vulnerable to the pacier juveniles in the upper echelons, and he found himself at the hands of a comprehensive drubbing by Magistrato on his British/hurdling debut at Chepstow five weeks ago. He does possess a strong reputation however and was subject to solid market support beforehand which saw him sent off the 3/1 second favourite. Tracking the leader throughout, posted a perfectly acceptable round of jumping with only his being slightly steady and tight at the first, and somewhat untidy and slow getting away from the last, being his only blemishes. Rocky Man briefly threatened the lead at the top of the straight, but had no answer for Magistrato's relentless galloping. Dan Skelton has a strong looking team of juveniles for this campaign and his two previous runners in this contest have been good ones; Allmankind won in 2019 while the useful Cabot Cliffs was fourth last season. There is plenty to like about Rocky Man and he should be able to get off the mark this term. However, there is no obvious reason why he might reverse placings with Magistrato and he may be suited by an even stronger test than the one offered here.*
Saint Riquier grc Ian Williams f3-1-0 (-) - j2-0-1 (112) 100 110
Le Havre (Montjeu){5-g}(0.60) 3/2 Fashion Mix 1st 3300m 3yo Conditions Hurdle, Cagnes-sur-Mer 2004
https://www.equidia.fr/chevaux/saint-riquier
Several former inmates of Mikel Delzangles have done well in juvenile hurdles with the likes of Ranjaan and Dispour contributing to a solid 27.78% winner to runner rate. While his higher rated exports often command six figures in public auction, Saint Riquier joined Ian Williams after getting knocked down for €33,000 at the Arqana Summer Sale. Well beaten at Fontainbleau on his sole outing at two when slow out of the stalls, he ran a nothing race on his February reappearance at Machecoul over 2350m in testing conditions. He returned after a four month break in a 2200m French bred's maiden contest at Erbray. Initially held up in touch, he moved into a more prominent position during the second circuit and while he did not completely understand the game, Saint Riquier did enough work in the straight to eventually win by a short neck. The runner-up, in receipt of three and a half kilos, is rated in the early sixties and the remaining form would give Saint Riquier a mark on the cusp of 70. Le Havre has had one winner from six in Britain and Ireland, while his winner to runner rate in France, where his progeny are headed by the useful Chaptal, is a solid 18.92%. There are few jumpers on the damline, although Fragrant Mix at 3/1 is a reasonably capable sire of jumpers. Saint Riquier's British/Hurdling debut came at Ludlow early last month and there was little confidence in the market. Starting the day at 10/3, he opened on course at 13/2 before drifting out to 10/1 at the off. Starting the race keenly but settling better before long, his hurdling left a fair bit to be desired. Stumbling slightly on landing at the first, he was tight at the third, steady and close over the fourth, slow over the next before rather missing the sixth. Notwithstanding, after initially racing in the rear, he made good headway along the back and despite getting baulked at the penultimate hurdle, was still in a challenging position on the run to the last. However, he skewed badly over the final flight and could only plug on at one pace to finish fourth behind Mister Allegro and Genuflex by just under six lengths. Saint Riquier was then seen at Huntingdon on Halloween where he was more solid in the market and sent off the 13/8 favourite. Held up in midfield and settling better in first-time cheekpieces, Saint Riquier also improved in the hurdling department. Unfazed by getting blocked on landing at the first, he jumped his hurdles well enough with his only errors being getting close to the fifth and skewing when slow at the next. Making headway to join the leaders at the top of the straight, he led briefly on the run between the final two and held a share of the lead at the last. However, while he ran gamely enough to the line, Alan King's Twilight Twist was able to pull out a decisive length with the front two pulling a long way clear. Ian Williams does not typically overface his juveniles at Cheltenham and indeed had the Fred Winter second in 2005. Nevertheless, his two runners in this contest failed to fire and while Saint Riquier should not end the season a maiden, he would have most to find out of the experienced runners here.*
Yorksea chg Gary Moore f6-1-0 (33,0 - 72.6) 66
Sea The Stars (Pivotal){13-c}(1.82) 7/4 Proschema 2nd West Yorkshire Hurdle (G2), Wetherby 2021*
https://www.equidia.fr/chevaux/yorksea
Gary Moore has a healthy record with his French flat recruits with ten of his twenty-three winning as juveniles, four of who would score first time out. The latest such horse to see a British hurdle is Yorksea, who fetched €32,000 Arqana Summer. He was initially trained by Frédéric Head, whose former inmates have a strong 45.45% winner to runner rate, the strongest of these being Youmdor from last season. However, given the general strength of his exports, only 21.05% will show improvement for the switch to hurdles which would be essential for the 72.6 rated Yorksea. Making his debut at Deauville last November, Yorksea cut little ice first time and would also finish down the field twice at Chantilly as well as on his handicap debut at Saint Cloud off 32 (70.4). A step down in class and a revised valeur of 30.5 (67.1) saw him get off the mark at the fifth time of asking in a 2100m handicap at Angers towards the end of May in a race named after his owner's wonder mare Goldikova. Starting at 16/1, Yorksea raced on the outer and moved from midfield to a more prominent position a mile from home. He went into a clear lead at the six furlong point and though he was headed at the distance when turning for home, he rallied gamely against the rail to get up in the final strides from a next time out winner. Yorksea's last race in France came in a good ground Saint Cloud handicap over 3000m in mid-June. Racing prominently once again, he looked in trouble turning into the straight and faded late on to finish just over four lengths behind the winner in fifth. Sire Sea The Stars (Starchitect, Stars Over The Sea) has a solid 33.33% winner to runner rate in the division, although Pivotal's record as a damsire has a more modest rate of 13.24%. Out of the Group One winning filly Queen's Jewel, Yorksea's damline offers no clues insofar as hurdling is concerned with its roots in Argentina. Useful hurdler Proschema does appear at 7/4, although that is so distant enough that it passes into trivial rather than useful information. Overall, Yorksea still looks an interesting recruit to the division and there are races to be won with him. However, Gary Moore has had just one placing from seven runners in this contest (Botox Has second in 2019) so unless Yorksea is schooling and training like a Champion Hurdler, his task looks a stiff one here.*
Addosh bf Stuart Edmunds f11-1-4 (71) 78 j3-1-1 (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 is indicative of her fulfilling the promise shown first time round. Her latest outing came in the Wensleydale Hurdle at Wetherby just over a fortnight ago where she appeared to face a stern examination, although she did receive outside support in the ring, trimmed into 9/1 from an opening 11/1. Settled fairly comfortably while held up in last, she was still bringing up the rear when turning into the straight. Nevertheless, Addosh was travelling well on the approach to three out and had moved to within a length of the lead when missing the flight, stumbling and unseating her rider. This was an unfortunate turn of events as apart from going right when slow at the first, she had posted a very tidy round of jumping to that point. Her departure came before the race had unfolded in earnest and any speculation on how she may have finished the race would be absolute guesswork. She did appear to be suited by the slow tempo of the contest, in keeping with her previous best efforts coming with an emphasis on speed which is a luxury unlikely to be afforded here.*
Aliomaana chf Milton Harris f5-0-2 (74) 75 j4-1-2 (115) 108 119
Raven's Pass (Sea The Stars){8-f}(1.29) 2/1 Celestial Force 1st 2m1f Handicap Hurdle (120), Newton Abbot 2021
Though she failed to win for John Gosden, Aliomaana grabbed a couple of seconds on the all weather prior to fetching 17,000 guineas at the Tattersalls July Sale. Juveniles formerly trained by John Gosden often leave little wriggle room for their new handlers, although Milton Harris got three wins out of Pyramid Place last term and Aliomaana made it two from two at Perth towards the end of September. Quietly fancied ahead of her hurdling debut at Stratford in August, she was not the tidiest jumper but raced with plenty of enthusiasm before tiring late on to finish third. The first part of that story was similar two weeks later at Perth as, pulling herself into the lead shortly after the start, she was slightly distracted when steady at the first, but got over the second alright despite wandering on the approach. Though still fairly fresh, she had settled into a sensible rhythm up front and while she was rather skewed at the third and briefly lost her footing on some loose turf passing the stands, was still decent enough over the next. Hopping through the next in a fashion quite accurately described by Mike Cattermole as unconventional, Mitch Bastyan cajoled her at the right moment over the next two and got very neat leaps out of her in the process. While Aliomaana briefly looked in danger from the looming presence of New Reality, she bounded on nicely on the run to the last and appeared the likeliest winner at the time. Unfortunately, having a lapse in concentration, she did not lift her feet high enough and ended up rolling onto the ground. Mercifully, she got up ok and showed no ill effects from the experience when putting thing right on her return to the Scottish venue. She started the day as even money favourite and though she drifted during the morning and reached 7/4 on course, she was trimmed into 11/8 at the off. She was a little buzzy down at the start, but this is more due to her lively character than any temperament issues. Aliomaana was sent straight into the lead and showing good speed both over the hurdles and in between, her advantage was a wide one by the time she passed the stands. It would be folly to suggest her rivals gave her too generous a lead however as they were constrained by their own slow jumping as much as they were outpaced by the leader. Furthermore, while Aliomaana had been untidy at times during her first two spins over hurdles, save for an unorthodox quasi-hop at the first and getting tight at the second; neither imperfection costing her any momentum; she was very neat and nimble. Putting in another acceleration three from home, she travelled strongly to the penultimate flight where she wandered on the approach and got in rather close. She was ridden away from that hurdle before being allowed to jump the last as steadily as she liked. Popping over the final hurdle, she was pushed out to see the race through, crossing the line twenty-nine lengths clear of a spread-eagled field. While the margin may appear to be too good to be true, and her rivals did jump slowly, her completing the course in a time at least two seconds quicker than any of the older horses in the other three races held at the trip on the card affords her performance a great deal of substance. Aliomaana was last seen in a fillies' contest at Fakenham seventeen days ago where she was sent off the 11/8 favourite. Such a venue seemed ideal for her frontrunning prowess. However, she was not the only habitual pacesetter in the line-up and with two of her rivals going for eachothers' throats from the outset, Aliomaana was tucked in behind the leaders. Racing keenly, made a couple of errors early on when getting close to the first and going steep over the fourth. Nevertheless, her jumping was sound overall and she went into the lead leaving the back. She clipped the top of the penultimate flight and after being pressed by a held-up stayer, forfeited her lead turning for home. Slow to get away from the last, Aliomaana was one paced from there and was beaten eight lengths in the end while conceding seven pounds. Notwithstanding, she still finished upwards of twenty-six lengths of the remainder and although the defeat was disappointing, it was still of an honourable nature considering the complexion of the race. There are a few pounds to find with the leading contenders but the sex allowance puts her right in the picture and while Mitch Bastyan will be unable to claim the usual three, his talent on this filly negates this deficit. Several of her rivals have made the running in the past, although this has often been on sufferance and it is possible that Aliomaana could get things her own way. However, an issue might be whether or not Aliomaana can do what she did at Perth over the contours of Cheltenham.
tl;dr
Caramelised - Impressive when landing brace at Stratford during the summer and had excuses when disappointing at Market Rasen. Can take a hold so connections will be hoping that headgear helps this entire to better settle.
Knight Salute - Modest flat form at three was deceptive and has basically done everything right in winning at Sedgefield and Kempton. Strongest British form on offer and conditions should suit.
Magistrato - Debut second at Auteuil working out very well and made an impressive British debut at Chepstow. Yard does well with his type in this contest and is sure to stay up the hill.
Mister Allegro - Very modest on flat in context of this contest, and landed surprise when making a winning hurdles debut at Ludlow. However, form of that race is working out and proved that was no fluke when following up at Wincanton. Jumps very well but could find stamina stretched here.
Rocky Man - Won at second time of asking on French flat in a slog. Runner-up on British debut at Chepstow and should win races although little reason for him to reverse placings with Magistrato.
Saint Riquier - Winner on flat in France but disappointed when fourth to Mister Allegro on British/hurdles bow (drifted beforehand). Settled and jumped better next time at Huntingdon but bit to find here.
Yorksea - Handicap winner in France and joins strong yard for British/hurdles campaign. Flat form not exceptional however and faces stiff task on debut.
Addosh - Fairly useful flat winner and reversed Stratford defeat at hands of Caramelised in no uncertain terms at Market Rasen. Was in process of running nice race in the Wensleydale but unseated before getting chance to prove herself. Suited by speed tests which is unlikely in this field.
Aliomaana - Reasonable maiden for John Gosden who almost confirmed debut promise when unseating at Perth with race at her mercy. Emphatic winner back at the venue and performed creditably latest when race was not ran to suit. Form gives her a chance although uncertain if she will be suited by Cheltenham.
Strong prospects
1. Knight Salute
Reasonable prospects
2. Magistrato
3. Aliomaana
Feasible prospects
4. Mister Allegro
5. Caramelised
6. Rocky Man
7. Addosh
Moderate prospects
8. Yorksea
Negligible prospects
9. Saint Riquier
Desert Orchid
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Many thanks lads. Looked like I had the 1-2-3 jumping the last but the race fell apart which allowed the outsiders to fill the frame. At least the strong pace wasn't unexpected and Knight Salute had the best tools to come out on the day. Very pleasing race to watch, particularly with Addosh and Ciaran Gethings getting up alright.
Fontwell is onto its third juvenile hurdle of the season. While this particular contest only came to be in 2017, the seasonal RPRs of its average winners of 130.5 would not be out of place at the likes of Ascot or Aintree. Such a figure is peculiar for a Class 4 event and the anomaly reveals itself when looking at the previous two winners of the contest in Goshen and Nassalam. This year's renewal could potentially be of a similar construct as two Gary Moore recruits bring particular intrigue to what would otherwise be an ordinary affair. Notwithstanding, this is not to denigrate the remainder of the field as there is fair winning and placed form on offer along with a couple of flat recruits that would be of interest in most contests at this grade. Fontwell's clear round rate of 94.92% is one of the lowest in the country and the figure for newcomers 90.54% is also modest so good schooling is especially useful at the venue. Experienced runners naturally have the better strike rate, although this is less pronounced than at other racecourses and three of the four winners of this contest were making their British/hurdles debuts. The winning DIs in this contest of 0.56 mean and 0.60 median are very low, although these figures are drawn from a small sample and the previous editions were ran on softer ground. With the going described as good and rain unlikely to fall, the test may be more in keeping with the course's DIs of 1.12 mean and 1.40 median; which are close enough to standard.
Beowulf bg Michael Bell f11-2-3 (69) 78
Camelot (Thewayyouare){21-a}(0.70) No jumps relatives
Newmarket trainer Michael Bell has supplied 78 juvenile hurdlers to the division since 2004/05, and their winner to runner rate is a healthy one at 30.77%. Notwithstanding, he has ran three of his own during this time with Metaphoric winning a couple in 2008, although his last runners were nine seasons ago and all three were trained at Fitzroy House on the flat. Beowulf, who fetched 34,000 guineas at the Tattersalls Autumn Sale, raced on the flat under the care of Ed Walker whose former inmates count just one winner from thirteen (although the 41.67% improvement rate is more reasonable). After thrice finishing down the field as a two-year-old, Beowulf began his 2021 campaign with a mark of 56 in exchange for his testicles. He was also given blinkers for his handicap debut at Linfield at the beginning of June where after racing keenly, he did his best work towards the end of the ten furlongs to finish just over two lengths behind in third. Following a midfield finish at Yarmouth without the blinkers, Beowulf got off the mark in a Ffos Las handicap in June with the blinkers reapplied. Racing keenly while held up in rear, he made headway in the straight and showed a decisive turn of foot at the distance to ultimately run out a cosy four length winner. Beowulf followed up a fortnight later at the same venue and in a similar fashion off a mark of 65. This would be his last visit to the winners enclosure and though he ran to form when finishing third in consecutive outings at Newbury and Bath off 72, his headstrong tendencies re-emerged as he finished midfield on his final two outings without being entirely disgraced. Beowulf's pedigree gives mixed signals as while Camelot is a solid sire of juveniles (27.27% winner to runner), damsire Thewayyouare has a modest record as a sire and the damline, being North American, is bereft of jumpers. Beowolf would not be completely out of this contest on his flat form, and his sire and trainer are interesting. However, his headstrong nature is a concern and the yard has gone a month since its last winner.
Boulette bg Nigel Hawke f6-0-1 (73) 72 j2-0-1 (-) 92 102
Epaulette (Tiznow){5-f}(1.00) 0.5 Pari Passu 10th 2m Maiden Hurdle, Kilbeggan 2019
Another in a series of juvenile hurdlers to have joined Nigel Hawke from Jim Bolger, a group which has produced six winners from ten, Boulette has shown enough to take an ordinary contest at some point. A six race maiden in Ireland, his performances exceeded his official mark of 71 and he shaped as though stamina would be no concern in this sphere. His hurdling debut came at the start of September where he was slightly uneasy in the market. Sweating up beforehand, Boulette had a habit of pulling on the flat and he raced keenly off the modest pace here. Initially in midfield, he jumped the path crossing the stands, but was soon tracking the pacesetters and was within a couple of lengths of the lead jumping three out. He hurdled well enough save for skewing at the first and slightly reaching at the fourth, although the shift in gears rather caught him off guard as he got close to three out, and while he jumped the last two fine, he was not so quick in getting away from his hurdles. This cost him valuable momentum which exacerbated his lack of pace. He was about six lengths behind at the furlong marker and though able to rally after reorganising himself, he gave himself too much to do and was unable to bridge the gap in time. He shaped like a horse who should come on plenty for the experience and after a two month break, made his return at Ludlow ten days ago. Sent off the 5/2 joint favourite having been 13/8 during the morning, Boulette was keen from the outset and soon pulled himself into the lead. His advantage was extended to half a dozen lengths along the back but was amongst the pack turning for home. After conceding the lead before the penultimate flight, he faded to finish an eleven length fifth. His headstrong tendencies also impacted his hurdling as he skewed at the first, clipped the third, got in close to the fifth before his jumping further deteriorated in the straight. Boulette is capable of winning a race of this nature on his Worcester performance, the yard is in better form than at Ludlow. However, his temperament raises concerns and while hood and tongue tie have been added, the yard's runners show no discernible improvement for the first-time application of same.
