Lydia Hislop Road to Cheltenham Juvenile Hurdle archive

 

February 9 2017

Coeur De Lion's defeat of the elder Rather Be at Sandown surely bought him a ticket to the Triumph Hurdle. King wryly observed afterwards that he's got "half a dozen juveniles at the minute that all look like they're Fred Winter horses - [but] I'm not going to run them all in it."This well-named horse, "slow to cop on" when racing on the Flat according to his trainer, appreciated a more patient ride in a better-paced contest than he encountered either when not enjoying setting the pace against Defi Du Seuil at Cheltenham or attempting to concede weight to Don Bersy.Both those rivals are, clearly, very smart anyway but Coeur De Lion seemed to appreciate getting some cover - although jockey Tom Cannon still said he "took a grip" early on - and jumped more cleanly last Saturday before giving it some of his trademark tenacity to repel a scopier rival on the rise to the line. 

 King stressed that he's "left a wee bit to work on" and argued that 2m1f of the New Course, host to the Triumph Hurdle, places greater emphasis on stamina than does the 2m of the Old Course where the Fred Winter is played out.These valid points further supported the Grade One, rather than the handicap, being the preferred target and I suspect this hardy horse will far outperform odds of 33/1 even though the official handicapper says he currently merits a rating of just 133. He's versatile in terms of ground.Less than an hour later, stablemate Fidux - whom King had still entertained for the Triumph - contrastingly consigned himself to the Fred Winter. Although jockey Wayne Hutchinson to a degree accepted his fate from the second last, his mount was clearly the fourth-best horse. He's been dropped 6lb to a still tough-looking 137.The winner Forth Bridge made virtually all and gained further advantage with slick jumps at the third and second last but he wandered right with a slight error at the last that opened the door for Warp Factor but slammed it in the face of Project Bluebook, who'd been burrowing his way up the inside.The winner, bred and still owned by the Queen, has taken particularly well to hurdles after his form on the Flat tailed off. He's improved markedly with each start and here accounted for Warp Factor more comfortably than last time on 8lb worse terms. His jumping was better and he looked more straightforward under pressure than has been the case."He'd definitely be a Fred Winter horse," said Noel Fehily, who was riding him for the first time. "He's a big horse but he's fairly battle-hardened. The hustle and bustle of the Fred Winter wouldn't bother him too much."But the next day Longsdon reported Forth Bridge had pulled off a shoe and suffered an over-reach and was undergoing treatment, although he didn't anticipate a grave enough concern to prevent him from making the Festival.Thinking aloud on Racing UK, he suggested a mark in the mid-130s would tend him towards the Fred Winter whereas anything like 140 would push him into the Triumph. The official answer came through at 139 and that might just be low enough to prefer the handicap. As mentioned before, even though Forth Bridge was more tractable here, don't be surprised - and interpret it as a positive - if there is a move for cheekpieces at Cheltenham.Warp Factor bounced back to form, suggesting testing ground at Fairyhouse was indeed against him last time, but doesn't seem progressive. In fact he was fortunate to be second here due to the intimidation caused to the third by Forth Bridge's final leap that carried him right, left him short of room and extracted an error.Recovering, Project Bluebook's rider Brian Hughes had to switch left and left again to make his challenge on the near side of the front two and the line was coming too soon as he started rolling again. He would have been at least second without that interference.He's been generously dropped 3lb by the official handicapper for this, will appreciate Cheltenham's stiffer test of stamina, can cope with various going, hails from a capable yard and will surely run well in the Fred Winter. While he's entered in the Triumph and Supreme, McManus has likelier candidates for those races. 14/1 NRNB with Sky Bet is a credible offer.At Market Rasen on Tuesday, Domperignon Du Lys resurrected his rep after a dull effort behind Defi Du Seuil at Cheltenham in December. Fluffing two out and even naively jumping the path when well in the clear after the last were no hindrance to outclassing his opposition and recording a very good time - even if it was in soft ground, which he may require. However Jacob was inclined to blame his previous disappointing run on a quick reappearance.An excellent last-flight leap was a reminder of how well this horse had jumped on his UK debut and this success will surely reignite Triumph ambitions for owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, who have been long-suited in this division in recent years but hold only this one entry in 2017.Unfortunately Nicholls has announced that prolific juvenile sensation Cliffs Of Dover may not recover from a setback soon enough to run in the Triumph. The six-times winner, his trainer's sole entry, knocked himself when schooling in preparation to run at Musselburgh last weekend. "If he doesn't come right, he might have to go to Aintree," said Nicholls.Another Musselburgh absentee was Charli Parcs, who'd previously been a controversial late withdrawal at Cheltenham against fellow McManusite Defi Du Seuil. Henderson has since commented that he wanted to run there but instead the horse now heads for Kempton's Adonis Hurdle later this month.

