Lydia Hislop Road To Cheltenham Novice Hurdlers

Novice hurdlers

Next Destination assumed the mantle of Albert Bartlett favourite following his success in Navan’s Grade Two novices’ hurdle last Sunday – albeit, curse of the modern Cheltenham Festival, he’s also clear second favourite for the Ballymore in many books.

He clearly has a good blend of skills: both the dour stride of a thorough stayer and the ability to get out of trouble quickly. David Mullins had no need to panic – and did not – when his mount got the third-last wrong as he was quickly back on terms approaching the next and, jumping that well, he could afford to bide his time approaching the final flight after which he drew clear.

Afterwards, jockey Mullins mentioned Next Destination’s “gears” and also that he ”has the right mentality for a trip”.

Owner Malcolm Denmark famously won what is now the Ballymore with Monsignor in 2000 – that heady era when there were only two choices for non-juvenile novices. Which Festival race trainer Mullins has in mind for this horse will become clear later on in the season – probably about 48 hours beforehand.

Next Destination made Cracking Smart appear slow here and trainer Elliott was quick to concede that his novice – a substitute on the day for the sainted Samcro – needed to step back up in trip. Inconvenienced when owner companion Poli Roi veered across him at the penultimate hurdle, Cracking Smart was only fourth approaching the last but stayed on determinedly to claim second.

Jetz also shaped as though a more extreme test is needed and appeared to be holding his head slightly high, as if some tweaking is required. Poli Roi got tired very quickly in this heavy ground, having jumped untidily and yet managing to swing into the lead two out.

Later that same day at Navan, Blow By Blow got off the mark at the third attempt over hurdles after again being sent off favourite. Formerly trained by Mullins to beat Moon Racer in the Grade One Punchestown bumper in April 2016, this horse missed last season and had twice been beaten this – including when given absolutely every opportunity at Fairyhouse on his previous start.

Slightly more patient tactics were employed on this occasion and he stayed on best after the last to lead near the line over 2m7f of heavy ground in by far the slowest time of the day. Elliott nonetheless mentioned the Albert Bartlett.

The other Grade Two of the week was staged over 2m1f at Cheltenham and conducted at a farcical crawl, meaning literal interpretations of the form are dangerous. Western Ryder, who had finished one place behind Next Destination when fifth in last term’s Champion Bumper at the Festival, won the race in forthright fashion – holding a relatively prominent position readily and jumping reliably.

“He loves a fast-run race,” observed trainer Warren Greatrex, so hopefully he should run well if ever he encounters one over hurdles. “In the spring we’ll be looking more at two and a half miles – and it might be that we wait until we come back here to do that.”

That suggests this horse – unbeaten in both completed hurdle starts and proven on a sound surface – has the Ballymore as his Festival target. 25/1 is widely available.

Runner-up Lalor had beaten Western Ryder into third in last term’s Grade Two bumper at Aintree but was receiving 6lb from the winner here. He’s improving steadily over hurdles. Third-placed Summerville Boy was never going to be seen at his best held up in a steadily run race. He needs further.

The following day at Doncaster, five-year-old mare Countister initiated a double on the card for Henderson. Cap Soleil had previously thumped her by seven lengths on her UK debut but she won this readily, jumping efficiently and ridden confidently to win by seven lengths herself.

She beat De Rasher Counter, a raw-ish ex-Pointer, and Clondaw Castle, attempting to concede 13lbs to the winner, who was extensively raced on the Flat in France prior to joining Henderson.

She’s a 12/1 shot for the Dawn Run behind year-younger stable companion Apple’s Shakira – 5/1 favourite for that race but for whom the talk has always been the Triumph. (More on her in the juvenile section.)

Of greater interest for this Festival event is Laurina, who romped away with a Tramore mares’ maiden hurdle by 15 lengths. Apart from almost tripping over the first, she jumped well and eased into a clear lead on the home turn, putting her rivals instantly in trouble.

She clocked the best time of the day, hinting that this performance might have been underestimated in some quarters and the 12/1 on offer about her is relatively appealing given she hails from a stable always long-suited in talented mares. She holds a Grade One 2m4f entry against geldings at Naas next month.

“She has good form in France and she was showing us that at home,” said rider Paul Townend. “She’s a bit of a tank for a mare – it’s like sitting on a gelding. She galloped through the ground well. Although she fell first time out [in France, when trained by Guillaime Macaire], if no one had said it you’d never think she’d fall.”

Juvenile hurdlers

There was a trio of juvenile races to note within a three-hour period last Saturday. The first was overwhelmingly expected: an unextended three-and-a-half-length Cheltenham success from ante-post Triumph favourite Apple’s Shakira at odds of 1/10.

This full sister to Apple’s Jade continues serenely on her programme of education, now having won the same two Cheltenham races as Defi Du Seuil and Katchit, both of whom went on to win the Triumph in 2017 and 2007.

But Henderson is still minded to provide her with more experience to ensure she is fully equipped for her likely test in March – a race in which she will face horses with a more extensive body of work than this thrice-raced filly currently boasts (albeit this has become less of a critical factor since the Fred Winter was created and the Triumph field became more concentrated).

To that end, he is eyeing next Wednesday’s Grade One Finale Hurdle at Chepstow in the hope that it will provide the bigger field and proper racing exposure he envisages. Here, she simply outclassed two fair rivals – both previous winners – in Nube Negra and Knight Destroyer.

Later in the day at Doncaster, the filly’s stable companion We Have A Dream brought back memories of Peace And Co in almost all respects when winning the Grade Two Summit Hurdle.

Owned by Munir and Souede, trained by Henderson and delivering success via a wide margin – all the echoes were there except for the stand-out time that Peace And Co also recorded. Instead, We Have A Dream came home in the slowest time of the four hurdle events on the card.

Nonetheless this was a highly authoritative success over a capable rival in City Dreamer, whose jockey must have briefly imagined he could pounce on the winner, and a promising newcomer in Je Suis Charlie. Yet taking Newcastle winner Act Of Valour palpably underperformed, struggling as early as approaching the third last and ultimately well beaten.

In between these events last Saturday, over at Fairyhouse Stormy Ireland also announced herself as a player in this league with a one-horse show in the juvenile maiden hurdle.

Prominent from the outset, she was about a length ahead at the first and three on landing before easing into a different county by the fourth flight. There were 58 lengths between her and the toiling runner-up at the line. A breakdown of her performance on the clock also confers much credit.

It was her first start for Mullins, having twice previously finished second over hurdles in France, and 16/1 errs on the generous side for the Triumph – even if David Mullins described her afterwards as “a small filly”. Like Apple’s Shakira, she would have the option of running in the Dawn Run instead of taking on geldings in the Triumph.