Hayedo bg Gary Moore f4-0-3 (-) 84
Sea The Moon (Sholokhov){7-c}(0.65) 3/1 Hill Fairy 1st Lombardstown Mares Novice Chase (L), Cork 2008
https://www.pronoturf.es/ficha-caballo/c58dbcc04143b4253160b8d619314a2e
https://www.equidia.fr/chevaux/hayedo
Starting his career in Spain before racing in France, the German bred Hayedo is set to make his British debut here. After fetching €58,000 as a yearling, Hayedo twice ran for Patrik Olave at La Zarzuela, Madrid late in the season where he would finish second over 1800m on turf, and 1900m on sand. The latter outing saw him finish nine lengths behind a horse called Speedful who would eventually move to France and race in claiming company, albeit as a seventy/eiighty-ish performer. Hayedo's third outing is much more easily quantified. Having his first run for Edouard Monfort, who has yet to export a juvenile hurdler, Hayedo reappeared in a quite valuable maiden contest at Longchamp over 2000m in May. Keen in the early stages, he pulled himself into the lead and settled better as a result. He would maintain his advantage to the distance and though outpaced by the winner, would keep on gamely to hold second. The form is of a reasonable standard with the length and a quarter winner rated 96.8, and the third rated 88. Hayedo failed to match this form on his sole subsequent outing which came over 2200m at Lyon the following month. Though running a similar kind of race, he did not settle quite so well and while he fought on bravely after being headed turning for home, he found himself swamped in the final strides, finishing just under two lengths behind in fourth. Gary Moore has a strong record with his French flat recruits with ten of his twenty-four winning as juveniles, four of whom would score first time out, and Yorksea ran a big race at Cheltenham yesterday. There is also encouragement for Hayedo's new vocation in the pedigree. Sea The Moon (Allmankind, Tritonic) has a winner runner rate of 28.57% and an improvement rate of 50%. Sholokhov is untried as a damsire but 30% of his own progeny win in the sphere and the third dam is the matriarch of winning jumpers Hill Fairy (3/1), Hey Little Boy (3/1) and North Hill (3/2). Hayedo's best flat form along with his pedigree give him the credentials to be a useful recruit. His ability on good ground is not assured however but while he appears to be the second string on jockey bookings, Hayedo could be better suited by conditions than his stablemate.
Largo Bay chg Michael Madgwick f13-1-5 (59) 63
Flintshire (Henrythenavigator){3-d}(1.08) 5/3 I'm So Lucky 1st Celebration Chase (G2), Sandown 2010
Juveniles bought after winning sellers on the flat rarely show useful form over hurdles, although they do have a respectable winner to runner rate of 26%. Largo Bay's sole flat win from thirteen came in such company when he took a ten furlong selling handicap off 56 at Linfield in mid-August. Sent off the 2/1 favourite, made all at a fair tempo before going clear in the straight to win by two lengths. After the race, he left Richard Hughes to join Michael Madgwick for the sum of £7,200. Juvenile recruits from the former yard have yet to have a winner from ten and none of the five qualifiers have improved for the switch to hurdling. Michael Madgwick's record in the sphere is more encouraging as while his winner to runner rate of 12.5% is fair at best, his improvement rate of 61.54% is healthy and he did get a couple of wins from £2,000 purchase Ray Diamond in 2008/09. Largo Bay has had three outings for his new handler on the flat and while he was poor at Kempton over a mile, having missed an engagement the previous month, a step up to twelve furlongs saw him run new career bests at Kempton off 60, and Lingfield off 59 twelve days ago. He will be the first hurdler for sire Flintshire, whose standing in America will make his progeny a rare sight over jumps. Notwithstanding, while the five time Group One winner has a strong preference for fast ground, his class, stamina and good height of 16.1hh, along with his being a son of Dansili and nephew of useful hurdler Summit Meeting, suggest that his progeny should hold their own over hurdles. However, the damline is less encouraging as Henrythenavigator has contributed little to the sphere and one has to go back to 5/3 in order to find a useful jumper. Largo Bay's profile is not without its positives for juvenile hurdling, but while he has a good chance of performing in the sphere, it will likely come at a lower level.
Morani Kali chg Martin Smith f7-0-0 (55) 65 j1-0-0 (-) 43 48
Charming Thought (Haafhd){3-d}(2.11) 2/1 Heavenly Chorus 1st 2m3½f Handicap Hurdle (104), Catterick 2008
Making his racecourse debut in January at Southwell, Morani Kali amassed seven starts without reaching the frame and his fourth at Kempton second time out has been a total outlier. Damsire Haafhd had a respectable record as a sire in the division, but this has not been passed through his broodmares and Representing a yard without a winning juvenile hurdler and Charming Thought does not have the profile to produce good jumpers. Morani Kali made his jumps bow at Huntingdon in early January where his starting price of 100/1 was a reflection of his chances. Always in the rear, he jumped poorly throughout and would ultimately finish a tailed off last of seven. He subsequently finished midfield on his return to the flat three weeks ago.
Moulins Clermont bg Gary Moore j1-0-1 (-) 114 121
Free Port Lux (Ungaro){3-o}(0.67) 0.5 Paris Clermont 1st 4300 Conditions Chase, Aix-les-Bains 2016
https://www.equidia.fr/chevaux/moulins-clermont
It is a sign of the times, probably compounded by events of the past year, that Moulins Clermont was purchased not privately or at a public auction, but on an online shop. For €70,000, he left Bertrand Lefevre to become another recruit to the Gary Moore ranks. Continuing the prototype theme, Moulins Clermont represents the first crop of jumpers by Group Two winner Free Port Lux - a giant of a horse at 1.70m who, despite being by Oasis Dream, has a stamina laden pedigree and has already produced the useful three-year-old hurdler Itours Brun. Moulins Clermont's sole start came in the Prix du Brevent at Compiègne which is a reaonable conditions race that has been contested by the likes of Adrien Du Pont, Ibis Du Rheu, Cristal Bonus. Held up in midfield, Moulins Clermont had a propensity to get tight at his hurdles but rarely caused alarm. However, despite the race being the slowest held at the venue this term, he still looked short of pace and was doing his best work towards the end of the contest as he finished three lengths third of nine. The form is not exceptional, but it has produced a few subsequent winners and a performance rating in the early 120s would not be unreasonable. Half of Gary Moore's ten French hurdles recruits have been winners with four of those scoring first time including recent Wensleydale winner Porticello, and Fontwell scorers Botox Has and Nassalam. Moulins Clermont sets a clear standard on hurdles form and given his profile, a slog around Fontwell would seem an ideal introduction. However, with the ground forecast to be unseasonably firm, he may be vulnerable to something with more pace.
Pride Of Nepal bg Jeremy Scott f9-0-2 (63) 69
The Gurkha (Tamayuz){3-d}(0.82) 3/2 Hanover Street 1st 2m 4yo Maiden Hurdle, Tramore 2016
The record of those bought after winning sellers is covered in Largo Bay's profile, who won the race from which Pride Of Nepal was purchased for £6,400. The latter, beaten by two lengths, was carrying eleven pounds more which puts him ahead at the weights and while still a maiden after nine starts, his subsequent second at Wolverhampton on his penultimate outing confirms superiority over Largo Bay. However, he is given to taking a keen hold and his stamina is also suspect in the context of this contest. Those formerly trained by Hughie Morrison have a solid 22.58% winner to runner rate in the sphere and new handler Jeremy Scott has won with one of his six; although his recent form could be stronger and the yard's juveniles generally need a few races under their girths. A son of first crop sire The Gurkha, who is promising to be a supplier of useful, if speedy, juveniles. Pride Of Nepal incidentally shares a damline with the aforementioned Largo Bay at 7/5. Nevertheless, a winning jumper does appear somewhat closer on his side with Hanover Street showing at 3/2. Pride Of Nepal is another recruit who could find his level, although he also wants for class and will probably appreciate a sharper test than the one offered by Fontwell.
Rhebus Road chg Oliver Sherwood f10-2-3 (74) 78 j1-0-0 (-) 73 79
Champs Elysees (Verglas){14-f}(2.20) 2/1 Thahab Ifraj 1st 2m Handicap Hurdle (106), Kempton 2020
Starting his career with Ralph Beckett, it took Rhebus Road seven attempts to get off the mark on the flat. Sporting a first time visor in a twelve furlong handicap at Beverley off 63 in early July, he looked a tricky ride, hanging markedly to his left under pressure. Nevertheless, he still made all to run out a comfortable four-and-a-half length winner and was able to command a price tag of 70,000 guineas at the Tattersalls July Sale. Rhebus Road stayed at Kimpton Down for his next three outings and was able to double his tally when last seen at Newmarket in a ten furlong handicap off 70. Headgear removed and ridden with more restraint, he took up the running at the distance against the rail and though he carried his head awkwardly at times, was always doing enough to fend off his rivals by upwards of half-a-length. Sire Champs Elysees has a winner to runner rate of 25.45%, and his improvement rate of 51.43% is also respectable. While there are no superstars on the damline, Rhebus Road is a nephew of Thahab Ifraj who won a handicap hurdle last year. Switching to Oliver Sherwood for his hurdling career, he joined a trainer with a healthy 39.39% winner to runner rate in the sphere, and whose charges tend to improve with the benefit of experience. Connections will be hoping for this to be the case as Rhebus Road's hurdling debut at Kempton was not encouraging. Though sent off the outsider, he was not without supporters and his price contracted from 10/1 to 15/2 at the off. However, while he probably settled as well as anything in the contest, his hurdling left something to be desired as he hopped over the second, was steady before skewing at the fifth, steady again at the next where he got in close and was already weakening when putting in a tired jump at two out. While Rhebus Road is not without potential as a hurdling recruit, he was overfaced in this company first time and it remains to be seen if he would be more enthusiastic here. Going left handed should be a positive, but there are questions to answer and the yard has gone a month without sending out a winner.
The Yellow Mini bf Michael Wigham f14-0-1 (45) 53 j4-1-3 (110) 95 106
Cannock Chase (Primo Valentino){22-d}(1.00) 2/2 Arakhan 1st 2m4f Novices' Hurdle, Aintree 2019
Without a win to her name in fourteen starts on the flat, The Yellow Mini raced under the care of Polly Gundry until late July. Her best outing in that sphere came at the end of June when finishing three quarters of a length second in a Bath handicap off 45, though no effort either side matched that performance. Making her hurdling debut at Fontwell early in September, she was the first runner over hurdles for sire Cannock Chase, a stallion with feasible credentials given his sireline, DI and height. She is also a cousin of a winning novice hurdler and while trainer Michael Wigham had not had a runner in the sphere since November 2016, he had previously sent out two to win first time. Not completely unfancied at 16/1, she was ridden with confidence, disputing the lead from the outset. With the front two racing alongside each other for most of the contest, it was only when her rival, Sir Taweel, began to fade leaving the back that she moved into a clear advantage. Ramure managed to get within a length after jumping quicker at two out, but The Yellow Mini kept on doggedly to keep her rival at bay. She also ran with more purpose on the run-in to cross the line with just over three lengths in hand. While she clearly relished this new discipline, her hurdling was not without its blemishes. Distracted by her rival when making minor errors over the first two, she was slightly big over the third and sixth, steady when clipping the next, outjumped at two out and went right at the last. Notwithstanding, these errors were not especially to her detriment and it is an area where she can improve with experience. She came out again a fortnight later at Plumpton where she was steady in the market at 9/2. The front running tactics from Fontwell were employed again and setting a sensible gallop, The Yellow Mini put in a good round of jumping with only minor errors and her wandering occasionally counting against her. She had all but one of her rivals in trouble on leaving the back and while Impulsive One was in a different league, the remainder of the field were held by the best part of four lengths and upwards in the end. The Yellow Mini continued in going from strength to strength with another career best at back Fontwell at the start of last month. Though initially the least fancied of three principals in a tight contest, she was supported into 6/4 joint favouritism at the off. Attempting to make all once again, she had the lead to herself up until the final flight where she was still holding a winning chance. However, while she mostly hurdled well, save for a tendency to jump right, she did get close to three out and made a real mess of the last where she barely got off the ground and stumbled badly on landing. This blunder cost her valuable momentum and quite likely the race itself as she had little left to offer on the run-in. Notwithstanding, the performance still demonstrated that The Yellow Mini is an honest sort who enjoys her new vocation. The Yellow Mini was last seen eighteen days ago at Fakenham where, racing in first-time blinkers, attracted late support to start the race at 5/1. While Fakenham would generally suit frontrunners, it was a contest inundated with trailblazers and The Yellow Mini was right in the thick of it; contesting the lead from the outset. Her hurdling was still reasonable all things considered, with mistakes only creeping in as she faded late on to nobody's surprise. Beaten thirty-four lengths, but still holding on for third, The Yellow Mini will likely appreciate her return to Fontwell. However, she is unlikely to enjoy an uncontested lead, nor will she have the services of Gavin Sheehan who skilfully guided her around Fontwell during her previous visits.
Undercover Agent bg Mark Gillard f3-0-0 (39) 39 j1-0-0 (-) 66 81
Kodiac (Rainbow Quest){1-o}(0.78) 0.5 Hoist The Colours 4th Juvenile Hurdle, Stratford 2015
Since fetching 3,000 guineas at a Tattersalls Breeze Up this year, Undercover Agent, a half-brother to the 2009 Poule d'Essai des Pouliche winner Elusive Wave, finished tailed off on two outings during August and was an eleven length last of six in a weak Lingfield claimer early last month. Trainer Mark Gillard has saddled three winning juveniles, but none would do so before their fifth attempt over hurdles and his overall strike rate stands at just 3.85%. Kodiac has a good record in the sphere with a winner to runner rate of 37.93%, and uncle Leopardi managed a win. However, this did not offset the huge task set on Undercover Agent's hurdling debut at Wincanton three weeks ago and his on course drift from 100/1 to 250/1 was not alarming. Held up in the rear, he never threatened to get competitive and he eventually finished a distance behind the winner. Notwithstanding, his jumping was not atrocious with his only errors coming when steady and close at the third, pecking at the next and going left at the sixth. While he accomplished little here, this still marked a new career best. Undercover Agent can make a better hurdler, although his sights will need to be set considerably lower.
Cirrus chf Milton Harris f14-0-3 (65) 77 j1-0-1 (-) 68 67
Starspangledbanner (Halling){5-e}(3.00) 0.5 Spiritual Art 1st 2m1f Mares' Maiden Hurdle, Newton Abbot 2011
A fourteen race maiden on the flat, Cirrus has failed to reach the frame in six outings since finishing third at Nottingham in early May, and has beaten just one of her twelve rivals home in her two starts for Milton Harris. Leaving Richard Hannon for 15,000 guineas at the Tattersalls July sale, Cirrus had shown her best form when under a length third at the aforementioned Nottingham off 73, and on her final outing for her former handler when just over two lengths fifth of seven at Bath off the same mark; with both of these performances coming on good to soft ground and indicating that a trip could be the key. While this alone would be a tenuous cause for optimism, there are further positives in the profile. Her sire, Starspangledbanner, was a four time Group One winner in Britain and Australia, and while his most notable successes came over sprint distances, he also won the Caulfield Guineas at three. While a sprint bred sprinter should not make into a sire of juvenile hurdlers, his own sire Choisir has a 30% winner to runner rate, a 72.73% improvement rate, and another son of his in Olympic Glory has also made a promising start with comparable figures of 37.5% and 50% respectively. Starspangledbanner himself has two winners from six in the sphere with Can't Stop Now winning on soft, Tinnahalla beating Homme Public on heavy, and Kentucky Hardboot finishing second on soft at Newbury. Cirrus is out of a half-sister to a winning hurdler with other winners Strawman (3/1) and Royal Master (3/2) on the damline. Milton Harris, who boasts a 45% strike rate in the past fortnight, has already had three winning juveniles this term including Knight Salute who landed the Grade Two Prestbury Hurdle at Cheltenham. Furthermore, the only other juvenile acquired by Milton Harris from the Hannon team was when Gulf Punch was bought out of a claimer in 2009 (as a two-year-old, it should be noted) from Hannon Sr before winning three times during her first campaign. Making her hurdling debut at the venue at the beginning of October, Cirrus was weak in the market beforehand and started the race at 16/1. Held up in midfield, she hurdled decently overall for the most part and was still moving well enough on rounding the home turn. However, fears over her first-time tongue tie manifested as she folded very tamely before finishing a thirty-seven length last of three. A respiratory noise was reported after the race and a wind operation was conducted within the week. Given a good six weeks to recover, and with the yard in white hot form, Cirrus could very well leave her debut outing behind. While there will naturally be questions to answer insofar as her wellbeing is concerned, she has at least shown herself a fluent jumper as well as capable of performing after a layoff.
Sly Madam bf Sheena West f7-0-1 (45) 49 j1-0-0 (-) 60 61
Sixties Icon (Thousand Words){4-i}(0.57) 1/1 Sly Minx 3rd Juvenile Hurdle, Fontwell 2020
Though no better than a modest maiden on the flat for Mick Channon, Sly Madam has a couple of elements to suggest improvement for the switch to hurdles. Trainer Sheena West has a strong improvement rate of 72.97% with her charges, and Sixties Icon has produced some useful juvenile fillies while also enjoying a healthy improvement rate of 53.57%. However, Sly Madam was not well fancied for her hurdling debut at Stratford six weeks ago where she faced a stiff task against two promising newcomers. Taking a keen hold while tracking the leaders, her cause was not helped by her jumping big at the early flights before becoming slow to get away from the later obstacles. Sly Madam's full-sister, Sly Minx, was beaten out of sight in this contest last season and while she might eventually outperform her sibling, there is little enthusiasm for the imminent future.
tl;dr
Beowulf - Rare juvenile hurdler for Michael Bell who won twice on the flat for Ed Walker. Capable of decent form but propensity to pull hard re-emerged and yard not in strong form.
Boulette - Horses who join Nigel Hawke from Jim Bolger have solid record in the sphere and Worcester debut second was promising. Raced to freely for own good at Ludlow and while yard is in better form, there are questions to answer.
Hayedo - German bred who started in Spain and stepped up when moving to France. Longchamp second the strongest flat form on offer and has joined a yard with strong record in this contest. May want more testing conditions but is brave and is bred to do well in sphere.
Largo Bay - Won selling handicap off 56 but yard can win with modest sorts. Sire's progeny should perform over hurdles but likely to find this company too strong.
Morani Kali - Poor on flat overall and nothing in profile to suggest he can make a hurdler. No encouragement from hurdling debut at Huntingdon.
Moulins Clermont - Third on sole outing which came in reasonable race at Compiegne. Yard does very well with his type and this contest would have been ideal on soft ground. However, may be vulnerable to pacier sort in prevailing conditions.
Pride Of Nepal - Behind Largo Bay in seller but stronger form overall. Tends to pull and stamina not assured for this trip.
Rhebus Road - Cost 70,000gns at the Tattersalls July Sale and had useful winning form on the flat. Has looked awkward at times Kempton debut left plenty to be desired. Capable of better but not sure to produce and yard on the cold list.
The Yellow Mini - Showed dramatic improvement from flat form when making winning start to hurdling career over course and distance. May have landed double at this venue but for final flight error. Honest and capable but unlikely to get easy lead.
Undercover Agent - Achieved nothing on flat and while shaped better on hurdling debut at Wincanton, still has a great deal to find with several of these.