February 2 2017

The preamble to Defi Du Seuil's sixth straight success this season and his fifth over hurdles turned out to be far more interesting than the race itself. Owner JP McManus had also entered Charli Parcs and in Saturday's Racing Post his racing manager Frank Berry had indicated that the pair were unlikely to actually clash and that horse was the more likely runner."At the moment Charli Parcs is a definite runner," Berry said, who would have been speaking to reporter Lee Mottershead on Friday. "Defi would only run if the ground becomes very heavy in which case it's possible Charli Parcs wouldn't run. Nothing is set in stone, though."At that point, Cheltenham's ground was described as good-to-soft but clerk of the course Simon Claisse was warning that if the upper end of the 3-5mm rain forecast did indeed materialise, then the ground would likely alter to soft. In the end 4mm fell and soft was what we got.Just 32 minutes before the official off-time for the first race, Nicky Henderson withdrew Charli Parcs citing - as he was entirely within his right to do - a going change. Clearly, it hadn't required as much rain as indicated by Berry to alter running plans and rightly the stewards held an inquiry into the late withdrawal.Having interviewed Henderson and Geraghty, who took over on Defi Du Seuil as a consequence of Charli Parcs' withdrawal, they noted their explanation that the delay was "due to difficulties with communications between the jockey, the trainer and the owner, JP McManus, who was in Barbados".Of course the removal of Charli Parcs disemboweled the race from a neutral standpoint and caught some bookmakers out via the Rule 4, which forced a better-priced return on bets struck on Defi Du Seuil prior to the withdrawal than the actual starting price of 1/5 favourite. A rare case of seller beware.The resultant four-runner race was a slowly run one-dimensional affair. Siruh Du Lac sabotaged his own chances by getting worked up in the preliminaries, as rider Lizzie Kelly later reported to the stewards, and refusing to settle in the race. He was a spent force by the distant penultimate flight.Rainbow Dreamer made the running in a first-time visor and was also keen. He jumped a little right-handed, including when hitting the second last, and was headed by the smooth-travelling winner quite a bit before the final flight. He's versatile ground-wise and his rating should get him into the Fred Winter but it looks no gimme.Du Lemo displayed clear ability on his UK debut for Gary Moore's yard. It seemed as though rider Jamie Moore might yet have cards to play on the turn for home but it soon emerged that he was merely holding together a tired horse as he weakened considerably approaching the last and then stumbled over it. He'll probably need to run again to secure a place in the Fred Winter.Defi Du Seuil had settled in his usual professional manner in third place and showed mature malleability for such a young horse when deftly sidestepping the error from weakening Siruh Du Lac at the third last. His jumping wasn't as good as it has been but better in the latter stages than it had been when sent on a long way out in the Grade One Finale at Chepstow. He didn't need to get close to matching that career best to register a comfortable success here."The ground is tacky and although Defi Du Seuil jumped okay, he can jump better," said Geraghty. "He pinged the last in both previous wins here but that wasn't an option in today's ground, which is not ideal for a juvenile. He's very happy on good-to-soft and easier but he travels and jumps and I wouldn't be worried about a bigger field. He has loads of experience and loads of bottle."Both Geraghty and winning trainer Philip Hobbs agreed afterwards that good ground and softer is well within Defi Du Seuil's comfort zone; they would not commit in the scenario that the ground for the Triumph was any quicker than that, as it can be by the fourth day of the Festival.Others have made the point that the modern-day Triumph winner is a less-exposed animal. Since the Fred Winter was instituted in 2005 and the knock-on effect on the Triumph has (usually) been a smaller field, only two winners had raced more than three times over hurdles. Both Countrywide Flame, who won in 2012 at an unconsidered 33/1, and Katchit, who 12 months later went on to take the 2008 Champion Hurdle, had run six times over hurdles and also 16 times on the Flat.The most inexperienced winners in that period were Soldatino in 2010 and Tiger Roll in 2014, who had experience neither on the Flat nor in bumpers and had run in just two hurdles events. So six winners since 2005 had raced five times or fewer but just as many had raced nine times or more. In short, I'm not going to get too bogged down on this element of profiling.It's next stop the Triumph for Defi Du Seuil, who can still be backed each-way with some bookmakers to at least break even if he's placed, and he currently brings the best bare form to the table. In fact it's worth bearing in mind that he hasn't yet even been properly extended.Prior to Cheltenham, King had indicated he's long-suited in candidates for the Fred Winter but less sure he has a Triumph prospect. Fidux, who's entered at Musselburgh this Saturday, and likeable Flat recruit Cosmeapolitan are his two remaining hopes after Dino Velvet was also put in his place last week.He couldn't live with Don Bersy at Warwick last Thursday, the latter jumping well in the vanguard from an early stage and staying on strongly for a ready success. He did adjust right at a couple of hurdles but this victory only served to underline the good impression he made on the eye and clock at Sandown.Trainer Tom Symonds reiterated at Warwick his intention to keep this horse "away from the big occasion this year" and hinted that his temperament might not be matured enough to cope with the buzz of a Festival because "Sandown was busy enough for him last time". Instead he pinpointed Haydock's Victor Ludorum later this month but further success would only turn up the volume on Cheltenham's siren call. He is proven only on testing ground, however.Although three lengths adrift, this was probably Dino Velvet's best effort to date but a mark of 125 does not assure him of a spot in the Fred Winter. He should handle better ground, though.Back in third, German Flat recruit Landin shaped very encouragingly indeed. He looks a thorough stayer, responding positively to pressure after getting outpaced. He can definitely win races.The same applies to Hestina, whose fifth place does not accurately reflect how well she actually ran: she was still travelling well when adjusting left, making a mistake and pecking two out. Immediately, Harry Skelton accepted her fate on ground likely to have been more testing than she'd prefer. She can surely win a handicap off a mark of 107.Nietzsche has already won two handicaps, most recently in open company and upped in grade at Catterick last week. Again aided by a hood and Megan Carberry's 5lb claim, he tanked through the race and pulled for his head whenever he saw daylight. He wasn't foot perfect but also threw in some good jumps alongside more experienced rivals and recorded by far the best time of the day.The Fred Winter is a potential target, a revised mark of 130 should be his golden ticket and that race's likely fast tempo could inspire further progress. His Flat form indicates a sound surface should be within his compass but trainer Brian Ellison has commented "the heavier the better for him".Prospectus bounced back with his best hurdles effort yet in the best time of the day at Fairyhouse last week to again beat Dakota Moirette but by a less comfortable margin than their previous encounter. In the meantime the winner had finished a distant seventh on less testing ground behind Bapaume in a Grade Two and the runner-up had won a Punchestown maiden.This time Dakota Moirette was always prominent and rather coasting when his rider checked behind after the second last and suddenly applied the hurry-up in a bid to repel the rallying Prospectus, who'd hit a flat spot for a while after the fourth last. The leader was caught on the run-in but stuck to his task well against a rival whose conditional jockey relieved him of 7lb. There was a length and a quarter between them at the line."He seems to hit a flat spot but he ran on nicely and responded for pressure," said winning trainer Gavin Cromwell, who "won't rule out Cheltenham". But he added that Prospectus would also "like softer ground" and his form, albeit relatively scant to date, would appear to back him up. That would be a worry for the Festival.Final quick footnote: McManus this week entered seven juveniles in the Supreme hurdle as well as the Triumph including Defi Du Seuil, Charli Parcs, Landofhopeandglory and Project Bluebook.