Cirrus - Fourteen race maiden on flat but pedigree not without merit and is with a yard that can do little wrong. Jumped well but faded tamely on jumps bow over course and distance. Respiratory issues reported and has had wind done. Questions to answer but has performed after a break and dangerous to dismiss.
Sly Madam - Modest maiden who has the profile to do better over hurdles. Stratford debut was poor however, and has plenty to find here.
Strong prospects
1. Cirrus
Reasonable prospects
2. Hayedo
3. Moulins Clermont
Feasible prospects
4. Boulette
5. The Yellow Mini
6. Rhebus Road
Moderate prospects
7. Beowulf
8. Largo Bay
9. Pride Of Nepal
Negligible prospects
10. Undercover Agent
11. Sly Madam
12. Morani Kali
Fontwell is onto its third juvenile hurdle of the season. While this particular contest only came to be in 2017, the seasonal RPRs of its average winners of 130.5 would not be out of place at the likes of Ascot or Aintree. Such a figure is peculiar for a Class 4 event and the anomaly reveals itself when looking at the previous two winners of the contest in Goshen and Nassalam. This year's renewal could potentially be of a similar construct as two Gary Moore recruits bring particular intrigue to what would otherwise be an ordinary affair. Notwithstanding, this is not to denigrate the remainder of the field as there is fair winning and placed form on offer along with a couple of flat recruits that would be of interest in most contests at this grade. Fontwell's clear round rate of 94.92% is one of the lowest in the country and the figure for newcomers 90.54% is also modest so good schooling is especially useful at the venue. Experienced runners naturally have the better strike rate, although this is less pronounced than at other racecourses and three of the four winners of this contest were making their British/hurdles debuts. The winning DIs in this contest of 0.56 mean and 0.60 median are very low, although these figures are drawn from a small sample and the previous editions were ran on softer ground. With the going described as good and rain unlikely to fall, the test may be more in keeping with the course's DIs of 1.12 mean and 1.40 median; which are close enough to standard.
Beowulf bg Michael Bell f11-2-3 (69) 78
Camelot (Thewayyouare){21-a}(0.70) No jumps relatives
Newmarket trainer Michael Bell has supplied 78 juvenile hurdlers to the division since 2004/05, and their winner to runner rate is a healthy one at 30.77%. Notwithstanding, he has ran three of his own during this time with Metaphoric winning a couple in 2008, although his last runners were nine seasons ago and all three were trained at Fitzroy House on the flat. Beowulf, who fetched 34,000 guineas at the Tattersalls Autumn Sale, raced on the flat under the care of Ed Walker whose former inmates count just one winner from thirteen (although the 41.67% improvement rate is more reasonable). After thrice finishing down the field as a two-year-old, Beowulf began his 2021 campaign with a mark of 56 in exchange for his testicles. He was also given blinkers for his handicap debut at Linfield at the beginning of June where after racing keenly, he did his best work towards the end of the ten furlongs to finish just over two lengths behind in third. Following a midfield finish at Yarmouth without the blinkers, Beowulf got off the mark in a Ffos Las handicap in June with the blinkers reapplied. Racing keenly while held up in rear, he made headway in the straight and showed a decisive turn of foot at the distance to ultimately run out a cosy four length winner. Beowulf followed up a fortnight later at the same venue and in a similar fashion off a mark of 65. This would be his last visit to the winners enclosure and though he ran to form when finishing third in consecutive outings at Newbury and Bath off 72, his headstrong tendencies re-emerged as he finished midfield on his final two outings without being entirely disgraced. Beowulf's pedigree gives mixed signals as while Camelot is a solid sire of juveniles (27.27% winner to runner), damsire Thewayyouare has a modest record as a sire and the damline, being North American, is bereft of jumpers. Beowolf would not be completely out of this contest on his flat form, and his sire and trainer are interesting. However, his headstrong nature is a concern and the yard has gone a month since its last winner.
Boulette bg Nigel Hawke f6-0-1 (73) 72 j2-0-1 (-) 92 102
Epaulette (Tiznow){5-f}(1.00) 0.5 Pari Passu 10th 2m Maiden Hurdle, Kilbeggan 2019
Another in a series of juvenile hurdlers to have joined Nigel Hawke from Jim Bolger, a group which has produced six winners from ten, Boulette has shown enough to take an ordinary contest at some point. A six race maiden in Ireland, his performances exceeded his official mark of 71 and he shaped as though stamina would be no concern in this sphere. His hurdling debut came at the start of September where he was slightly uneasy in the market. Sweating up beforehand, Boulette had a habit of pulling on the flat and he raced keenly off the modest pace here. Initially in midfield, he jumped the path crossing the stands, but was soon tracking the pacesetters and was within a couple of lengths of the lead jumping three out. He hurdled well enough save for skewing at the first and slightly reaching at the fourth, although the shift in gears rather caught him off guard as he got close to three out, and while he jumped the last two fine, he was not so quick in getting away from his hurdles. This cost him valuable momentum which exacerbated his lack of pace. He was about six lengths behind at the furlong marker and though able to rally after reorganising himself, he gave himself too much to do and was unable to bridge the gap in time. He shaped like a horse who should come on plenty for the experience and after a two month break, made his return at Ludlow ten days ago. Sent off the 5/2 joint favourite having been 13/8 during the morning, Boulette was keen from the outset and soon pulled himself into the lead. His advantage was extended to half a dozen lengths along the back but was amongst the pack turning for home. After conceding the lead before the penultimate flight, he faded to finish an eleven length fifth. His headstrong tendencies also impacted his hurdling as he skewed at the first, clipped the third, got in close to the fifth before his jumping further deteriorated in the straight. Boulette is capable of winning a race of this nature on his Worcester performance, the yard is in better form than at Ludlow. However, his temperament raises concerns and while hood and tongue tie have been added, the yard's runners show no discernible improvement for the first-time application of same.
Hayedo bg Gary Moore f4-0-3 (-) 84
Sea The Moon (Sholokhov){7-c}(0.65) 3/1 Hill Fairy 1st Lombardstown Mares Novice Chase (L), Cork 2008
https://www.pronoturf.es/ficha-caballo/c58dbcc04143b4253160b8d619314a2e
https://www.equidia.fr/chevaux/hayedo
Starting his career in Spain before racing in France, the German bred Hayedo is set to make his British debut here. After fetching €58,000 as a yearling, Hayedo twice ran for Patrik Olave at La Zarzuela, Madrid late in the season where he would finish second over 1800m on turf, and 1900m on sand. The latter outing saw him finish nine lengths behind a horse called Speedful who would eventually move to France and race in claiming company, albeit as a seventy/eiighty-ish performer. Hayedo's third outing is much more easily quantified. Having his first run for Edouard Monfort, who has yet to export a juvenile hurdler, Hayedo reappeared in a quite valuable maiden contest at Longchamp over 2000m in May. Keen in the early stages, he pulled himself into the lead and settled better as a result. He would maintain his advantage to the distance and though outpaced by the winner, would keep on gamely to hold second. The form is of a reasonable standard with the length and a quarter winner rated 96.8, and the third rated 88. Hayedo failed to match this form on his sole subsequent outing which came over 2200m at Lyon the following month. Though running a similar kind of race, he did not settle quite so well and while he fought on bravely after being headed turning for home, he found himself swamped in the final strides, finishing just under two lengths behind in fourth. Gary Moore has a strong record with his French flat recruits with ten of his twenty-four winning as juveniles, four of whom would score first time out, and Yorksea ran a big race at Cheltenham yesterday. There is also encouragement for Hayedo's new vocation in the pedigree. Sea The Moon (Allmankind, Tritonic) has a winner runner rate of 28.57% and an improvement rate of 50%. Sholokhov is untried as a damsire but 30% of his own progeny win in the sphere and the third dam is the matriarch of winning jumpers Hill Fairy (3/1), Hey Little Boy (3/1) and North Hill (3/2). Hayedo's best flat form along with his pedigree give him the credentials to be a useful recruit. His ability on good ground is not assured however but while he appears to be the second string on jockey bookings, Hayedo could be better suited by conditions than his stablemate.
Largo Bay chg Michael Madgwick f13-1-5 (59) 63
Flintshire (Henrythenavigator){3-d}(1.08) 5/3 I'm So Lucky 1st Celebration Chase (G2), Sandown 2010
Juveniles bought after winning sellers on the flat rarely show useful form over hurdles, although they do have a respectable winner to runner rate of 26%. Largo Bay's sole flat win from thirteen came in such company when he took a ten furlong selling handicap off 56 at Linfield in mid-August. Sent off the 2/1 favourite, made all at a fair tempo before going clear in the straight to win by two lengths. After the race, he left Richard Hughes to join Michael Madgwick for the sum of £7,200. Juvenile recruits from the former yard have yet to have a winner from ten and none of the five qualifiers have improved for the switch to hurdling. Michael Madgwick's record in the sphere is more encouraging as while his winner to runner rate of 12.5% is fair at best, his improvement rate of 61.54% is healthy and he did get a couple of wins from £2,000 purchase Ray Diamond in 2008/09. Largo Bay has had three outings for his new handler on the flat and while he was poor at Kempton over a mile, having missed an engagement the previous month, a step up to twelve furlongs saw him run new career bests at Kempton off 60, and Lingfield off 59 twelve days ago. He will be the first hurdler for sire Flintshire, whose standing in America will make his progeny a rare sight over jumps. Notwithstanding, while the five time Group One winner has a strong preference for fast ground, his class, stamina and good height of 16.1hh, along with his being a son of Dansili and nephew of useful hurdler Summit Meeting, suggest that his progeny should hold their own over hurdles. However, the damline is less encouraging as Henrythenavigator has contributed little to the sphere and one has to go back to 5/3 in order to find a useful jumper. Largo Bay's profile is not without its positives for juvenile hurdling, but while he has a good chance of performing in the sphere, it will likely come at a lower level.
Morani Kali chg Martin Smith f7-0-0 (55) 65 j1-0-0 (-) 43 48
Charming Thought (Haafhd){3-d}(2.11) 2/1 Heavenly Chorus 1st 2m3½f Handicap Hurdle (104), Catterick 2008
Making his racecourse debut in January at Southwell, Morani Kali amassed seven starts without reaching the frame and his fourth at Kempton second time out has been a total outlier. Damsire Haafhd had a respectable record as a sire in the division, but this has not been passed through his broodmares and Representing a yard without a winning juvenile hurdler and Charming Thought does not have the profile to produce good jumpers. Morani Kali made his jumps bow at Huntingdon in early January where his starting price of 100/1 was a reflection of his chances. Always in the rear, he jumped poorly throughout and would ultimately finish a tailed off last of seven. He subsequently finished midfield on his return to the flat three weeks ago.
Moulins Clermont bg Gary Moore j1-0-1 (-) 114 121
Free Port Lux (Ungaro){3-o}(0.67) 0.5 Paris Clermont 1st 4300 Conditions Chase, Aix-les-Bains 2016
https://www.equidia.fr/chevaux/moulins-clermont
It is a sign of the times, probably compounded by events of the past year, that Moulins Clermont was purchased not privately or at a public auction, but on an online shop. For €70,000, he left Bertrand Lefevre to become another recruit to the Gary Moore ranks. Continuing the prototype theme, Moulins Clermont represents the first crop of jumpers by Group Two winner Free Port Lux - a giant of a horse at 1.70m who, despite being by Oasis Dream, has a stamina laden pedigree and has already produced the useful three-year-old hurdler Itours Brun. Moulins Clermont's sole start came in the Prix du Brevent at Compiègne which is a reaonable conditions race that has been contested by the likes of Adrien Du Pont, Ibis Du Rheu, Cristal Bonus. Held up in midfield, Moulins Clermont had a propensity to get tight at his hurdles but rarely caused alarm. However, despite the race being the slowest held at the venue this term, he still looked short of pace and was doing his best work towards the end of the contest as he finished three lengths third of nine. The form is not exceptional, but it has produced a few subsequent winners and a performance rating in the early 120s would not be unreasonable. Half of Gary Moore's ten French hurdles recruits have been winners with four of those scoring first time including recent Wensleydale winner Porticello, and Fontwell scorers Botox Has and Nassalam. Moulins Clermont sets a clear standard on hurdles form and given his profile, a slog around Fontwell would seem an ideal introduction. However, with the ground forecast to be unseasonably firm, he may be vulnerable to something with more pace.
Pride Of Nepal bg Jeremy Scott f9-0-2 (63) 69
The Gurkha (Tamayuz){3-d}(0.82) 3/2 Hanover Street 1st 2m 4yo Maiden Hurdle, Tramore 2016
The record of those bought after winning sellers is covered in Largo Bay's profile, who won the race from which Pride Of Nepal was purchased for £6,400. The latter, beaten by two lengths, was carrying eleven pounds more which puts him ahead at the weights and while still a maiden after nine starts, his subsequent second at Wolverhampton on his penultimate outing confirms superiority over Largo Bay. However, he is given to taking a keen hold and his stamina is also suspect in the context of this contest. Those formerly trained by Hughie Morrison have a solid 22.58% winner to runner rate in the sphere and new handler Jeremy Scott has won with one of his six; although his recent form could be stronger and the yard's juveniles generally need a few races under their girths. A son of first crop sire The Gurkha, who is promising to be a supplier of useful, if speedy, juveniles. Pride Of Nepal incidentally shares a damline with the aforementioned Largo Bay at 7/5. Nevertheless, a winning jumper does appear somewhat closer on his side with Hanover Street showing at 3/2. Pride Of Nepal is another recruit who could find his level, although he also wants for class and will probably appreciate a sharper test than the one offered by Fontwell.
Rhebus Road chg Oliver Sherwood f10-2-3 (74) 78 j1-0-0 (-) 73 79
Champs Elysees (Verglas){14-f}(2.20) 2/1 Thahab Ifraj 1st 2m Handicap Hurdle (106), Kempton 2020
Starting his career with Ralph Beckett, it took Rhebus Road seven attempts to get off the mark on the flat. Sporting a first time visor in a twelve furlong handicap at Beverley off 63 in early July, he looked a tricky ride, hanging markedly to his left under pressure. Nevertheless, he still made all to run out a comfortable four-and-a-half length winner and was able to command a price tag of 70,000 guineas at the Tattersalls July Sale. Rhebus Road stayed at Kimpton Down for his next three outings and was able to double his tally when last seen at Newmarket in a ten furlong handicap off 70. Headgear removed and ridden with more restraint, he took up the running at the distance against the rail and though he carried his head awkwardly at times, was always doing enough to fend off his rivals by upwards of half-a-length. Sire Champs Elysees has a winner to runner rate of 25.45%, and his improvement rate of 51.43% is also respectable. While there are no superstars on the damline, Rhebus Road is a nephew of Thahab Ifraj who won a handicap hurdle last year. Switching to Oliver Sherwood for his hurdling career, he joined a trainer with a healthy 39.39% winner to runner rate in the sphere, and whose charges tend to improve with the benefit of experience. Connections will be hoping for this to be the case as Rhebus Road's hurdling debut at Kempton was not encouraging. Though sent off the outsider, he was not without supporters and his price contracted from 10/1 to 15/2 at the off. However, while he probably settled as well as anything in the contest, his hurdling left something to be desired as he hopped over the second, was steady before skewing at the fifth, steady again at the next where he got in close and was already weakening when putting in a tired jump at two out. While Rhebus Road is not without potential as a hurdling recruit, he was overfaced in this company first time and it remains to be seen if he would be more enthusiastic here. Going left handed should be a positive, but there are questions to answer and the yard has gone a month without sending out a winner.
The Yellow Mini bf Michael Wigham f14-0-1 (45) 53 j4-1-3 (110) 95 106
Cannock Chase (Primo Valentino){22-d}(1.00) 2/2 Arakhan 1st 2m4f Novices' Hurdle, Aintree 2019
Without a win to her name in fourteen starts on the flat, The Yellow Mini raced under the care of Polly Gundry until late July. Her best outing in that sphere came at the end of June when finishing three quarters of a length second in a Bath handicap off 45, though no effort either side matched that performance. Making her hurdling debut at Fontwell early in September, she was the first runner over hurdles for sire Cannock Chase, a stallion with feasible credentials given his sireline, DI and height. She is also a cousin of a winning novice hurdler and while trainer Michael Wigham had not had a runner in the sphere since November 2016, he had previously sent out two to win first time. Not completely unfancied at 16/1, she was ridden with confidence, disputing the lead from the outset. With the front two racing alongside each other for most of the contest, it was only when her rival, Sir Taweel, began to fade leaving the back that she moved into a clear advantage. Ramure managed to get within a length after jumping quicker at two out, but The Yellow Mini kept on doggedly to keep her rival at bay. She also ran with more purpose on the run-in to cross the line with just over three lengths in hand. While she clearly relished this new discipline, her hurdling was not without its blemishes. Distracted by her rival when making minor errors over the first two, she was slightly big over the third and sixth, steady when clipping the next, outjumped at two out and went right at the last. Notwithstanding, these errors were not especially to her detriment and it is an area where she can improve with experience. She came out again a fortnight later at Plumpton where she was steady in the market at 9/2. The front running tactics from Fontwell were employed again and setting a sensible gallop, The Yellow Mini put in a good round of jumping with only minor errors and her wandering occasionally counting against her. She had all but one of her rivals in trouble on leaving the back and while Impulsive One was in a different league, the remainder of the field were held by the best part of four lengths and upwards in the end. The Yellow Mini continued in going from strength to strength with another career best at back Fontwell at the start of last month. Though initially the least fancied of three principals in a tight contest, she was supported into 6/4 joint favouritism at the off. Attempting to make all once again, she had the lead to herself up until the final flight where she was still holding a winning chance. However, while she mostly hurdled well, save for a tendency to jump right, she did get close to three out and made a real mess of the last where she barely got off the ground and stumbled badly on landing. This blunder cost her valuable momentum and quite likely the race itself as she had little left to offer on the run-in. Notwithstanding, the performance still demonstrated that The Yellow Mini is an honest sort who enjoys her new vocation. The Yellow Mini was last seen eighteen days ago at Fakenham where, racing in first-time blinkers, attracted late support to start the race at 5/1. While Fakenham would generally suit frontrunners, it was a contest inundated with trailblazers and The Yellow Mini was right in the thick of it; contesting the lead from the outset. Her hurdling was still reasonable all things considered, with mistakes only creeping in as she faded late on to nobody's surprise. Beaten thirty-four lengths, but still holding on for third, The Yellow Mini will likely appreciate her return to Fontwell. However, she is unlikely to enjoy an uncontested lead, nor will she have the services of Gavin Sheehan who skilfully guided her around Fontwell during her previous visits.