January 25 2017

There is little to report from this division with Cosmeapolitan having missed a date against his elders with the abandonnment of Taunton last Saturday.The most interesting performance therefore came at Wetherby when Most Celebrated, a lightly-raced Flat recruit from Saeed bin Suroor's Godolphin yard now housed with Neil Mulholland, won by 28 lengths pretty much on the bridle. He could yet progress into a Fred Winter contender.

January 19 2017

Divin Bere arrived from France with a tough-enough looking mark of 137 but at Huntingdon last Friday made a winning start to his career in Britain in juvenile novices' company with a gutsy defeat of Master Blueyes.Both horses had plenty experience from the Flat, although the runner-up boasted the more credible career in that discipline, and joined in battle from after the third last.Having looked to be going less well on the home turn, Master Blueyes led narrowly approaching the penultimate flight only to fluff it and forfeit the advantage. Divin Bere then came up well at the last, only to be bumped by his unbalanced rival who then leaned left upon him in the straight but could never quite master him. The winner was even conceding 4lbs from the runner-up and belied trainer Henderson's lack of optimism beforehand.Fehily appeared concerned to give his mount the most considerate of winning rides on his first start for almost nine months, in ground he described as "tacky" and racing into a headwind.He added that Divin Bere had developed well from the narrow horse he recalled seeing earlier in the season and is "precocious". His advice to owner Chris Giles will be "to get on with it" because "he looks the type to be very competitive in juvenile hurdles".Master Blueyes, who'd previously been thumped eight lengths by fellow Henderson inmate Charli Parcs, has now had three starts over hurdles and improved with each of them, although his jumping under pressure was scrappy here. It nonetheless earned him a 12lbs rise to 132 which rather assumes Divin Bere's French rating is reflective of his ability and was produced under a different style of racing at the first attempt. The time was reasonable mind.However, their rating should ensure these principles get a ticket for the Fred Winter - for which they can both be backed at 20/1 - given this juvenile handicap has been suffering from inflation in recent years. The lowest rated runner in its last three editions was 127, 129 and 128.Another form-line tying in with Charli Parcs was on display at Kempton the next day when odds-on favourite and French recruit Poker Play, whom he'd beaten a length on their respective debuts at Enghien in November, was comfortably held by previous Catterick winner Fidux.Poker Play had briefly appeared to be travelling better on the home turn but was soon outpaced entering the straight. However he stuck to his task well in the style of a horse that would appreciate a greater test of stamina such as the Triumph would bring. Yet he also moved as though cut in the ground might be necessary.The winner took an appreciable step forward here but does have a habit of getting in close to his hurdles even when asked long by his rider. He never looked like falling but the frenetic speed test of the Fred Winter - for which he is now among the marker leaders at 16/1 - might catch him out.Having won over the course and distance on New Year's Eve, Final Choice flopped at Newbury this week when finishing a distant last of four. This retrograde step could be predicted from the exit from the back straight when Richard Johnson was already nudging to hold his position. The slightly more testing ground may have played a part but this was disappointing.That granted Flying Tiger a comfortable success over two debuting rivals but he already possessed the form to more than trouble the favourite, even had that rival been on song, if he could just transfer it from France where trainer Nick Williams had raced him for his first three starts.He'd raced too keenly at Exeter in November but here Lizzie Kelly managed to settle him a bit better despite the minimal cover that just three rivals afforded. Once he took over at the third last, as a strong stayer proven on the ground he was only going to move further clear. He jumps excellently."Flying Tiger promised to be good last spring in France so it's great he's come back," said Williams. "We put ear-plugs on him because he's highly strung. He's classy but the favourite obviously didn't run his race. Either the Fred Winter or the Triumph is possible."The Fred Winter currently appears the more viable option given his mark of 128, which the handicapper could yet reassess on the basis of this but is unlikely to. As mentioned above, that rating is flirting with the recent cut-off point for this Festival handicap. Flying Tiger must also prove he doesn't need testing ground to perform well.Over at Fairyhouse last Sunday, Ex Patriot repelled a rallying Mengli Khan to win the four-year-olds' maiden hurdle by a length. The winner had failed to get his head in front on the Flat for another yard and so it was understandable to see him wobble about when asked to assert on leading for hands and heels after the penultimate hurdle.A good last-flight jump was perhaps crucial because the runner-up, a fellow hurdles debutant switching yards and codes, persisted strongly to the line. Winning trainer Ellmarie Holden is considering stepping into Grade One class at Leopardstown next month, where a great deal more would be required.Back in fifth, Warp Factor seemed a cut below his two previous Musselburgh seconds behind Forth Bridge and Project Bluebook - perhaps the heavy ground was to blame.