Undercover Agent bg Mark Gillard f3-0-0 (39) 39 j1-0-0 (-) 66 81
Kodiac (Rainbow Quest){1-o}(0.78) 0.5 Hoist The Colours 4th Juvenile Hurdle, Stratford 2015
Since fetching 3,000 guineas at a Tattersalls Breeze Up this year, Undercover Agent, a half-brother to the 2009 Poule d'Essai des Pouliche winner Elusive Wave, finished tailed off on two outings during August and was an eleven length last of six in a weak Lingfield claimer early last month. Trainer Mark Gillard has saddled three winning juveniles, but none would do so before their fifth attempt over hurdles and his overall strike rate stands at just 3.85%. Kodiac has a good record in the sphere with a winner to runner rate of 37.93%, and uncle Leopardi managed a win. However, this did not offset the huge task set on Undercover Agent's hurdling debut at Wincanton three weeks ago and his on course drift from 100/1 to 250/1 was not alarming. Held up in the rear, he never threatened to get competitive and he eventually finished a distance behind the winner. Notwithstanding, his jumping was not atrocious with his only errors coming when steady and close at the third, pecking at the next and going left at the sixth. While he accomplished little here, this still marked a new career best. Undercover Agent can make a better hurdler, although his sights will need to be set considerably lower.
Cirrus chf Milton Harris f14-0-3 (65) 77 j1-0-1 (-) 68 67
Starspangledbanner (Halling){5-e}(3.00) 0.5 Spiritual Art 1st 2m1f Mares' Maiden Hurdle, Newton Abbot 2011
A fourteen race maiden on the flat, Cirrus has failed to reach the frame in six outings since finishing third at Nottingham in early May, and has beaten just one of her twelve rivals home in her two starts for Milton Harris. Leaving Richard Hannon for 15,000 guineas at the Tattersalls July sale, Cirrus had shown her best form when under a length third at the aforementioned Nottingham off 73, and on her final outing for her former handler when just over two lengths fifth of seven at Bath off the same mark; with both of these performances coming on good to soft ground and indicating that a trip could be the key. While this alone would be a tenuous cause for optimism, there are further positives in the profile. Her sire, Starspangledbanner, was a four time Group One winner in Britain and Australia, and while his most notable successes came over sprint distances, he also won the Caulfield Guineas at three. While a sprint bred sprinter should not make into a sire of juvenile hurdlers, his own sire Choisir has a 30% winner to runner rate, a 72.73% improvement rate, and another son of his in Olympic Glory has also made a promising start with comparable figures of 37.5% and 50% respectively. Starspangledbanner himself has two winners from six in the sphere with Can't Stop Now winning on soft, Tinnahalla beating Homme Public on heavy, and Kentucky Hardboot finishing second on soft at Newbury. Cirrus is out of a half-sister to a winning hurdler with other winners Strawman (3/1) and Royal Master (3/2) on the damline. Milton Harris, who boasts a 45% strike rate in the past fortnight, has already had three winning juveniles this term including Knight Salute who landed the Grade Two Prestbury Hurdle at Cheltenham. Furthermore, the only other juvenile acquired by Milton Harris from the Hannon team was when Gulf Punch was bought out of a claimer in 2009 (as a two-year-old, it should be noted) from Hannon Sr before winning three times during her first campaign. Making her hurdling debut at the venue at the beginning of October, Cirrus was weak in the market beforehand and started the race at 16/1. Held up in midfield, she hurdled decently overall for the most part and was still moving well enough on rounding the home turn. However, fears over her first-time tongue tie manifested as she folded very tamely before finishing a thirty-seven length last of three. A respiratory noise was reported after the race and a wind operation was conducted within the week. Given a good six weeks to recover, and with the yard in white hot form, Cirrus could very well leave her debut outing behind. While there will naturally be questions to answer insofar as her wellbeing is concerned, she has at least shown herself a fluent jumper as well as capable of performing after a layoff.
Sly Madam bf Sheena West f7-0-1 (45) 49 j1-0-0 (-) 60 61
Sixties Icon (Thousand Words){4-i}(0.57) 1/1 Sly Minx 3rd Juvenile Hurdle, Fontwell 2020
Though no better than a modest maiden on the flat for Mick Channon, Sly Madam has a couple of elements to suggest improvement for the switch to hurdles. Trainer Sheena West has a strong improvement rate of 72.97% with her charges, and Sixties Icon has produced some useful juvenile fillies while also enjoying a healthy improvement rate of 53.57%. However, Sly Madam was not well fancied for her hurdling debut at Stratford six weeks ago where she faced a stiff task against two promising newcomers. Taking a keen hold while tracking the leaders, her cause was not helped by her jumping big at the early flights before becoming slow to get away from the later obstacles. Sly Madam's full-sister, Sly Minx, was beaten out of sight in this contest last season and while she might eventually outperform her sibling, there is little enthusiasm for the imminent future.
tl;dr
Beowulf - Rare juvenile hurdler for Michael Bell who won twice on the flat for Ed Walker. Capable of decent form but propensity to pull hard re-emerged and yard not in strong form.
Boulette - Horses who join Nigel Hawke from Jim Bolger have solid record in the sphere and Worcester debut second was promising. Raced to freely for own good at Ludlow and while yard is in better form, there are questions to answer.
Hayedo - German bred who started in Spain and stepped up when moving to France. Longchamp second the strongest flat form on offer and has joined a yard with strong record in this contest. May want more testing conditions but is brave and is bred to do well in sphere.
Largo Bay - Won selling handicap off 56 but yard can win with modest sorts. Sire's progeny should perform over hurdles but likely to find this company too strong.
Morani Kali - Poor on flat overall and nothing in profile to suggest he can make a hurdler. No encouragement from hurdling debut at Huntingdon.
Moulins Clermont - Third on sole outing which came in reasonable race at Compiegne. Yard does very well with his type and this contest would have been ideal on soft ground. However, may be vulnerable to pacier sort in prevailing conditions.
Pride Of Nepal - Behind Largo Bay in seller but stronger form overall. Tends to pull and stamina not assured for this trip.
Rhebus Road - Cost 70,000gns at the Tattersalls July Sale and had useful winning form on the flat. Has looked awkward at times Kempton debut left plenty to be desired. Capable of better but not sure to produce and yard on the cold list.
The Yellow Mini - Showed dramatic improvement from flat form when making winning start to hurdling career over course and distance. May have landed double at this venue but for final flight error. Honest and capable but unlikely to get easy lead.
Undercover Agent - Achieved nothing on flat and while shaped better on hurdling debut at Wincanton, still has a great deal to find with several of these.
Cirrus - Fourteen race maiden on flat but pedigree not without merit and is with a yard that can do little wrong. Jumped well but faded tamely on jumps bow over course and distance. Respiratory issues reported and has had wind done. Questions to answer but has performed after a break and dangerous to dismiss.
Sly Madam - Modest maiden who has the profile to do better over hurdles. Stratford debut was poor however, and has plenty to find here.
Strong prospects
1. Cirrus
Reasonable prospects
2. Hayedo
3. Moulins Clermont
Feasible prospects
4. Boulette
5. The Yellow Mini
6. Rhebus Road
Moderate prospects
7. Beowulf
8. Largo Bay
9. Pride Of Nepal
Negligible prospects
10. Undercover Agent
11. Sly Madam
12. Morani Kali
Bachelors Hall
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- 763
Nowhere near enough time to do an essay but I have done some notes for tomorrow's contest at Leicester. Enjoy 
Leicester -
DIs 1.00 median 1.27 mean - 9th lowest in GB. 4th lowest when comparing winning DIs to those beaten.
Clear round rate 98.47% 3rd highest in GB. 98.90% for newcomers. Newcomers SR of 10.99% above avg
David Pipe 8 runs 4 wins 1 place
This race -
Six runnings since 2012
Nyanza (2nd in 2014) won Aintree listed race. Six others placed at Aintree.
No trainers represented here have ever had runner.
Good to soft with rain unlikely. Weather warning for fog.
Kalzari bbf David Pipe j2-1-1 (-) - ~118
Zanzibari (Konig Turf){19}(2.60) 3/2 Korfu 1st 4000m Cross Country Chase, Milano 2021
https://www.equidia.fr/chevaux/kalzari
Zanzibari WR 3-5 (60%) GB&IRE, 13-43 (30.23%) 3YO France.
ex Daniela Mele (Stratagem, 2 runs 1 win; Josh d'Id 1-0)
David Pipe ex French jumpers; WR 14-28 (50%) inc Gaspara & Mr Thriller
David Pipe ex French jumpers out of claimers; WR 3-6 inc Notus de la Tour
David Pipe 1st time out w/ ex-French jumpers; 9-27 (33.33% SR)
Debut 30/8/21 3500m Moulins Maiden Hurdle (souple/G-S)
Held up in rear, slow tempo, headway second circuit, outpaced after awkward jump two out, rallied run-in, beaten 1 length second of six finishers. Nothing to form.
23/9/21 3400m Compiegne Claiming Hurdle (tres souple/very good to soft)
Ridden more prominently, led halfway, travelled well jumping last, pushed out for cosy 4l win.
Few minor errors but otherwise a nice round of jumping and, at times, clever. Went slightly right a couple of times.
Runner up a very solid yardstick at claiming class. Won twice subsequently. Third placed next two starts. Fourth won next time.
Worthy of rating in high 110s, possibly higher. Sold for €28,888 afterwards.
Angels Landing bf Ian Williams f6-1-3 (71) 76 j1-0-1 (-) 85 94
Fascinating Rock (Pivotal){7-a}(1.77) 5/3 Binocular 1st Champion Hurdle (G1), Cheltenham 2010
First juv for Fascinating Rock - fair credentials for division.
Damline threadbare. Bleu Ciel et Blanc and Binocular distant relatives
Won Kempton handicap at 20/1 off 67 on final flat outing
Started joint favourite for hurdling debut at Ludlow
Held up in touch, one paced straight, 4½l third of seven
Jumped abysmally
Fifth won next time at Fontwell (trainer in better form)
Ian Williams solid record in division with Saint Riquier a good second at Cheltenham
Cirrus chf Milton Harris f14-0-3 (65) 77 j2-0-1 (-) 68 67
Starspangledbanner (Halling){5-e}(3.00) 0.5 Spiritual Art 1st 2m1f Mares' Maiden Hurdle, Newton Abbot 2011
Ran and jumped well on hurdling debut to a point before dropping out tamely.
Had wind op but jumped poorly and never went a yard on return yesterday.
Juveniles returning after one day have record of 10 runs, 2 wins, 2 places.
Milton Harris has had a winner from swift return but this was a handicapper on a sequence.
Poor Fontwell return probably due more to lack of aptitude and enthusiasm than fitness.
Instant de Bonheur bf Nigel Hawke Unraced
Karaktar (Robin des Champs){u}(0.41) 0.5 Avenir d'Une Vie 2nd Dan & Joan Moore Handicap Chase (A,142), Fairyhouse 2020
Unraced juvenile hurdlers 2.41% strike rate.
Unraced juvenile hurdlers trained by Nigel Hawke, 9.09% strike rate. (1-11, Tiger Roll)
Trainer solid record overall, winner yesterday at Fontwell.
Karaktar having first crop , no wins from eleven thus far but You're The Boss second in Listed race.
Damline; 2/1 (dam full-sister to) Sous Les Cieux 1.Royal Bond 2/1 Ainsi Va La Vie 3/1 I Got It 3/2 Sans Histoire 1.Rohan 3.Sytaj 3/3 Gauloise 4/3 Un Atout 4/4 Sir des Champs 5/5 Elixir d'Ainay 5/5 Capitaine
Lady Pacifico bf David Weston f8-1-4 (69) 76
Sir Percy (Dynaformer){1-l}(0.52) 2/2 Plain Sailing 1st 2m2½f Novices' Hurdle, Newton Abbot 2013
Initially raced in France, won 1m4f Leicester handicap on GB debut off 65
Without win but not disgraced three subsequent outings over fourteen furlongs. Stamina not an issue.
Sold for 27,000gns Tatts August
Two Tom Clover graduates, each failed to perform on sole start.
David Weston 0 from 2 with sole juvenile. 5 runs and 73 days since last winner of any description.
Cousin to winner along with two placed jumpers. Taglietelie and If In Doubt distant relatives.
Macha bf David Pipe f8-2-4 (33,5-73.7) 66
Myboycharlie (Medicean){1-k}(1.40) 2/1 Zoffalee 1st 2m1f 4yo Handicap Hurdle (112), Ballinrobe 2019
https://www.equidia.fr/chevaux/macha
Dual winner for Jean-Claude Rouget.
Had looked promising as 2yo but ultimately disappointing with rating dropping eleven pounds.
Won second race last time out in 2100m Dax claimer. Made all and ran on gamely. Form meh.
Bought for €15,256
Myboycharlie 1-7 GB&IRE, 4-14 3yoFR (28.57%)
Fairly useful Zoffalee only nearby jumper at 2/1. German 1000gns winner Kali also 2/1
David Pipe ex-French flat claimers 5-11 (WR 45.45%)
Adagio exception, Koi Dodville won poor races, other three winners (Nike Walker, Paricolour and Closer To Home) did so on handicap debuts after lesser performances in open company.
Pump It Up chf Richard Spencer f12-1-3 (49) 59 j1-0-0 (-) 71 79
Charming Thought (Pivotal){1-l}(2.08) 3/1 General Eliott 1st 2m½f Handicap Hurdle (100), Market Rasen 2011
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EcjWd-O4jI
Awah, a place to stay, get your booty on the floor tonight, make my day
Brave and consistent at a low level on the flat.
Pedigree not especially compelling.
Jumps debut at Fakenham three weeks ago, unfancied.
Started prominently but lost places towards end of first circuit, one paced in midfield second circuit, plugged on for 42 length fourth.
Slightly awkward but reasonable jumping overall.
Unfinished Busines grf Nigel Hawke Unraced
Clovis du Berlais (Fragrant Mix){19-a}(0.50) 2/1 Valseur Lido 1st Champion Chase (G1), Down Royal 2016
Whoever named this horse is very clever. Well done.
Unraced juvenile hurdlers 2.41% strike rate.
Unraced juvenile hurdlers trained by Nigel Hawke, 9.09% strike rate. (1-11, Tiger Roll)
Trainer solid record overall, winner yesterday at Fontwell.
First British runner for Clovis du Berlais - thrice placed in graded hurdles at 4yo, sole runner to date pulled up. Sire King's Theatre had solid record with juveniles but better with age.
Damline; 2/1 Tango Lido 3/2 Rhialco 1.Leon Olry-Roederer 3/2 Desir Apple's 5/4 Pomme Tiepy 5/4 Dostiep 5/4
Strong (bordering outstanding) prospects
1. Kalzari
Reasonable prospects
2. Lady Pacifico
3. Angels Landing
Feasible prospects
4. Macha
5. Instant de Bonheur
Moderate prospects
6. Unfinished Busines
7. Cirrus
8. Pump It Up
Negligible prospects
.
Leicester -
DIs 1.00 median 1.27 mean - 9th lowest in GB. 4th lowest when comparing winning DIs to those beaten.
Clear round rate 98.47% 3rd highest in GB. 98.90% for newcomers. Newcomers SR of 10.99% above avg
David Pipe 8 runs 4 wins 1 place
This race -
Six runnings since 2012
Nyanza (2nd in 2014) won Aintree listed race. Six others placed at Aintree.
No trainers represented here have ever had runner.
Good to soft with rain unlikely. Weather warning for fog.
Kalzari bbf David Pipe j2-1-1 (-) - ~118
Zanzibari (Konig Turf){19}(2.60) 3/2 Korfu 1st 4000m Cross Country Chase, Milano 2021
https://www.equidia.fr/chevaux/kalzari
Zanzibari WR 3-5 (60%) GB&IRE, 13-43 (30.23%) 3YO France.
ex Daniela Mele (Stratagem, 2 runs 1 win; Josh d'Id 1-0)
David Pipe ex French jumpers; WR 14-28 (50%) inc Gaspara & Mr Thriller
David Pipe ex French jumpers out of claimers; WR 3-6 inc Notus de la Tour
David Pipe 1st time out w/ ex-French jumpers; 9-27 (33.33% SR)
Debut 30/8/21 3500m Moulins Maiden Hurdle (souple/G-S)
Held up in rear, slow tempo, headway second circuit, outpaced after awkward jump two out, rallied run-in, beaten 1 length second of six finishers. Nothing to form.
23/9/21 3400m Compiegne Claiming Hurdle (tres souple/very good to soft)
Ridden more prominently, led halfway, travelled well jumping last, pushed out for cosy 4l win.
Few minor errors but otherwise a nice round of jumping and, at times, clever. Went slightly right a couple of times.
Runner up a very solid yardstick at claiming class. Won twice subsequently. Third placed next two starts. Fourth won next time.
Worthy of rating in high 110s, possibly higher. Sold for €28,888 afterwards.
Angels Landing bf Ian Williams f6-1-3 (71) 76 j1-0-1 (-) 85 94
Fascinating Rock (Pivotal){7-a}(1.77) 5/3 Binocular 1st Champion Hurdle (G1), Cheltenham 2010
First juv for Fascinating Rock - fair credentials for division.
Damline threadbare. Bleu Ciel et Blanc and Binocular distant relatives
Won Kempton handicap at 20/1 off 67 on final flat outing
Started joint favourite for hurdling debut at Ludlow
Held up in touch, one paced straight, 4½l third of seven
Jumped abysmally
Fifth won next time at Fontwell (trainer in better form)
Ian Williams solid record in division with Saint Riquier a good second at Cheltenham
Cirrus chf Milton Harris f14-0-3 (65) 77 j2-0-1 (-) 68 67
Starspangledbanner (Halling){5-e}(3.00) 0.5 Spiritual Art 1st 2m1f Mares' Maiden Hurdle, Newton Abbot 2011
Ran and jumped well on hurdling debut to a point before dropping out tamely.
Had wind op but jumped poorly and never went a yard on return yesterday.
Juveniles returning after one day have record of 10 runs, 2 wins, 2 places.
Milton Harris has had a winner from swift return but this was a handicapper on a sequence.
Poor Fontwell return probably due more to lack of aptitude and enthusiasm than fitness.
Instant de Bonheur bf Nigel Hawke Unraced
Karaktar (Robin des Champs){u}(0.41) 0.5 Avenir d'Une Vie 2nd Dan & Joan Moore Handicap Chase (A,142), Fairyhouse 2020
Unraced juvenile hurdlers 2.41% strike rate.
Unraced juvenile hurdlers trained by Nigel Hawke, 9.09% strike rate. (1-11, Tiger Roll)
Trainer solid record overall, winner yesterday at Fontwell.
Karaktar having first crop , no wins from eleven thus far but You're The Boss second in Listed race.
Damline; 2/1 (dam full-sister to) Sous Les Cieux 1.Royal Bond 2/1 Ainsi Va La Vie 3/1 I Got It 3/2 Sans Histoire 1.Rohan 3.Sytaj 3/3 Gauloise 4/3 Un Atout 4/4 Sir des Champs 5/5 Elixir d'Ainay 5/5 Capitaine
Lady Pacifico bf David Weston f8-1-4 (69) 76
Sir Percy (Dynaformer){1-l}(0.52) 2/2 Plain Sailing 1st 2m2½f Novices' Hurdle, Newton Abbot 2013
Initially raced in France, won 1m4f Leicester handicap on GB debut off 65
Without win but not disgraced three subsequent outings over fourteen furlongs. Stamina not an issue.
Sold for 27,000gns Tatts August
Two Tom Clover graduates, each failed to perform on sole start.
David Weston 0 from 2 with sole juvenile. 5 runs and 73 days since last winner of any description.
Cousin to winner along with two placed jumpers. Taglietelie and If In Doubt distant relatives.
Macha bf David Pipe f8-2-4 (33,5-73.7) 66
Myboycharlie (Medicean){1-k}(1.40) 2/1 Zoffalee 1st 2m1f 4yo Handicap Hurdle (112), Ballinrobe 2019
https://www.equidia.fr/chevaux/macha
Dual winner for Jean-Claude Rouget.
Had looked promising as 2yo but ultimately disappointing with rating dropping eleven pounds.
Won second race last time out in 2100m Dax claimer. Made all and ran on gamely. Form meh.
Bought for €15,256
Myboycharlie 1-7 GB&IRE, 4-14 3yoFR (28.57%)
Fairly useful Zoffalee only nearby jumper at 2/1. German 1000gns winner Kali also 2/1
David Pipe ex-French flat claimers 5-11 (WR 45.45%)
Adagio exception, Koi Dodville won poor races, other three winners (Nike Walker, Paricolour and Closer To Home) did so on handicap debuts after lesser performances in open company.
Pump It Up chf Richard Spencer f12-1-3 (49) 59 j1-0-0 (-) 71 79
Charming Thought (Pivotal){1-l}(2.08) 3/1 General Eliott 1st 2m½f Handicap Hurdle (100), Market Rasen 2011
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EcjWd-O4jI
Awah, a place to stay, get your booty on the floor tonight, make my day
Brave and consistent at a low level on the flat.
Pedigree not especially compelling.
Jumps debut at Fakenham three weeks ago, unfancied.
Started prominently but lost places towards end of first circuit, one paced in midfield second circuit, plugged on for 42 length fourth.
Slightly awkward but reasonable jumping overall.
Unfinished Busines grf Nigel Hawke Unraced
Clovis du Berlais (Fragrant Mix){19-a}(0.50) 2/1 Valseur Lido 1st Champion Chase (G1), Down Royal 2016
Whoever named this horse is very clever. Well done.
Unraced juvenile hurdlers 2.41% strike rate.
Unraced juvenile hurdlers trained by Nigel Hawke, 9.09% strike rate. (1-11, Tiger Roll)
Trainer solid record overall, winner yesterday at Fontwell.
First British runner for Clovis du Berlais - thrice placed in graded hurdles at 4yo, sole runner to date pulled up. Sire King's Theatre had solid record with juveniles but better with age.
Damline; 2/1 Tango Lido 3/2 Rhialco 1.Leon Olry-Roederer 3/2 Desir Apple's 5/4 Pomme Tiepy 5/4 Dostiep 5/4
Strong (bordering outstanding) prospects
1. Kalzari
Reasonable prospects
2. Lady Pacifico
3. Angels Landing
Feasible prospects
4. Macha
5. Instant de Bonheur
Moderate prospects
6. Unfinished Busines
7. Cirrus
8. Pump It Up
Negligible prospects
.
Bachelors Hall
Conditional
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2012
- Messages
- 763
Don't call it a comeback...
The Summit Juvenile Hurdle was initially contested as the Summit Junior Hurdle at Lingfield in 1975 whereafter the winner, Sweet Joe, would also take the Victor Ludorum at Haydock. Though the race became more notorious for its frequent abandonments than the horses who contested same, it was not incapable of throwing up decent sorts; particularly during the nineties with its roll call including Oh So Risky, Anzum and Hors La Loi III, winners of the Triumph, Stayers' and Champion Hurdles respectively. With jumps racing at Lingfield becoming increasingly untenable, the race was deserted for a few seasons before being given a reprieve at Doncaster in 2011 where it would also be reunited with the December Novices' Chase. Since finding its new home, The Summit Hurdle has established itself as one of the finest juvenile hurdles held in Britain before Christmas, producing four grade one winners in Peace And Co (Triumph 2014/15), We Have A Dream (Finale and Anniversary 2017/18), Quel Destin (Finale 2018) and Monmiral (Anniversary 2021). Despite facing strong competition from the Triumph Trial on Cheltenham's card, this season's renewal is still representative of the best seen to date in the country. Knight Salute, Porticello and Too Friendly all bring substantial, undefeated records to the fray while Impulsive One and Magistrato, each victims of the first named, hold feasible pretentions to reversing the form. Sacre Pierre was not beaten far when third behind Porticello at Wetherby, David Pipe introduces a talented newcomer from the flat in Kolisi, and the field is rounded off by New Reality who while a fairly useful winner, is the only one to look out of his depth.
Doncaster's winning DIs of 1.13 median, 1.35 mean, suggest a slightly more demanding stamina test than standard, although its clear round rate of 96.99% and completion rate of 90.19% still place the South Yorkshire venue within the fairest third. Five of the seven odds-on favourites in this contest since its switch to Doncaster have obliged and although no horse should be odds-on this year, it does place further emphasis on the course producing rational results. None of the race's eight newcomers have made a winning hurdling debut, although Broughton and Robertstown did finish runner-up in 2013 and 2015 for john Ferguson. No winner of this contest was breaking their maiden in the process, although since every experienced runner here has tasted hurdling success, this is much of a muchness. The going is currently described as good to soft and though overnight rain is not expected, the sky is likely to fall at some point in the afternoon.
Triumph Odds
Porticello 16/1
Knight Salute 25/1
Too Friendly 40/1
Magistrato 50/1
Impulsive One 66/1
Sacre Pierre 100/1
Knight Salute bg Milton Harris f7-1-1 (75) 85 j3-3-0 (128) 114 127
Sir Percy (Unfuwain){11-c}(0.50) 2/1 Kalko 1st Juvenile Hurdle, Kelso 1993
Costing 14,000 guineas at the Tattersalls July Sale, Knight Salute would not have caught many an eye with his purchase fee. Starting his career with Andrew Balding, he followed up a debut second at Wolverhampton with a win at Sandown before being allowed to take his chance in the listed Stonehenge Stakes at Salisbury. Not disgraced in finishing fifth of seven, he shaped as though he would be suited by further; as per his pedigree. He subsequently finished last on his final outing at two and on all three starts at three, although these runs all came over an inadequate trip. Still within the 82nd percentile of rated flat recruits it was surprising to see him drift out to 18/1 on his hurdling debut at Sedgefield towards the end of September. Racing in a first time hood, he was keen while held up in the rear. Nevertheless, he jumped neatly up to the closing stages where he missed the sixth, reached at the penultimate flight and got in close to the last. Notwithstanding, these latter errors were not to the detriment of his performance given his superiority on the day. Making very smooth headway towards the end of the back, he moved strongly into second place over two out and cruised into the lead approaching the last whereafter he was ridden clear to pass the line nine and six lengths clear of the remainder. Though it was standard fare as far as Sedgefield is concerned, and the winning time was modest, the twenty length fourth finished a quarter of that distance behind the winner when third at Wetherby. He was next seen at Kempton four weeks ago, having his second outing at a more fashionable venue against representatives of more fashionable yards. He was uneasy in the exchanges during the day, but he held a strong chance on paper and was backed in the ring from 13/2 to 9/2 at the off. Tracking the leaders off a fairly modest tempo, Mitch Bastyan had to display good strength to keep a good hold of his mount. Nevertheless, the jockey conserved enough energy to have Knight Salute in a useful position turning into the straight. Though momentarily outpaced between the final two flights, Knight Salute gained enough momentum to jump the last with a share of the lead and was able to see off his rival to the tune of a couple of lengths at the line. While he made mistakes under pressure first time at Sedgefield, there were no errors worth reporting in this contest and with his strong travelling and fluent jumping, he posted the strongest winning performance seen on a British course this season. Knight Salute's latest outing saw him take the step into graded company with aplomb when winning at Cheltenham four weeks ago. Steady in the market and sent off the 9/2 second favourite, he jumped as well as ever and travelled easily towards the rear of midfield. Going wide on the turn for home on the leaders' tails, Knight Salute was shaken up on the run to the last and though he drifted left under pressure going away from the flight, he was running true up the hill and showed good acceleration to put the best part of three lengths between himself and his rivals for a cosy success. The next five were covered by less than two lengths and the runner-up was comprehensively outclassed when failing to justify favouritism at Warwick earlier this week. Furthermore, though the visuals suggested that the Cheltenham race rather fell apart due to a strong pace, this premise is not backed up by the sectional times which indicates that despite the respectable line-up, the form is perhaps not as strong as could be expected for such a race. Notwithstanding, Knight Salute could do no more than win as he did. His form and jumping ability set the standard in this field and though his wins have all come on good, he should have no problem on softer ground and may even feasibly improve. The yard's impressive strike rate has rather dropped off in recent weeks, but Milton Harris' charges are still running to form and he was close to landing a double at Lingfield on Wednesday. Interestingly, he also sent the useful Mondul to win this contest in 2003 when it was still held at the aforementioned venue.
Porticello bg Gary Moore j2-2-0 (130) 122 123 (132 FR)
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 and was subsequently a respectable fourth at Cheltenham. Third placed Imprenable won his next two starts before finishing second in the Groupe II Prix Georges de Talhouet-Roy and fourth in the Groupe I Prix Cambaceres. File au Poteau in fourth won a useful conditions hurdle at Auteuil in October, 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 before finishing fifth in the Cambaceres and the only other finisher is a dual winner in the provinces. Representing a Gary Moore yard with a strong and solid record in the sphere, Porticello was thrown straight into pattern company for his British debut, which came in the Wensleydale Hurdle at Wetherby towards the end of October. His Grandak form was enough to see him sent off the 6/4 favourite and he was able to win quite comfortably in the end. However, his round of hurdling was anything but impressive and there was not a flight where he jumped especially well. Slow and untidy at the first, he hopped over the second, skewed when steady at the third, steady again when close to the fourth, close at the fifth, hit the top of the sixth, was big and steep over the seventh and two out (where he stumbled on landing) and big again over the last. Racing close to the lead throughout, he did travel well in fairness and though he did not kick on after taking the lead at the first flight in the home straight, and wandered quite conspicuously under pressure, he did eventually run out a decisive four length winner while giving away upwards of five pounds. None of the first four have been out since and though decent enough at face value, the performance was still someway short of his Auteuil outing. Porticello, in keeping with his pedigree and profile, can be described as green and unfurnished horse with the potential to make a very good horse once he matures and gets a trip. He clearly has the ability to do well in this contest although the strength of his prospects largely depends on how much he has learned during the six weeks since his last appearance.
Too Friendly bg Dan Skelton f6-1-2 (85) 91 j2-2-0 (126) 111 122
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 joined one of the strongest yards in the division who along with a healthy winners to runners rate of 38.55%, 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 favouritism 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. After missing his engagement in the Wensleydale due to an infected foot, Too Friendly went some way to fulfilling some of that potential when comfortably securing his brace in an introductory contest at Newcastle a fortnight ago. Taking a hold in the rear off a modest tempo, Too Friendly jumped much better than at Stratford, making only a few slight errors while dashing through the snow. Still bringing up a tightly packed field at three out, he only needed shaking up to move into the lead after the penultimate flight and a superior jump to his rival's at the last gave him the impetus to shoot nearly five lengths clear on the run-in. This will be Too Friendly's first foray into pattern company and his form to date does leave him a few pounds short of the protagonists. Nevertheless, he has every right to take his place in this line-up and if he continues his improvement then he would be dangerous to discount. Indeed, a literal interpretation of proxy form through Saint Riquier and Twilight Twist makes a case for his hurdling form being the strongest here.
Impulsive One bg Nicky Henderson f8-1-5 (80) 83 j3-2-1 (127) 116 127
Union Rags (Lonhro){4-m}(1.77) 2/2 El Picador 1st Juvenile Hurdle, Musselburgh 2019
Winning one of his eight starts for William Haggas, Impulsive One had shown useful form on the flat at up to twelve furlongs. Making the switch to Nicky Henderson, he has built on that foundation over hurdles with wins of twelve and ten lengths. His hurdling debut came at Plumpton in the middle of September where he held an outstanding chance on paper. Despite opening at 11/8 in the morning, he went out to 7/2 at one point on course before being trimmed back into 11/4 at the off. However, there was no rationale for his drift offered during the race itself. Tracking the leaders from the outset, he was lit up by the stumble of Fred Bear at the first, but either through the first time application of the hood, James Bowen's handling or Impulsive One's own nature, he had settled nicely after a furlong or so. He made a good impression with his jumping overall, as while he was skewed over the second and reached slightly at the next and though he went through the fifth, his round was characterised by speed, neatness and enthusiasm. Travelling strongly throughout, Impulsive One took the lead turning for home full of running and quickly established a wide advantage after the last before being eased close to the line to win by twelve lengths. His second jumps outing came at Huntingdon eleven days ago where there was no such uncertainly in the market as he started at 1/4 favourite. The hood was retained although he pulled considerably harder than at Plumpton with the most obvious explanation being that he had to make his own running. His hurdling was not as fluent either as he crashed through the first, stumbled after skewing at two out and was low at the last where he was also slow in getting away. Nevertheless, while he also clipped several of the flights in between, it was still a neat enough round for a juvenile and he never looked in danger of losing the contest. Impulsive One's third outing came at Kempton in mid-October and though slightly uneasy in the ring, drifting from 4/7 to 5/6, he was still sent off the clear favourite. Without getting a lead in the four-runner field, Impulsive One was forced to make his own running which was not ideal given his headstrong nature. Notwithstanding, his hurdling much more polished than at Plumpton and he was still on the bridle approaching the penultimate flight. There he made his only real error as he went through the top, but it did not cost him any real momentum and while he did not have enough to fend off Knight Salute's challenge on the run-in, he was still able to put nearly seven lengths between himself and the Alan King recruit in third. Given that he was conceding four pounds to the winner, seven if one accounts for the claim of the former's talented rider, Impulsive One emerges as best at the weights which in turn, makes this the strongest British performance in the sphere to date. Furthermore, Nicky Henderson has won this race twice for the double green with Peace And Co and We Have A Dream scoring in 2014 and 2017. However, the yard has not yet revealed a customary strong battalion in the division and Impulsive One has not shown himself to be of the same cloth as his predecessors. Moreover, on racecourse evidence and on breeding it is improbably that he will appreciate the cut in ground. The subsequent wind operation may bring out some improvement, but it is unlikely to be seen to best effect in these conditions.
Kolisi bg David Pipe f7-1-4 (85) 90
Harzand (Footstepsinthesand){4-o}(0.75) 2/1 Shubaat 1st 3m Handicap Hurdle (130), Southwell 2014
The sole newcomer in this line-up, Kolisi makes his debut for David Pipe having fetched 55,000 guineas at the Tattersalls Autumn Sale. Gelded before seeing the racecourse for William Haggas, Kolisi stepped up on his Ripon debut in April with a good second at Nottingham the following month before getting off the mark in a soft ground, ten furlong Salisbury maiden in June. Tracking the leaders from the outset, he was moved into the clear at the distance whereafter he was pushed out to win cosily by just over two lengths. His rating of 87 seemed to be at the absolute limit of his performances to date and he was unable to run to his mark on his next three outings; hanging left and racing keenly in the process. However, dropped to 84 and with blinkers applied for the first time, Kolisi ran a career best when last seen in a ten furlong Doncaster handicap on soft ground. Though still taking a hold and looking rather suspect under pressure, Kolisi was eventually able to put up a strong challenge in the final furlong, getting to within a head of stablemate Titian at the line. Incidentally, Titian, who runs at Cheltenham, remains his stablemate having changed hands for 155,000 guineas at the same sale. Juvenile hurdlers formerly trained by William Haggas have a respectable winner to runner rate of 32.35% and their improvement rate of 41.3% is just above average. Best amongst these former inmates include Bedrock and Swnymor who each cost 70,000 guineas, again at the same sale. The only previous juvenile to move from Somerville Lodge to Pond House was Royal Rationale who won one from six during the 2007/08 campaign. David Pipe's record in the sphere is a strong one with a 40.13% winner to runner rate which increases to 52.94% with flat recruits rated 80 and above. However, while the first time strike rate of such horses is a decent 23.53%, they still generally improve from their debut outings and none of the yard's winning newcomers of any description has done so outside of ordinary company. Kolisi is set to be the first runner over hurdles for the dual Derby winning Harzand. A son of Sea The Stars, cousin of numerous winning jumpers (including useful juveniles Handazan and Hazariban) and measuring at 16.1hh, Harzand has the credentials to make a sire of jumpers. Kolisi is also a nephew of useful winning hurdler Shubaat and is related 3/2 with Miss Heritage and 5/4 with Well Chief. There is certainly enough in Kolisi's profile to suggest he can make a useful recruit to the sphere and conditions should hold no concerns for him. However, he could hardly have been set a tougher assignment for his debut.
Magistrato bg Paul Nicholls j3-1-2 (127) 116 126 (129 FR)
Kapgarde (Poliglote){3-d}(1.00) 1/0 Franche Alliance 2nd Prix Beugnot (L,63.0), Enghien 2015
https://www.equidia.fr/chevaux/magistrato
The prestige of the Prix Grandak, and esteem of David Cottin, are already covered in Porticello's profile.