January 11 2017

Two decent juveniles fought out Sandown's opener last Saturday, with Don Bersy getting the better of Coeur De Lion and the pair pulling 23 lengths clear of sweaty poor-jumping Alcanar. The exciting clash only took place thanks to the abandonment of Ludlow where the winner had been due to run the previous day.He jumped remarkably well given he'd taken a proper tumble on his UK debut at Warwick last time - in fact it was a superior leap at the last that sealed the deal against a doughty rival. Both are strong stayers and winning rider Aidan Coleman felt the heavy ground was "a big help" to his mount.Coeur De Lion was attempting to concede 6lb to Don Bersy and, beaten just a length and a half, emerged the best horse at the weights. He's improving all the time and, unlike the winner, is proven on a faster surface. He could run well in the Fred Winter. Both are widely available at 20/1 for that contest but winning trainer Tom Symonds didn't immediately suggest that such targets were necessarily on the agenda.Finally it's worth airing a point I discussed with a correspondent on Twitter a couple of weeks ago but have daftly overlooked to mention in the Road to date: namely the possibility that Charli Parcs could run in the Supreme rather than the Triumph.It's a route McManus has taken before with Binocular, who was second to Captain Cee Bee in the 2008 Supreme, and Charli Parcs might well be suited by the relative speed test of the Old Course rather than the more testing New Course on which the Triumph is staged.

January 4 2017

After Charli Parcs had won so impressively at Kempton last week, Nicky Henderson mentioned in the post-race interview that he was also looking forward to running "Percy Street and some others" from his juvenile squad.It's always interesting when trainers introduce, unprompted, other horses during the slot reserved for an impressive winner. That said, Henderson did also mention that prior to Kempton he had been concerned about his strength in this division.Given this billing, it may have therefore been significant that Percy Street was an uneasy favourite prior to his hurdling debut on New Year's Eve. On paper, he had good credentials for switching disciplines as a 98-rated horse that stayed 12f and was pretty versatile ground-wise. There was just a small concern that he could often be keen.This last consideration meant it was not surprising he was well covered up at the rear of the field from the outset but he'd have soon ended up there anyway given how careful and hesitant his jumping was. He made some progress on the home turn but slammed on the brakes again three out and was thereafter never going to catch the leaders. He did keep on adequately in fourth, though, with the stands' rail to help.It might have been an advantage to race prominently, admittedly, given the first two home, Final Choice and Siruh Du Lac, made or disputed the lead throughout and the third Saint Contest was never that far away at the fore of mid-division.Final Choice pressed Siruh Du Lac early and again from the fifth for the lead and then narrowly took over at the first flight entering the straight, three out. Saint Contest still seemed to be travelling smoothly at that stage - whereas Siruh Du Lac became outpaced and lost his position - but he got pushed into the penultimate flight and was quickly beaten, drifting left, afterwards. Final Choice meanwhile just ran on strongly to the line while Siruh Du Lac's stamina kicked in to reel in the fading third near the line.Final Choice was rated just 59 on the Flat after winning his final start over nearly 12 furlongs at Bath for Roger Charlton. He'd made an encouraging hurdles debut at Warwick behind Tyrell, clearly built on it here and looks to have a bigger future under this discipline. It might be that a right-handed track isn't ideal, though, as he's adjusted left on both starts over hurdles to date.Trainer Greatrex commented: "First Choice was only just fit enough to run at Warwick last time as we were up against time, so I thought he'd improve. His jumping was slick and you can ride him positively and know he'll finish."He's unexposed and while he doesn't show much at home, he's got a bit about him. He's probably the most promising juvenile I've had and if he wasn't going to be embarrassed we could think about the Triumph with something in between."Rider Gavin Sheehan described him as "lazy". "He's always saving a bit and the more I ask him, the more he gives me. He's not very flashy but he gets the job done, so it's ideal. We don't have many juveniles so he'd be one of the best," he said.Siruh Du Lac shaped as though a more strongly run race and ultimately stiffer test of stamina would suit. Saint Contest might have flattened out due to being keen in the early stages or he may not have found much off the bridle; he stayed at least 12 furlongs on the Flat in France.At Punchestown that same day, Dakota Moirette gained reward for his steady improvement over hurdles when making most to beat stablemate, Icario. The winner had previously been comfortably held by Landofhopeandglory and then Prospectus but is learning his trade with each start.He proved capable of an efficient leap here, especially when moving to press for the lead four out, but also of the odd in-close mistake, such as at the second last. Elliott's assistant trainer Olly Murphy said it wasn't the strongest race but the winner stays well and the time was good by comparison.Icario came from a long way back to take second. The better-positioned A Year To Remember drifted markedly in the betting before returning in third. Former Simcock inmate Loose Ends was not without promise on his hurdles debut for Elliott back in fourth.Back at Musselburgh on New Year's Day Project Bluebook comprehensively turned around his debut defeat by the more experienced Nietzsche and is clearly progressing fast. He settled better on or near the lead than favourite Warp Factor and jumped more fluently, especially under pressure.He steadily improved on the Flat as stepped up in trip by trainer John Quinn, who won the 2012 Triumph Hurdle with Countrywide Flame, and likes the sound surface he would likely encounter at the Festival. At the moment, the Fred Winter would appear his most feasible target.Warp Factor, second to Forth Bridge over the same course and distance on his debut, was keen early but kept trying when clearly held from the last. Nietzsche jumped poorly and does not appear to be progressing; he was already held when hampered avoiding the filly Castafiore, who fell when staying on at the last. She was not done with at the time but her jumping was scrappy even before she took her heavy tumble.

January 1, 2017

Defi Du Seuil dominated the Grade One Finale Hurdle at Chepstow last Tuesday, becoming the new Triumph favourite despite a number of new names coming to the fore among the juvenile ranks over the past week.The winner had already established himself at or near the top with two professional successes at Cheltenham. Trainer Philip Hobbs said after the second of those that he was tempted to take in this race and the horse took the relatively swift reappearance in his stride.Impressive Aintree winner Evening Hush made the running and, after rather reaching for the first on a long stride, was soon rocking along on the testing ground she enjoys. As early as the back straight, previous Sandown scorer Dino Velvet found the pace just too darn hot.But Defi Du Seuil bridged the gap to the leader on the home turn with remarkable rapidity, meaning he jumped into the lead when she barely left the ground at the fourth last. After that, course-and-distance winner Dolos was soon dispensed with and although Evening Hush tried to rally, she could pose no threat. Once in front, the winner showed the first chinks in his armour to date by jumping out to his left at the remaining three obstacles.Jockey Johnson was quick to excuse him. "I was pleasantly shocked at the way he picked up turning in," he said. "I lit him up and got him there too soon but down the back straight his jumping was really good. He was a bit clumsy and green up the straight but he's a very good jumper and has done it well."If we had a wet spring, he would take a lot of beating against the top juveniles."That's now both the trainer and his latest jockey who have mentioned that Defi Du Seuil has a preference for soft ground - even though both of his Cheltenham wins were recorded on a soundish surface. That's the only thing to temper enthusiasm for the Triumph.The other outstanding juvenile performance of the past week also came from a McManus recruit. Ridden by Fehily, Charli Parcs made a flawless UK debut at Kempton and was immediately propelled to joint-second favourite for the Triumph. His jumping was superb and he won on the bridle, beating honest and hardy Master Blueyes by eight lengths despite conceding 5lb.The time was excellent: three seconds quicker than the course-and-distance handicap hurdle later on the card. Time analysis shows that three-second superiority was established prior to the third last and then maintained all the way to the line."It's just been straightforward. He's the right shape and make for a juvenile hurdler and I hope he's got a big future," said Henderson, who admitted he'd asked McManus to send him a good juvenile because his yard was unusually lacking in that department."His hurdling technique is excellent - it's quick. He's a proper hurdler: A to B is very slick and he seems to have gears. He still has plenty to learn, though - he was a bit green in behind."With that in mind, Henderson intends to run Charli Parcs once or twice more prior to the Triumph.Over in Ireland that same day, St Leger third Housesofparliament failed to complete a juvenile treble for McManus when readily defeated by fellow hurdles debutant Meri Devie at Leopardstown.The winner is a French recruit deemed good enough to run in a Group One over 10 furlongs last time we saw her, now housed chez Mullins and owned by Andrea and Graham Wylie.In a race in which only eight of the 16 starters actually got involved, Meri Devie sat closest to the wide-margin leader, the sweating Easy Pass, who went off too fast and was essentially ignored by the other seven principals. In effect the filly therefore set her own pace and was best positioned to capitalise once the leader folded shortly after the penultimate hurdle.The Tony Martin-trained duo, Landsman and Prince Charmin, stayed in the fight until the straight and the former was only beaten off at the final flight. Both the winner and Housesofparliament jumped that well but the filly always had the superior speed on the run to the line."She showed a good turn of foot, which you'd expect from a mile-and-a-quarter winner on the Flat," said Walsh, the winning rider. "It was a nice performance. She jumped fine and should improve a bit."Both the winner and runner-up can tighten up their jumping but this was an encouraging start for them both. Meri Devie is now best-priced at 10/1 for the Triumph, whereas Housesofparliament was pushed out from an inordinately short price for a horse yet to jump a hurdle in public to an over-reactive 25/1.Landsman and Prince Charmin look fair recruits; the latter was also debuting over hurdles. Both were unexposed at middle distances on the Flat for Johnny Murtagh and John Oxx respectively. They might be interesting for the Fred Winter.On the preceding day, Leopardstown's Grade Two Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle was essentially a re-run of Fairyhouse's Grade Three event in early December with the first three - Landofhopeandglory, Bapaume and Mega Fortune in that order - taking each other on again.This time it was Bapaume who came out on top - despite re-opposing his previous conqueror on 1lb worse terms - and underlined Mullins' strength in this division.Bapaume didn't make his own running, with Landofhopeandglory's stable companion Zig Zag instead forcing on for a long lead from the third, and he also jumped more cleanly, the intensive Mullins-style schooling having clearly taken effect.There was a moment approaching the home turn when it looked as though Walsh's brave-man route up the inside would land him in another pocket as Geraghty took advantage of Zig Zag weakening to move Landofhopeandglory up on his outside with the intention of getting first run on his main rival.Instead, Walsh and Bapaume were able to wriggle through against the rail and the two principals eyeballed each other entering the straight, with Mega Fortune outpaced but responding to pressure in third. Come the final hurdle, Bapaume had extracted a narrow lead and, although he landed a tad flat-footed, he swiftly recovered his equilibrium and readily maintained his advantage over Landofhopeandglory to the line.Although Mega Fortune again took the bronze medal, he still improved on his previous effort and shaped as though the increased test of stamina that Cheltenham holds would suit him very well.There is not a great deal between this trio on current form but the outcome of this race deposed Landofhopeandglory as Triumph favourite and there is as much as 18 points between this trio's prices across the market as a whole. Bapaume is the shortest and, as the least exposed of the three, that might well be the correct analysis.