Magistrato, who also made his debut in the aforementioned race and in joining Paul Nicholls, follows in the hoofprints of Far West, Frodon, Quel Destin, Qualando and Marracudja who all started in the same contest. Fresh on his racecourse debut, Magistrato soon established a clear lead which he would ohld to the final flight where he was headed by Porticello. Jumping better overall than the winner, he done more by a lack of pace than fatigue and still managed to increase his advantage over the third placed Imprenable. A son of Kapgarde, who has an outstanding 50% winner to runner rate with his British and Irish juveniles, Magistrato's dam showed useful form over nineteen furlongs on heavy ground and is herself a half-sister to La Bague Au Roi and Kaysersberg. As such, the 3000 meters at Auteuil was unlikely to suit and while it is to his credit that he performed satisfactorily, it perhaps indicates that he would be a more longer term prospect. Nevertheless, Magistrato also looked a useful tool for this season when making a winning British debut at Chepstow in early October. Though money for Rocky Man saw him drift from a morning show of 2/5, Magistrato was still strongly fancied first time and after being available at 8/11 in the ring, contracted back into 4/7 at the off. Keen in the early stages, he made his own running at a steady tempo and though threatened for the lead at the top of the straight, was in total control at the distance and galloped on relentlessly to run out a twelve length winner from Rocky Man. Apart from being slightly untidy at the first and slow away from the fifth, there was no cause for complaint in the round of jumping as he confirmed his Auteuil proficiency. Though the race did not look strong outside of the front two, twenty-two length third placed Nazwa afforded the form some credence when finishing second off 103 on a Warwick handicap. Magistrato was then sent to Cheltenham for the Prestbury Hurdle, a race farmed by his trainer, and was sent off a well supported 6/4 favourite. Racing prominently, he was skewed over the first, tight at the second and wandered on the approach to the third. However, his jumping gave no cause for complaint from thereon. He did race quite keenly and though it was not to an alarming extent, it may have been enough to see him concede two places in the final strides. As mentioned in Knight Salute's profile, it appeared that he may have been the victim of the tactics employed. However, this is not backed up by the sectional times and while Chepstow runner-up Rocky Man still finished close in sixth, it did not give credence to the form in the context of this level. Magistrato is a useful juvenile and he is representing a yard with three wins in this contest including Monmiral who scored last year, and Quel Destin who followed the same path. Nevertheless, he has already been beaten by two of his rivals here and the only case for his reversing those placings rests on a five pound pull in the weights.
New Reality bg Nigel Hawke f6-1-0 (81) 86 j3-1-1 (112) 105 111
New Approach (Teofilo){5-f}(0.60) 2/1 Novis Adventus 1st 2m4f Handicap Hurdle (119), Worcester 2018
A winner of one from six on the flat for Jim Bolger with the form of his Tipperary success back in May working out very well, New Reality is another in the line of juvenile hurdlers to make the journey from Coolcullen to Stoodleigh. Though arguably fortuitous when making a winning hurdles bow at Perth in September, he became the sixth of the eleven such horses to win in the sphere. Starting the day as 5/2 joint favourite, he opened in the ring at 10/3 before being clipped into 11/4 co-favourite of three. Racing in midfield, he was fairly keen early but soon settled into a good rhythm. While he did not make any serious errors, he had a habit of steadying into his flights and did not get very high at three out. Making his move afterwards, he travelled strongly to loom upsides the leader at the penultimate flight. However, he was not as fluent as his rival as he hopped the flight and was slightly skewed; costing him some momentum. Though still seemingly full of running, he was not making ground on the leader and was a couple of lengths down when left in the lead at the last. There, he was very nearly brought down by Aliomaana and David Noonan did tremendously well to maintain the partnership. Such was the extent of New Reality's lead, it mattered not that his rider completed the race without irons as he passed the post fourteen lengths clear of the remainder. His next outing came at Wetherby the following month where he was backed to start the 10/11 favourite. After getting badly hampered at the first, he became lit up before settling again passing the stands. However, in an overly ambitious attempt to seize the initiative along the back, New Reality found himself with a wide lead and though he carried most of this advantage into the straight, he was quarry for his rivals. His cause was not helped by some sloppy jumping and though he was still in front at the last, a tired leap saw him capitulate as he finished a near three length second. New Reality's latest came at Warwick with first time cheekpieces applied. This headgear did not help him settle however and though he jumped better overall, he lost his prominent position along the turn for home and finished twenty-three lengths behind the winner. The soft ground may help him to leave his previous form behind if he settles better, but his official rating of 112 is still the ceiling of what he has shown thus far and would leave him with plenty to find in this company.
Sacre Pierre bg Donald McCain j3-2-1 (113) 98 114
On Est Bien (Goldneyev){8-a}(1.22) 1/1 Gold Tweet 1st Prix Hopper (G3 4yC), 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 29.46% winners to runners rate. He also won this contest in 2019 with Navajo Pass while Starchitect finished second for him in the 2014 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 was boosted with a minor win from Keepyourdreamsbig who also finished fourth in the Wensleydale. 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. Missing an intended engagement at Market Rasen due to stiffness Sacre Pierre made his latest appearance in the Wensleydale Hurdle six weeks ago. Starting the 11/2 third favourite of seven, he was held up in touch and jumped well enough with his only flaws being tight at the fifth and seventh and clipping the penultimate flight. Still in touch turning for home, he was the first horse under pressure but he responded in kind and in the vanguard jumping the last. He had no answer for Porticello however and while he plugged on resolutely, would also lose second in the final strides. Sacre Pierre is a likeable sort who goes well fresh and the yard is in decent enough form. A good showing would come as little surprise although he still finds himself on the same terms with Porticello with less scope to gain revenge.
Strong prospects
1. Knight Salute
Reasonable prospects
2. Porticello
3. Too Friendly
4. Magistrato
Feasible prospects
5. Sacre Pierre
6. Impulsive One
Moderate prospects
7. Kolisi
Negligible prospects
8. New Reality
The Summit Juvenile Hurdle was initially contested as the Summit Junior Hurdle at Lingfield in 1975 whereafter the winner, Sweet Joe, would also take the Victor Ludorum at Haydock. Though the race became more notorious for its frequent abandonments than the horses who contested same, it was not incapable of throwing up decent sorts; particularly during the nineties with its roll call including Oh So Risky, Anzum and Hors La Loi III, winners of the Triumph, Stayers' and Champion Hurdles respectively. With jumps racing at Lingfield becoming increasingly untenable, the race was deserted for a few seasons before being given a reprieve at Doncaster in 2011 where it would also be reunited with the December Novices' Chase. Since finding its new home, The Summit Hurdle has established itself as one of the finest juvenile hurdles held in Britain before Christmas, producing four grade one winners in Peace And Co (Triumph 2014/15), We Have A Dream (Finale and Anniversary 2017/18), Quel Destin (Finale 2018) and Monmiral (Anniversary 2021). Despite facing strong competition from the Triumph Trial on Cheltenham's card, this season's renewal is still representative of the best seen to date in the country. Knight Salute, Porticello and Too Friendly all bring substantial, undefeated records to the fray while Impulsive One and Magistrato, each victims of the first named, hold feasible pretentions to reversing the form. Sacre Pierre was not beaten far when third behind Porticello at Wetherby, David Pipe introduces a talented newcomer from the flat in Kolisi, and the field is rounded off by New Reality who while a fairly useful winner, is the only one to look out of his depth.
Doncaster's winning DIs of 1.13 median, 1.35 mean, suggest a slightly more demanding stamina test than standard, although its clear round rate of 96.99% and completion rate of 90.19% still place the South Yorkshire venue within the fairest third. Five of the seven odds-on favourites in this contest since its switch to Doncaster have obliged and although no horse should be odds-on this year, it does place further emphasis on the course producing rational results. None of the race's eight newcomers have made a winning hurdling debut, although Broughton and Robertstown did finish runner-up in 2013 and 2015 for john Ferguson. No winner of this contest was breaking their maiden in the process, although since every experienced runner here has tasted hurdling success, this is much of a muchness. The going is currently described as good to soft and though overnight rain is not expected, the sky is likely to fall at some point in the afternoon.
Triumph Odds
Porticello 16/1
Knight Salute 25/1
Too Friendly 40/1
Magistrato 50/1
Impulsive One 66/1
Sacre Pierre 100/1
Knight Salute bg Milton Harris f7-1-1 (75) 85 j3-3-0 (128) 114 127
Sir Percy (Unfuwain){11-c}(0.50) 2/1 Kalko 1st Juvenile Hurdle, Kelso 1993
Costing 14,000 guineas at the Tattersalls July Sale, Knight Salute would not have caught many an eye with his purchase fee. Starting his career with Andrew Balding, he followed up a debut second at Wolverhampton with a win at Sandown before being allowed to take his chance in the listed Stonehenge Stakes at Salisbury. Not disgraced in finishing fifth of seven, he shaped as though he would be suited by further; as per his pedigree. He subsequently finished last on his final outing at two and on all three starts at three, although these runs all came over an inadequate trip. Still within the 82nd percentile of rated flat recruits it was surprising to see him drift out to 18/1 on his hurdling debut at Sedgefield towards the end of September. Racing in a first time hood, he was keen while held up in the rear. Nevertheless, he jumped neatly up to the closing stages where he missed the sixth, reached at the penultimate flight and got in close to the last. Notwithstanding, these latter errors were not to the detriment of his performance given his superiority on the day. Making very smooth headway towards the end of the back, he moved strongly into second place over two out and cruised into the lead approaching the last whereafter he was ridden clear to pass the line nine and six lengths clear of the remainder. Though it was standard fare as far as Sedgefield is concerned, and the winning time was modest, the twenty length fourth finished a quarter of that distance behind the winner when third at Wetherby. He was next seen at Kempton four weeks ago, having his second outing at a more fashionable venue against representatives of more fashionable yards. He was uneasy in the exchanges during the day, but he held a strong chance on paper and was backed in the ring from 13/2 to 9/2 at the off. Tracking the leaders off a fairly modest tempo, Mitch Bastyan had to display good strength to keep a good hold of his mount. Nevertheless, the jockey conserved enough energy to have Knight Salute in a useful position turning into the straight. Though momentarily outpaced between the final two flights, Knight Salute gained enough momentum to jump the last with a share of the lead and was able to see off his rival to the tune of a couple of lengths at the line. While he made mistakes under pressure first time at Sedgefield, there were no errors worth reporting in this contest and with his strong travelling and fluent jumping, he posted the strongest winning performance seen on a British course this season. Knight Salute's latest outing saw him take the step into graded company with aplomb when winning at Cheltenham four weeks ago. Steady in the market and sent off the 9/2 second favourite, he jumped as well as ever and travelled easily towards the rear of midfield. Going wide on the turn for home on the leaders' tails, Knight Salute was shaken up on the run to the last and though he drifted left under pressure going away from the flight, he was running true up the hill and showed good acceleration to put the best part of three lengths between himself and his rivals for a cosy success. The next five were covered by less than two lengths and the runner-up was comprehensively outclassed when failing to justify favouritism at Warwick earlier this week. Furthermore, though the visuals suggested that the Cheltenham race rather fell apart due to a strong pace, this premise is not backed up by the sectional times which indicates that despite the respectable line-up, the form is perhaps not as strong as could be expected for such a race. Notwithstanding, Knight Salute could do no more than win as he did. His form and jumping ability set the standard in this field and though his wins have all come on good, he should have no problem on softer ground and may even feasibly improve. The yard's impressive strike rate has rather dropped off in recent weeks, but Milton Harris' charges are still running to form and he was close to landing a double at Lingfield on Wednesday. Interestingly, he also sent the useful Mondul to win this contest in 2003 when it was still held at the aforementioned venue.
Porticello bg Gary Moore j2-2-0 (130) 122 123 (132 FR)
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 and was subsequently a respectable fourth at Cheltenham. Third placed Imprenable won his next two starts before finishing second in the Groupe II Prix Georges de Talhouet-Roy and fourth in the Groupe I Prix Cambaceres. File au Poteau in fourth won a useful conditions hurdle at Auteuil in October, 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 before finishing fifth in the Cambaceres and the only other finisher is a dual winner in the provinces. Representing a Gary Moore yard with a strong and solid record in the sphere, Porticello was thrown straight into pattern company for his British debut, which came in the Wensleydale Hurdle at Wetherby towards the end of October. His Grandak form was enough to see him sent off the 6/4 favourite and he was able to win quite comfortably in the end. However, his round of hurdling was anything but impressive and there was not a flight where he jumped especially well. Slow and untidy at the first, he hopped over the second, skewed when steady at the third, steady again when close to the fourth, close at the fifth, hit the top of the sixth, was big and steep over the seventh and two out (where he stumbled on landing) and big again over the last. Racing close to the lead throughout, he did travel well in fairness and though he did not kick on after taking the lead at the first flight in the home straight, and wandered quite conspicuously under pressure, he did eventually run out a decisive four length winner while giving away upwards of five pounds. None of the first four have been out since and though decent enough at face value, the performance was still someway short of his Auteuil outing. Porticello, in keeping with his pedigree and profile, can be described as green and unfurnished horse with the potential to make a very good horse once he matures and gets a trip. He clearly has the ability to do well in this contest although the strength of his prospects largely depends on how much he has learned during the six weeks since his last appearance.
Too Friendly bg Dan Skelton f6-1-2 (85) 91 j2-2-0 (126) 111 122
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 joined one of the strongest yards in the division who along with a healthy winners to runners rate of 38.55%, 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 favouritism 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. After missing his engagement in the Wensleydale due to an infected foot, Too Friendly went some way to fulfilling some of that potential when comfortably securing his brace in an introductory contest at Newcastle a fortnight ago. Taking a hold in the rear off a modest tempo, Too Friendly jumped much better than at Stratford, making only a few slight errors while dashing through the snow. Still bringing up a tightly packed field at three out, he only needed shaking up to move into the lead after the penultimate flight and a superior jump to his rival's at the last gave him the impetus to shoot nearly five lengths clear on the run-in. This will be Too Friendly's first foray into pattern company and his form to date does leave him a few pounds short of the protagonists. Nevertheless, he has every right to take his place in this line-up and if he continues his improvement then he would be dangerous to discount. Indeed, a literal interpretation of proxy form through Saint Riquier and Twilight Twist makes a case for his hurdling form being the strongest here.
Impulsive One bg Nicky Henderson f8-1-5 (80) 83 j3-2-1 (127) 116 127
Union Rags (Lonhro){4-m}(1.77) 2/2 El Picador 1st Juvenile Hurdle, Musselburgh 2019
Winning one of his eight starts for William Haggas, Impulsive One had shown useful form on the flat at up to twelve furlongs. Making the switch to Nicky Henderson, he has built on that foundation over hurdles with wins of twelve and ten lengths. His hurdling debut came at Plumpton in the middle of September where he held an outstanding chance on paper. Despite opening at 11/8 in the morning, he went out to 7/2 at one point on course before being trimmed back into 11/4 at the off. However, there was no rationale for his drift offered during the race itself. Tracking the leaders from the outset, he was lit up by the stumble of Fred Bear at the first, but either through the first time application of the hood, James Bowen's handling or Impulsive One's own nature, he had settled nicely after a furlong or so. He made a good impression with his jumping overall, as while he was skewed over the second and reached slightly at the next and though he went through the fifth, his round was characterised by speed, neatness and enthusiasm. Travelling strongly throughout, Impulsive One took the lead turning for home full of running and quickly established a wide advantage after the last before being eased close to the line to win by twelve lengths. His second jumps outing came at Huntingdon eleven days ago where there was no such uncertainly in the market as he started at 1/4 favourite. The hood was retained although he pulled considerably harder than at Plumpton with the most obvious explanation being that he had to make his own running. His hurdling was not as fluent either as he crashed through the first, stumbled after skewing at two out and was low at the last where he was also slow in getting away. Nevertheless, while he also clipped several of the flights in between, it was still a neat enough round for a juvenile and he never looked in danger of losing the contest. Impulsive One's third outing came at Kempton in mid-October and though slightly uneasy in the ring, drifting from 4/7 to 5/6, he was still sent off the clear favourite. Without getting a lead in the four-runner field, Impulsive One was forced to make his own running which was not ideal given his headstrong nature. Notwithstanding, his hurdling much more polished than at Plumpton and he was still on the bridle approaching the penultimate flight. There he made his only real error as he went through the top, but it did not cost him any real momentum and while he did not have enough to fend off Knight Salute's challenge on the run-in, he was still able to put nearly seven lengths between himself and the Alan King recruit in third. Given that he was conceding four pounds to the winner, seven if one accounts for the claim of the former's talented rider, Impulsive One emerges as best at the weights which in turn, makes this the strongest British performance in the sphere to date. Furthermore, Nicky Henderson has won this race twice for the double green with Peace And Co and We Have A Dream scoring in 2014 and 2017. However, the yard has not yet revealed a customary strong battalion in the division and Impulsive One has not shown himself to be of the same cloth as his predecessors. Moreover, on racecourse evidence and on breeding it is improbably that he will appreciate the cut in ground. The subsequent wind operation may bring out some improvement, but it is unlikely to be seen to best effect in these conditions.
Kolisi bg David Pipe f7-1-4 (85) 90
Harzand (Footstepsinthesand){4-o}(0.75) 2/1 Shubaat 1st 3m Handicap Hurdle (130), Southwell 2014
The sole newcomer in this line-up, Kolisi makes his debut for David Pipe having fetched 55,000 guineas at the Tattersalls Autumn Sale. Gelded before seeing the racecourse for William Haggas, Kolisi stepped up on his Ripon debut in April with a good second at Nottingham the following month before getting off the mark in a soft ground, ten furlong Salisbury maiden in June. Tracking the leaders from the outset, he was moved into the clear at the distance whereafter he was pushed out to win cosily by just over two lengths. His rating of 87 seemed to be at the absolute limit of his performances to date and he was unable to run to his mark on his next three outings; hanging left and racing keenly in the process. However, dropped to 84 and with blinkers applied for the first time, Kolisi ran a career best when last seen in a ten furlong Doncaster handicap on soft ground. Though still taking a hold and looking rather suspect under pressure, Kolisi was eventually able to put up a strong challenge in the final furlong, getting to within a head of stablemate Titian at the line. Incidentally, Titian, who runs at Cheltenham, remains his stablemate having changed hands for 155,000 guineas at the same sale. Juvenile hurdlers formerly trained by William Haggas have a respectable winner to runner rate of 32.35% and their improvement rate of 41.3% is just above average. Best amongst these former inmates include Bedrock and Swnymor who each cost 70,000 guineas, again at the same sale. The only previous juvenile to move from Somerville Lodge to Pond House was Royal Rationale who won one from six during the 2007/08 campaign. David Pipe's record in the sphere is a strong one with a 40.13% winner to runner rate which increases to 52.94% with flat recruits rated 80 and above. However, while the first time strike rate of such horses is a decent 23.53%, they still generally improve from their debut outings and none of the yard's winning newcomers of any description has done so outside of ordinary company. Kolisi is set to be the first runner over hurdles for the dual Derby winning Harzand. A son of Sea The Stars, cousin of numerous winning jumpers (including useful juveniles Handazan and Hazariban) and measuring at 16.1hh, Harzand has the credentials to make a sire of jumpers. Kolisi is also a nephew of useful winning hurdler Shubaat and is related 3/2 with Miss Heritage and 5/4 with Well Chief. There is certainly enough in Kolisi's profile to suggest he can make a useful recruit to the sphere and conditions should hold no concerns for him. However, he could hardly have been set a tougher assignment for his debut.
Magistrato bg Paul Nicholls j3-1-2 (127) 116 126 (129 FR)
Kapgarde (Poliglote){3-d}(1.00) 1/0 Franche Alliance 2nd Prix Beugnot (L,63.0), Enghien 2015
https://www.equidia.fr/chevaux/magistrato
The prestige of the Prix Grandak, and esteem of David Cottin, are already covered in Porticello's profile.