December 21, 2016

At Newbury last Wednesday, Cosmeapolitan made a winning debut for the typically juvenile-strong yard of Alan King. This was a progressive horse on the Flat in 2016, who stays at least 12 if not 14 furlongs and has not finished improving.There is certainly scope to smarten up his jumping: he lacked fluency at several obstacles but saved his best blunder for the second last, getting in too close and pecking badly. The extent of his superiority was soon apparent when, having been all but upsides before but more than a length down after that error, he got back on terms at the last without Wayne Hutchinson having to go for much. He then stayed on well to the line. It was a slowly-run race and probably lacked depth."These horses always improve on their first run. No matter how much schooling you do with them at home, they come on an awful lot for the experience and I'm sure he'll do the same," King told Oli Bell on Racing UK."Job done, really, and we'll see how we go on from here. He certainly doesn't want any more than two miles. He might not want heavy but he'd go on most things."Plans for Cosmeapolitan are fluid given as King himself said he's "got a big team of juveniles" and will have to "shuffle them around"; Kempton over Christmas will possibly come a little too quickly.Back in second, French recruit Fixed Rate made a good debut for Charlie Mann. Always prominently positioned, he had pressed on into the lead with a good jump three out as long-time leader Marmont fluffed it. He became tired and faded after the last; he stayed more than 14 furlongs on the Flat and was gelded prior to this.Third-placed Pension Madness wasn't able to go with the leaders on the home turn but stayed on steadily in the straight to pass the exhausted Marmont and finish a relatively close-up third. This was his best effort yet over hurdles and he's now worthy of a mark. He might well need more of a trip.Like the third, Knight Commander was a maiden on the Flat but rated more highly; he is not without ability for this discipline once he finds his level. Light Of Air regressed from his decent debut third behind Dino Velvet at Sandown earlier this month.On the same day up at Musselburgh, Forth Bridge managed to repel Warp Factor to get off the mark over hurdles following his encouraging debut second against the decent Coeur De Lion.He made some mistakes, most critically at the last when crashing through it, but the foothold the runner-up gained was more to do with Forth Bridge wobbling under pressure. The strength of Brian Hughes, keeping him straight with whip and hands, kept him honest. He wore cheekpieces for his final two starts on the Flat and it wouldn't be surprising to see them donned again.Warp Factor wasn't rated too far behind the winner on the Flat and wasn't proven at so far a trip - 11f compared with 14f. He showed an aptitude on his first completed start. The pair were 20 lengths clear of the rest in the best time of the day.In Ireland on Saturday Prospectus made a winning hurdles debut in Fairyhouse's juvenile maiden event for new trainer Gavin Cromwell, having been trained on the Flat in Britain by Hughie Morrison. He had won once, over 12f at Ffos Las and achieved a rating of just 69.His proven liking for testing conditions and innate stamina meant he relished this truly-run race, coming clear of an eased Dakota Moirette by 12 lengths and registering a time faster than the following handicap. He mainly jumped well, though novicey at times. The runner-up had previously been beaten 28 lengths by Landofhopeandglory when in receipt of 4lb.