Magistrato, who also made his debut in the aforementioned race and in joining Paul Nicholls, follows in the hoofprints of Far West, Frodon, Quel Destin, Qualando and Marracudja who all started in the same contest. Fresh on his racecourse debut, Magistrato soon established a clear lead which he would ohld to the final flight where he was headed by Porticello. Jumping better overall than the winner, he done more by a lack of pace than fatigue and still managed to increase his advantage over the third placed Imprenable. A son of Kapgarde, who has an outstanding 50% winner to runner rate with his British and Irish juveniles, Magistrato's dam showed useful form over nineteen furlongs on heavy ground and is herself a half-sister to La Bague Au Roi and Kaysersberg. As such, the 3000 meters at Auteuil was unlikely to suit and while it is to his credit that he performed satisfactorily, it perhaps indicates that he would be a more longer term prospect. Nevertheless, Magistrato also looked a useful tool for this season when making a winning British debut at Chepstow in early October. Though money for Rocky Man saw him drift from a morning show of 2/5, Magistrato was still strongly fancied first time and after being available at 8/11 in the ring, contracted back into 4/7 at the off. Keen in the early stages, he made his own running at a steady tempo and though threatened for the lead at the top of the straight, was in total control at the distance and galloped on relentlessly to run out a twelve length winner from Rocky Man. Apart from being slightly untidy at the first and slow away from the fifth, there was no cause for complaint in the round of jumping as he confirmed his Auteuil proficiency. Though the race did not look strong outside of the front two, twenty-two length third placed Nazwa afforded the form some credence when finishing second off 103 on a Warwick handicap. Magistrato was then sent to Cheltenham for the Prestbury Hurdle, a race farmed by his trainer, and was sent off a well supported 6/4 favourite. Racing prominently, he was skewed over the first, tight at the second and wandered on the approach to the third. However, his jumping gave no cause for complaint from thereon. He did race quite keenly and though it was not to an alarming extent, it may have been enough to see him concede two places in the final strides. As mentioned in Knight Salute's profile, it appeared that he may have been the victim of the tactics employed. However, this is not backed up by the sectional times and while Chepstow runner-up Rocky Man still finished close in sixth, it did not give credence to the form in the context of this level. Magistrato is a useful juvenile and he is representing a yard with three wins in this contest including Monmiral who scored last year, and Quel Destin who followed the same path. Nevertheless, he has already been beaten by two of his rivals here and the only case for his reversing those placings rests on a five pound pull in the weights.
New Reality bg Nigel Hawke f6-1-0 (81) 86 j3-1-1 (112) 105 111
New Approach (Teofilo){5-f}(0.60) 2/1 Novis Adventus 1st 2m4f Handicap Hurdle (119), Worcester 2018
A winner of one from six on the flat for Jim Bolger with the form of his Tipperary success back in May working out very well, New Reality is another in the line of juvenile hurdlers to make the journey from Coolcullen to Stoodleigh. Though arguably fortuitous when making a winning hurdles bow at Perth in September, he became the sixth of the eleven such horses to win in the sphere. Starting the day as 5/2 joint favourite, he opened in the ring at 10/3 before being clipped into 11/4 co-favourite of three. Racing in midfield, he was fairly keen early but soon settled into a good rhythm. While he did not make any serious errors, he had a habit of steadying into his flights and did not get very high at three out. Making his move afterwards, he travelled strongly to loom upsides the leader at the penultimate flight. However, he was not as fluent as his rival as he hopped the flight and was slightly skewed; costing him some momentum. Though still seemingly full of running, he was not making ground on the leader and was a couple of lengths down when left in the lead at the last. There, he was very nearly brought down by Aliomaana and David Noonan did tremendously well to maintain the partnership. Such was the extent of New Reality's lead, it mattered not that his rider completed the race without irons as he passed the post fourteen lengths clear of the remainder. His next outing came at Wetherby the following month where he was backed to start the 10/11 favourite. After getting badly hampered at the first, he became lit up before settling again passing the stands. However, in an overly ambitious attempt to seize the initiative along the back, New Reality found himself with a wide lead and though he carried most of this advantage into the straight, he was quarry for his rivals. His cause was not helped by some sloppy jumping and though he was still in front at the last, a tired leap saw him capitulate as he finished a near three length second. New Reality's latest came at Warwick with first time cheekpieces applied. This headgear did not help him settle however and though he jumped better overall, he lost his prominent position along the turn for home and finished twenty-three lengths behind the winner. The soft ground may help him to leave his previous form behind if he settles better, but his official rating of 112 is still the ceiling of what he has shown thus far and would leave him with plenty to find in this company.
Sacre Pierre bg Donald McCain j3-2-1 (113) 98 114
On Est Bien (Goldneyev){8-a}(1.22) 1/1 Gold Tweet 1st Prix Hopper (G3 4yC), 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 29.46% winners to runners rate. He also won this contest in 2019 with Navajo Pass while Starchitect finished second for him in the 2014 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 was boosted with a minor win from Keepyourdreamsbig who also finished fourth in the Wensleydale. 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. Missing an intended engagement at Market Rasen due to stiffness Sacre Pierre made his latest appearance in the Wensleydale Hurdle six weeks ago. Starting the 11/2 third favourite of seven, he was held up in touch and jumped well enough with his only flaws being tight at the fifth and seventh and clipping the penultimate flight. Still in touch turning for home, he was the first horse under pressure but he responded in kind and in the vanguard jumping the last. He had no answer for Porticello however and while he plugged on resolutely, would also lose second in the final strides. Sacre Pierre is a likeable sort who goes well fresh and the yard is in decent enough form. A good showing would come as little surprise although he still finds himself on the same terms with Porticello with less scope to gain revenge.
Strong prospects
1. Knight Salute
Reasonable prospects
2. Porticello
3. Too Friendly
4. Magistrato
Feasible prospects
5. Sacre Pierre
6. Impulsive One
Moderate prospects
7. Kolisi
Negligible prospects
8. New Reality
Yes seconded. Well done.
Tout Seul
Senior Jockey
- Joined
- May 2, 2003
- Messages
- 2,628
Well done BH!
I clicked on the thanks button yesterday after reading your well reasoned and researched contribution in appreciation irrespective of the outcome. Totally convinced me and I had KS as one of bankers today. I got an extra buzz when he was running thinking how satisfied you would be. Great stuff!
I clicked on the thanks button yesterday after reading your well reasoned and researched contribution in appreciation irrespective of the outcome. Totally convinced me and I had KS as one of bankers today. I got an extra buzz when he was running thinking how satisfied you would be. Great stuff!
Bachelors Hall
Conditional
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2012
- Messages
- 763
Many thanks all Impulsive One performing on the ground/the ground not being as soft as I had anticipated did ruin the finishing order clean sweep, but can't have too many complaints.
Have managed to secure full-time employment as a third-sector administrator. While not pupil assistant trainer or bloodstock consultant, it still keeps me from going homeless again and is a position I am very much looking forward to undertaking. Will be a while before I can figure out a rhythm whereby I can set aside time for horsey stuff. Nevertheless, I have a few days to myself over chrimbo so to kick things off, Fontwell's juvenile on Boxing Day
FONTWELL - 26th DECEMBER - PREVIEW
Apart from last season, a juvenile hurdle has been held at Fontwell each Boxing Day since 2013. With the winners having an average seasonal RPR of 121.36, it is generally an above average affair, although it seldom produces anything of note. 2016 winner Rainbow Dreamer would finish second in the Finesse while the next two winners, Aiguille Rouge and Westbrook Bertie, both placed in the Chatteris Fen. However, beyond a handful of horses finishing well beaten in the Fred Winter, that is the extent of the race's prowess. This year's edition is headed by a Gary Moore horse whose first two British outings have resulted in placings at Cheltenham. However, should he fail to perform then the contest would be an average one with good recent form thin on the ground. The circuit at Fontwell is a sharp, flat, left-handed one although due to the distance of juvenile contests and the propensity for the ground to get testing, the winning DIs of 1.39 mean, 1.00 median are within the lowest third of British and Irish venues. Its clear round rate of 95.05% is among the lowest in the country and drops to 90.86% for newcomers. The strike rate of odds on favourites, standing at 51.35%, is nine points below the national average, although this particular contest generally goes to one prominent in the market with the median SP being less than 2/1. The going is currently described as soft and plenty of rain is predicted before post time so although there are only six declared runners, none of whom are habitual frontrunners, stamina will still be a useful attribute.
Afternoon Tea bg Tony Carroll b1-0-0 (-) 74 j2-0-0 (-) 75 85
Epaulette (Jeune Homme){5-h}(1.13) 1/2 See The Eagle Fly 1st Juvenile Hurdle, Fontwell 2020
Starting his career in bumpers, graduates of which have a 3.18% overall strike rate in the sphere, Afternoon Tea does not have the worst profile for a juvenile hurdler. Trainer Tony Carroll has a solid winner to runner rate of 21.54% and improvement rate of 51.43%. The pedigree is also interesting as he is an uncle of winning juveniles See The Eagle Fly and Lord Caprio, and the son of an Epaulette with a 28.57% winner to runner rate to date. However, his racecourse performances to date have been modest. After finishing eighth of eleven in a Huntingdon bumper, Afternoon Tea never involved himself in his jumps bow at Ludlow where he trailed in a twenty-one length last of seven. He was last seen five weeks ago in a shallow contest at Exeter where he was backed from a morning show of 25/1 to 17/2 at flagfall. Initially prominent, he rather lost concentration on the long approach to the second where he jumped right and was relegated to midfield. From there, he did not lose further ground but was outpaced on the turn for home and merely stayed on to maintain his position, finishing just over sixteen lengths behind the winner in fourth. Afternoon Tea does not jump badly and he should not have any issues with these conditions, although he does want for class against a number of these rivals.
Appreciate chg Milton Harris f7-0-0 (57) 75
Australia (Giant's Causeway){19}(0.68) 0.5 Institution 2nd 2m Maiden Hurdle, Wexford 2019
Milton Harris has had an outstanding season in the sphere to date with four individual winners; three of whom were obtained at the Tattersalls July sale for 17,000 guineas or less. The least expensive of his purchases this term is set to be Appreciate, a seven race maiden for Tom Clover who went for 12,000 guineas at the Tattersalls Autumn sale. Tom Clover, former assistant to David Simcock, has already produced one winning juvenile from three and his former teacher as a source has a winner to runner rate of 17.24% which stands just below average. Appreciate's debut fourth at Newmarket as a two-year-old was his only performance which warranted a mark in the seventies. Beaten favourite on his reappearance in a Bath maiden, he was then well beaten in a Windsor novice. A break, gelding operation and switch to handicap company saw him beat just six of thirty two rivals home in four starts with his mark dropping from 72 to 57. He had excuses when hampered on his penultimate start at Kempton, but there was no such extenuation when last seen finishing sixth of nine at the same venue towards the end of October in first time tongue-tie. His pedigree is not without encouragement as Australia has a solid winner to runner rate of 21.05%, Giant's Causeway has a fair record as a damsire and though the damline is predominantly American flat orientated, half-brother Institution did place at four in a Wexford maiden. It is difficult to get away from the disappointing nature of Appreciate's form but there is some cause for enthusiasm in his profile. The yard's runners in first time cheekpieces have won two from six this year; which could be pertinent given Appreciate's propensity to take a hold in his races.
Cornicello bg Jamie Snowden f6-2-2 (39.0-85.8) 77 j1-0-1 (-) 91 105
Penny's Picnic (Hawk Wing){4-i}(1.55) 0.5 Breezy Bell 1st 2m½f Handicap Hurdle (90), Ballinrobe 2020
https://www.racebets.com/en/horse-racing/race/details/id/4146008/external/20062
https://www.equidia.fr/chevaux/cornicello
French flat claiming races produce their fair share of winners in the sphere, and while few end up being much better than average over hurdles, those rated 82 and above counted amongst them seven winners from twelve prior to Cornicello's jumps debut at Ffos Las in late October. Cornicello who was claimed for €27,001 after finishing second at Compiegne over twelve furlongs in June was racing under the care of Henk Grewe (whose exports have count zero winners from four to date). After winning a pair of ten furlong contests last October at Stasbourg and Angers, his reappearance came in a listed contest at Longchamp. However, he failed to match the standard and finished a detached last of six. Keeping to listed company, albeit at a lower level, he was next seen at Düsseldorf for their Derby trial where he once again finished sixth, but was at least able to gain places in the closing stages. Moving to calmer waters, his latest appearance came in the aforementioned Compiegne claimer where he hit the front with a furlong to go, but did not look the most resolute under pressure, ultimately going down by a length in the end. While Cornicello's valeur translates to roughly 86 in BHA terms, it is very difficult to apply that kind of rating to his performances and even the RPR of 77 at Longchamp overestimates him by a few pounds. He was the first juvenile hurdler outside of France for his sire Penny's Picnic, whose credentials for the division are not strong. Primarily a sprinter by a Kheleyf whose own record was below average, Penny's Picnic is not the tallest at 1.62m and his strike rate in France is less than 4%. Half-brother Breezy Bell, a moderate handicapper, is the extent of winning jumpers on the nearby damline although the useful Hipsters and Please God appear at 3/2. The negatives notwithstanding, Cornicello's profile is not the worst and he made a respectable start to his new vocation fifty-nine days ago. Though a drifter in the morning, he received support in the ring, starting at 6/1 having been available at 11/1 during the opening exchanges. Tracking the leader on the inside, he was still moving nicely when jumping to the front three from home. However, he was unable to find an extra gear when challenged and after losing the lead at the penultimate flight, was relegated to a thirteen length third by the line. The easy winner emphatically doubled his tally next time at Sandown and the fourth subsequently ran to a similar level, giving the form a solid enough look. Trainer Jamie Snowden has been in fine form as of late and as his juveniles invariably step up on their debut efforts, Cornicello should keep Yorksea honest at the very least.
Many Words bg Tony Carroll f7-0-1 (58) 65 j2-0-0 (-) 79 90
Kodi Bear (Fraam){2-f}(1.67) 0.5 Maria Magdelena 2nd Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle (L), Wetherby 2019
Initially with Sheila Lavery in Ireland, Many Words cut little ice on his first four outings, but was able to follow a fourth of sixteen in a Cork handicap off 61 with a third placed finish over twelve furlongs at Tramore in a rated stakes. He failed to see out the extra two furlongs at Navan towards the end of August and would be next seen two months later making his hurdling debut at Ludlow. Steady in the ring and starting at 8/1, he raced prominently but was difficult to settle and would weaken from the home straight before beating only stablemate Afternoon Tea home. His second appearance came at Sandown where he drifted from 11/1 to 25/1 in the ring and never got involved from the rear of the field, finishing a tired and distant last of seven finishers. Many Words is not a bad jumper, but while he is a half-brother to the fair juvenile hurdler Maria Magdalena, he will likely need something much sharper to be seen to decent effect.
Navegaon Gate bg Nigel Twiston-Davies f7-0-1 (70) 80
Frankel (Montjeu){16-g}(0.52) 0.5 Richard Of Yorke 3rd 4200m Grand National Hurdle, Riccarton Park 2021
Nigel Twiston-Davies is not famous for his juvenile hurdlers and he has only saddled winners in the sphere in just four of the past eleven seasons. This is not to suggest he is without the ability to do so as in the nineties, he was responsible for the likes of Mistinguett, Kerawi and Upgrade while more recently, he has handled such talented sorts as Bristol de Mai, Torpillo and Patman du Charmil. A common thread in his more recent juveniles, however, is that these were French breds who often had jumps experience. The most recent exception was Turning Gold who won the Victor Ludorum and finished fifth in the 2018 Frew Winter, propping up the comparatively modest 6.12% strike rate for UK/IRE flat recruits against the trainer's 33.33% rate with hurdlers and 27.78% with flat horses from across the channel. Bidding to turn the tide will be Navegaon Gate who while earning a seventies rating, failed to place in seven outings for Ed Walker. Continuing the theme of modest records, only one of Ed Walker's fourteen former inmates have scored in the sphere despite six of these being rated 77 or higher. Fetching 21,000 guineas at the Tattersalls Autumn sale, Navegaon Gate kept respectable company in Newbury maidens in the spring, finishing ahead of a trio of eighties rated animals on his reappearance, and doing the same when an eight length third behind Manobo and Mojo Star. A switch to handicapping failed to reap rewards however as an eleven length fourth at Newbury off 81 was followed by a gelding operation and three lacklustre efforts at Ffos Las, Haydock and Kempton where he was off the bridle a long way from home on each occasion. Navegaon Gate's pedigree is not without merit for his new vocation as half-brothers Richard Of Yorke and Coolongolook are winning jumpers in New Zealand and Ireland respectively while the useful Father Sky appears at 3/1 on the damline. It is difficult for Frankel to be as good with hurdlers as he is on the flat, but while his improvement rate is an unsurprisingly modest 28.57%, he still has a solid 11.54% strike rate in the sphere and damsire Montjeu is perfectly capable as a damsire of juveniles. If hurdles can reinvigorate Navegaon Gate then he should make a respectable recruit although he will likely benefit from experience. Incidentally, Navegaon Gate is an anagram of "Go an eat vegan" and what kind of vegan would this writer be if he did not highlight and endorse this subliminal propaganda?
Yorksea chg Gary Moore f6-1-0 (72.6) 66 j2-0-2 (124) 111 122
Sea The Stars (Pivotal){13-c}(1.82) 7/4 Proschema 2nd West Yorkshire Hurdle (G2), Wetherby 2021
https://www.equidia.fr/chevaux/yorksea
Gary Moore has a healthy record with his French flat recruits with ten of his twenty-two winning as juveniles, between 2004/05 and this season. This term's most accomplished such recruit to date has been Yorksea, who fetched €32,000 Arqana Summer. He was initially trained by Frédéric Head, whose former inmates have a strong 45.45% winner to runner rate, the strongest of these being Youmdor. Making his debut at Deauville last November, Yorksea cut little ice first time and would also finish down the field twice at Chantilly as well as on his handicap debut at Saint Cloud off 32 (70.4). A step down in class and a revised valeur of 30.5 (67.1) saw him get off the mark at the fifth time of asking in a 2100m handicap at Angers towards the end of May in a race named after his owner's wonder mare Goldikova. Starting at 16/1, Yorksea raced on the outer and moved from midfield to a more prominent position a mile from home. He went into a clear lead at the six furlong point and though he was headed at the distance when turning for home, he rallied gamely against the rail to get up in the final strides from a next time out winner. Yorksea's last race in France came in a good ground Saint Cloud handicap over 3000m in mid-June. Racing prominently once again, he looked in trouble turning into the straight and faded late on to finish just over four lengths behind the winner in fifth. Sire Sea The Stars (Starchitect, Stars Over The Sea) has a solid 30.77% winner to runner rate in the division, although Pivotal's record as a damsire has a more modest rate of 13.24%. Out of the Group One winning filly Queen's Jewel, Yorksea's damline offers no clues insofar as hurdling is concerned with its roots in Argentina. Useful hurdler Proschema does appear at 7/4, although that is so distant enough that it passes into trivial rather than useful information. Notwithstanding, despite the patchy pedigree, Yorksea has thus far acquitted himself well over hurdles, and his first two outings coming at Cheltenham are indicative of the yard's confidence in the horse. Making his British debut in the Grade 2 Prestbury Hurdle in mid November, he was slightly uneasy in the market going from 20/1 to 33/1. Settling in midfield, Yorksea made minor errors off a fairly modest tempo, although these were largely along the lines of giving his flights a little extra air. He found himself outpaced when the race picked up in earnest, but completed the final furlong fastest of all and was able to steal trio places up the hill to finish a three length third. Yorksea returned to the Cotswolds a month later for a Class 2 where he was steady in the ring, sent off the 5/2 favourite. Again racing in the rear, his jumping was hindered by a rival drifting in front of him, but he was much more fluent with a clearer view of the last three flights. Making headway down the hill, he led the pursuit of the leader turning for home and although the winner took full advantage of getting the first run, Yorksea was able to put distance between himself and his rivals. The Prestbury Hurdle form has been franked by Knight Salute taking the Grade 2 Summit Hurdle, and though the runner-up failed to land a maiden next time, he was still plenty clear of the remainder. Yorksea's hurdles achievements are much the strongest on offer here and he represents a yard which has had a winner and two placings in this race along with a 27.78% strike rate with juveniles at the venue. The soft ground is a new factor for Yorksea although on breeding, he should be able to cope. Furthermore, while the potential lack of pace may be an issue, Yorksea does have a turn of foot once he gets going and with Jamie Moore having twenty wins from sixty-five with juveniles around Fontwell, he should have a good idea of when to pull the trigger.
tl:dr
Afternoon Tea - Bred for the game and should be alright in the conditions. Backed on second jumps outing where one paced and will likely want for class here.
Appreciate - Little form after fair flat debut for Tom Clover. Has joined yard that can do little wrong in the sphere and is not unfeasibly bred. Flat form is a concern and a couple of rivals have more substantial profiles.
Cornicello - Strongest flat form on official marks and jumped well when third on hurdles bow at Ffos Las. Juveniles for in-form trainer usually improve from debut and though form is not of Yorksea's calibre, should give him something to ponder.
Many Words - No better than fair maiden on flat in Ireland. Half-brother to reasonable juvenile and not the worst jumper but big question mark over stamina.
Navegaon Gate - Failed to place on flat for trainer whose future juveniles have poor record. Early flat form not without potential and new trainer is capable, albeit with different sorts. May do better with experience.
Yorksea - Winner in France. Thrown in at the deep end since going over hurdles but has acquitted himself well and sets clear standard here. Yard has strong record at the venue. Will be trying soft for the first time and may do with stronger pace but concerns are mitigated by breeding and jockey.
Strong prospects
1. Yorksea
Reasonable prospects
2. Cornicello
Feasible prospects
3. Appreciate
4. Navegaon Gate
Moderate prospects
5. Afternoon Tea
Negligible prospects
6. Many Words
Impulsive One performing on the ground/the ground not being as soft as I had anticipated did ruin the finishing order clean sweep, but can't have too many complaints.Have managed to secure full-time employment as a third-sector administrator. While not pupil assistant trainer or bloodstock consultant, it still keeps me from going homeless again and is a position I am very much looking forward to undertaking. Will be a while before I can figure out a rhythm whereby I can set aside time for horsey stuff. Nevertheless, I have a few days to myself over chrimbo so to kick things off, Fontwell's juvenile on Boxing Day
FONTWELL - 26th DECEMBER - PREVIEW
Apart from last season, a juvenile hurdle has been held at Fontwell each Boxing Day since 2013. With the winners having an average seasonal RPR of 121.36, it is generally an above average affair, although it seldom produces anything of note. 2016 winner Rainbow Dreamer would finish second in the Finesse while the next two winners, Aiguille Rouge and Westbrook Bertie, both placed in the Chatteris Fen. However, beyond a handful of horses finishing well beaten in the Fred Winter, that is the extent of the race's prowess. This year's edition is headed by a Gary Moore horse whose first two British outings have resulted in placings at Cheltenham. However, should he fail to perform then the contest would be an average one with good recent form thin on the ground. The circuit at Fontwell is a sharp, flat, left-handed one although due to the distance of juvenile contests and the propensity for the ground to get testing, the winning DIs of 1.39 mean, 1.00 median are within the lowest third of British and Irish venues. Its clear round rate of 95.05% is among the lowest in the country and drops to 90.86% for newcomers. The strike rate of odds on favourites, standing at 51.35%, is nine points below the national average, although this particular contest generally goes to one prominent in the market with the median SP being less than 2/1. The going is currently described as soft and plenty of rain is predicted before post time so although there are only six declared runners, none of whom are habitual frontrunners, stamina will still be a useful attribute.
Afternoon Tea bg Tony Carroll b1-0-0 (-) 74 j2-0-0 (-) 75 85
Epaulette (Jeune Homme){5-h}(1.13) 1/2 See The Eagle Fly 1st Juvenile Hurdle, Fontwell 2020
Starting his career in bumpers, graduates of which have a 3.18% overall strike rate in the sphere, Afternoon Tea does not have the worst profile for a juvenile hurdler. Trainer Tony Carroll has a solid winner to runner rate of 21.54% and improvement rate of 51.43%. The pedigree is also interesting as he is an uncle of winning juveniles See The Eagle Fly and Lord Caprio, and the son of an Epaulette with a 28.57% winner to runner rate to date. However, his racecourse performances to date have been modest. After finishing eighth of eleven in a Huntingdon bumper, Afternoon Tea never involved himself in his jumps bow at Ludlow where he trailed in a twenty-one length last of seven. He was last seen five weeks ago in a shallow contest at Exeter where he was backed from a morning show of 25/1 to 17/2 at flagfall. Initially prominent, he rather lost concentration on the long approach to the second where he jumped right and was relegated to midfield. From there, he did not lose further ground but was outpaced on the turn for home and merely stayed on to maintain his position, finishing just over sixteen lengths behind the winner in fourth. Afternoon Tea does not jump badly and he should not have any issues with these conditions, although he does want for class against a number of these rivals.
Appreciate chg Milton Harris f7-0-0 (57) 75
Australia (Giant's Causeway){19}(0.68) 0.5 Institution 2nd 2m Maiden Hurdle, Wexford 2019
Milton Harris has had an outstanding season in the sphere to date with four individual winners; three of whom were obtained at the Tattersalls July sale for 17,000 guineas or less. The least expensive of his purchases this term is set to be Appreciate, a seven race maiden for Tom Clover who went for 12,000 guineas at the Tattersalls Autumn sale. Tom Clover, former assistant to David Simcock, has already produced one winning juvenile from three and his former teacher as a source has a winner to runner rate of 17.24% which stands just below average. Appreciate's debut fourth at Newmarket as a two-year-old was his only performance which warranted a mark in the seventies. Beaten favourite on his reappearance in a Bath maiden, he was then well beaten in a Windsor novice. A break, gelding operation and switch to handicap company saw him beat just six of thirty two rivals home in four starts with his mark dropping from 72 to 57. He had excuses when hampered on his penultimate start at Kempton, but there was no such extenuation when last seen finishing sixth of nine at the same venue towards the end of October in first time tongue-tie. His pedigree is not without encouragement as Australia has a solid winner to runner rate of 21.05%, Giant's Causeway has a fair record as a damsire and though the damline is predominantly American flat orientated, half-brother Institution did place at four in a Wexford maiden. It is difficult to get away from the disappointing nature of Appreciate's form but there is some cause for enthusiasm in his profile. The yard's runners in first time cheekpieces have won two from six this year; which could be pertinent given Appreciate's propensity to take a hold in his races.
Cornicello bg Jamie Snowden f6-2-2 (39.0-85.8) 77 j1-0-1 (-) 91 105
Penny's Picnic (Hawk Wing){4-i}(1.55) 0.5 Breezy Bell 1st 2m½f Handicap Hurdle (90), Ballinrobe 2020
https://www.racebets.com/en/horse-racing/race/details/id/4146008/external/20062
https://www.equidia.fr/chevaux/cornicello
French flat claiming races produce their fair share of winners in the sphere, and while few end up being much better than average over hurdles, those rated 82 and above counted amongst them seven winners from twelve prior to Cornicello's jumps debut at Ffos Las in late October. Cornicello who was claimed for €27,001 after finishing second at Compiegne over twelve furlongs in June was racing under the care of Henk Grewe (whose exports have count zero winners from four to date). After winning a pair of ten furlong contests last October at Stasbourg and Angers, his reappearance came in a listed contest at Longchamp. However, he failed to match the standard and finished a detached last of six. Keeping to listed company, albeit at a lower level, he was next seen at Düsseldorf for their Derby trial where he once again finished sixth, but was at least able to gain places in the closing stages. Moving to calmer waters, his latest appearance came in the aforementioned Compiegne claimer where he hit the front with a furlong to go, but did not look the most resolute under pressure, ultimately going down by a length in the end. While Cornicello's valeur translates to roughly 86 in BHA terms, it is very difficult to apply that kind of rating to his performances and even the RPR of 77 at Longchamp overestimates him by a few pounds. He was the first juvenile hurdler outside of France for his sire Penny's Picnic, whose credentials for the division are not strong. Primarily a sprinter by a Kheleyf whose own record was below average, Penny's Picnic is not the tallest at 1.62m and his strike rate in France is less than 4%. Half-brother Breezy Bell, a moderate handicapper, is the extent of winning jumpers on the nearby damline although the useful Hipsters and Please God appear at 3/2. The negatives notwithstanding, Cornicello's profile is not the worst and he made a respectable start to his new vocation fifty-nine days ago. Though a drifter in the morning, he received support in the ring, starting at 6/1 having been available at 11/1 during the opening exchanges. Tracking the leader on the inside, he was still moving nicely when jumping to the front three from home. However, he was unable to find an extra gear when challenged and after losing the lead at the penultimate flight, was relegated to a thirteen length third by the line. The easy winner emphatically doubled his tally next time at Sandown and the fourth subsequently ran to a similar level, giving the form a solid enough look. Trainer Jamie Snowden has been in fine form as of late and as his juveniles invariably step up on their debut efforts, Cornicello should keep Yorksea honest at the very least.
Many Words bg Tony Carroll f7-0-1 (58) 65 j2-0-0 (-) 79 90
Kodi Bear (Fraam){2-f}(1.67) 0.5 Maria Magdelena 2nd Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle (L), Wetherby 2019
Initially with Sheila Lavery in Ireland, Many Words cut little ice on his first four outings, but was able to follow a fourth of sixteen in a Cork handicap off 61 with a third placed finish over twelve furlongs at Tramore in a rated stakes. He failed to see out the extra two furlongs at Navan towards the end of August and would be next seen two months later making his hurdling debut at Ludlow. Steady in the ring and starting at 8/1, he raced prominently but was difficult to settle and would weaken from the home straight before beating only stablemate Afternoon Tea home. His second appearance came at Sandown where he drifted from 11/1 to 25/1 in the ring and never got involved from the rear of the field, finishing a tired and distant last of seven finishers. Many Words is not a bad jumper, but while he is a half-brother to the fair juvenile hurdler Maria Magdalena, he will likely need something much sharper to be seen to decent effect.
Navegaon Gate bg Nigel Twiston-Davies f7-0-1 (70) 80
Frankel (Montjeu){16-g}(0.52) 0.5 Richard Of Yorke 3rd 4200m Grand National Hurdle, Riccarton Park 2021
Nigel Twiston-Davies is not famous for his juvenile hurdlers and he has only saddled winners in the sphere in just four of the past eleven seasons. This is not to suggest he is without the ability to do so as in the nineties, he was responsible for the likes of Mistinguett, Kerawi and Upgrade while more recently, he has handled such talented sorts as Bristol de Mai, Torpillo and Patman du Charmil. A common thread in his more recent juveniles, however, is that these were French breds who often had jumps experience. The most recent exception was Turning Gold who won the Victor Ludorum and finished fifth in the 2018 Frew Winter, propping up the comparatively modest 6.12% strike rate for UK/IRE flat recruits against the trainer's 33.33% rate with hurdlers and 27.78% with flat horses from across the channel. Bidding to turn the tide will be Navegaon Gate who while earning a seventies rating, failed to place in seven outings for Ed Walker. Continuing the theme of modest records, only one of Ed Walker's fourteen former inmates have scored in the sphere despite six of these being rated 77 or higher. Fetching 21,000 guineas at the Tattersalls Autumn sale, Navegaon Gate kept respectable company in Newbury maidens in the spring, finishing ahead of a trio of eighties rated animals on his reappearance, and doing the same when an eight length third behind Manobo and Mojo Star. A switch to handicapping failed to reap rewards however as an eleven length fourth at Newbury off 81 was followed by a gelding operation and three lacklustre efforts at Ffos Las, Haydock and Kempton where he was off the bridle a long way from home on each occasion. Navegaon Gate's pedigree is not without merit for his new vocation as half-brothers Richard Of Yorke and Coolongolook are winning jumpers in New Zealand and Ireland respectively while the useful Father Sky appears at 3/1 on the damline. It is difficult for Frankel to be as good with hurdlers as he is on the flat, but while his improvement rate is an unsurprisingly modest 28.57%, he still has a solid 11.54% strike rate in the sphere and damsire Montjeu is perfectly capable as a damsire of juveniles. If hurdles can reinvigorate Navegaon Gate then he should make a respectable recruit although he will likely benefit from experience. Incidentally, Navegaon Gate is an anagram of "Go an eat vegan" and what kind of vegan would this writer be if he did not highlight and endorse this subliminal propaganda?
Yorksea chg Gary Moore f6-1-0 (72.6) 66 j2-0-2 (124) 111 122
Sea The Stars (Pivotal){13-c}(1.82) 7/4 Proschema 2nd West Yorkshire Hurdle (G2), Wetherby 2021
https://www.equidia.fr/chevaux/yorksea
Gary Moore has a healthy record with his French flat recruits with ten of his twenty-two winning as juveniles, between 2004/05 and this season. This term's most accomplished such recruit to date has been Yorksea, who fetched €32,000 Arqana Summer. He was initially trained by Frédéric Head, whose former inmates have a strong 45.45% winner to runner rate, the strongest of these being Youmdor. Making his debut at Deauville last November, Yorksea cut little ice first time and would also finish down the field twice at Chantilly as well as on his handicap debut at Saint Cloud off 32 (70.4). A step down in class and a revised valeur of 30.5 (67.1) saw him get off the mark at the fifth time of asking in a 2100m handicap at Angers towards the end of May in a race named after his owner's wonder mare Goldikova. Starting at 16/1, Yorksea raced on the outer and moved from midfield to a more prominent position a mile from home. He went into a clear lead at the six furlong point and though he was headed at the distance when turning for home, he rallied gamely against the rail to get up in the final strides from a next time out winner. Yorksea's last race in France came in a good ground Saint Cloud handicap over 3000m in mid-June. Racing prominently once again, he looked in trouble turning into the straight and faded late on to finish just over four lengths behind the winner in fifth. Sire Sea The Stars (Starchitect, Stars Over The Sea) has a solid 30.77% winner to runner rate in the division, although Pivotal's record as a damsire has a more modest rate of 13.24%. Out of the Group One winning filly Queen's Jewel, Yorksea's damline offers no clues insofar as hurdling is concerned with its roots in Argentina. Useful hurdler Proschema does appear at 7/4, although that is so distant enough that it passes into trivial rather than useful information. Notwithstanding, despite the patchy pedigree, Yorksea has thus far acquitted himself well over hurdles, and his first two outings coming at Cheltenham are indicative of the yard's confidence in the horse. Making his British debut in the Grade 2 Prestbury Hurdle in mid November, he was slightly uneasy in the market going from 20/1 to 33/1. Settling in midfield, Yorksea made minor errors off a fairly modest tempo, although these were largely along the lines of giving his flights a little extra air. He found himself outpaced when the race picked up in earnest, but completed the final furlong fastest of all and was able to steal trio places up the hill to finish a three length third. Yorksea returned to the Cotswolds a month later for a Class 2 where he was steady in the ring, sent off the 5/2 favourite. Again racing in the rear, his jumping was hindered by a rival drifting in front of him, but he was much more fluent with a clearer view of the last three flights. Making headway down the hill, he led the pursuit of the leader turning for home and although the winner took full advantage of getting the first run, Yorksea was able to put distance between himself and his rivals. The Prestbury Hurdle form has been franked by Knight Salute taking the Grade 2 Summit Hurdle, and though the runner-up failed to land a maiden next time, he was still plenty clear of the remainder. Yorksea's hurdles achievements are much the strongest on offer here and he represents a yard which has had a winner and two placings in this race along with a 27.78% strike rate with juveniles at the venue. The soft ground is a new factor for Yorksea although on breeding, he should be able to cope. Furthermore, while the potential lack of pace may be an issue, Yorksea does have a turn of foot once he gets going and with Jamie Moore having twenty wins from sixty-five with juveniles around Fontwell, he should have a good idea of when to pull the trigger.
tl:dr
Afternoon Tea - Bred for the game and should be alright in the conditions. Backed on second jumps outing where one paced and will likely want for class here.
Appreciate - Little form after fair flat debut for Tom Clover. Has joined yard that can do little wrong in the sphere and is not unfeasibly bred. Flat form is a concern and a couple of rivals have more substantial profiles.
Cornicello - Strongest flat form on official marks and jumped well when third on hurdles bow at Ffos Las. Juveniles for in-form trainer usually improve from debut and though form is not of Yorksea's calibre, should give him something to ponder.
Many Words - No better than fair maiden on flat in Ireland. Half-brother to reasonable juvenile and not the worst jumper but big question mark over stamina.
Navegaon Gate - Failed to place on flat for trainer whose future juveniles have poor record. Early flat form not without potential and new trainer is capable, albeit with different sorts. May do better with experience.
Yorksea - Winner in France. Thrown in at the deep end since going over hurdles but has acquitted himself well and sets clear standard here. Yard has strong record at the venue. Will be trying soft for the first time and may do with stronger pace but concerns are mitigated by breeding and jockey.
Strong prospects
1. Yorksea
Reasonable prospects
2. Cornicello
Feasible prospects
3. Appreciate
4. Navegaon Gate
Moderate prospects
5. Afternoon Tea
Negligible prospects
6. Many Words
Bachelors Hall
Conditional
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2012
- Messages
- 763
Most appreciated Grey. And a Merry Christmas to you and yours
Desert Orchid
Senior Jockey
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2005
- Messages
- 24,844
Best of luck with the new job, BH!