December 15, 2016

There were three notable performances in this division, serving to underline that Landofhopeandglory hasn't even got one hand on the trophy just yet.Most evidently, at Cheltenham on Saturday, Defi Du Seuil enhanced his reputation with victory in the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle. His manner is the most impressive of his assets: despite sitting on the wide outside of a dawdling pace, he settled well and jumped slickly. He was not overly extended to repel the doughty Coeur De Lion by just under two lengths with nine lengths back to the third.Trainer Philip Hobbs complimented Defi Du Seuil's professionalism. He added: "Barry [Geraghty, his jockey] was particularly impressed with his jumping, especially the last where he met it slightly wrong. His words were 'He's on springs'."A quick reappearance in the Grade One Finale Hurdle was also mooted, with Hobbs certain that his horse is effective in Chepstow's usually testing ground. He cited the testimony of previous trainer Emmanuel Clayeux that Defi Du Seuil had won in France when the ground was all but unraceable.Of the Triumph - the horse's ultimate target and usually staged on a sound surface - Hobbs added: "I hope that, like most good horses, he can go on any ground but I feel he's one that copes very well with the soft."It's the trainer's emphasis on the suitability of soft ground that niggles away at any inclination to back him at 8/1 for that March target. Otherwise he has all boxes ticked: maturity beyond his years, plenty of experience, stamina for the job and a good hurdling technique.Coeur De Lion will win more races over hurdles and doubtless come into his own when, in time, stepping up in trip. Here, on only his second NH start and having been unexposed on the Flat, he showed signs of inexperience when sensibly asked to make the running by Johnson. He was the sole rival to raise a gallop when Defi Du Seuil began his attack.Recent impressive Newcastle winner Domperignon Du Lys flopped. He made a significant mistake at the second last and no impact thereafter. Rider Jacob seemed to expect a problem might come to light. "I'm sure he's a better horse than that," he stressed.Three-times winner Nachi Falls bounced back from a disappointing effort at Newton Abbot last time to finish third, without ever threatening to do better. He looks a tad high in the ratings. French recruit Candy Burg got sweaty in the preliminaries; that and his previous form presaged an overly-keen style of racing that new trainer Venetia Williams must address.At Doncaster later that same day, Cliffs Of Dover won the sixth of his seven starts over hurdles. In a change of tactics, he led from the get-go - but still was characteristically keen - and never came back to his field. Atypically untidy jumps at the final two hurdles gave Lord Justice the whiff of hope but that soon evaporated as the winner, head bowed low in determination, galloped unrelentingly on.Time analysis confirmed the eye's testimony that, while Cliffs Of Dover was of course unhassled at his hurdles, he did not nick a cheap lead but rather raced at an exacting tempo. He's worth all the literal metrics of his success, if not a little undervalued by them.The only concern about his Triumph credentials is that he's being trained by Nicholls as a now-horse rather than one for whom there's an important March target. Nonetheless I would be astonished if he didn't run well in the race, albeit I wonder whether Aintree might suit him better.The winner didn't need to improve on - or perhaps even match - his best form, a nine-length defeat of Nietzsche at Wetherby. That horse has since franked the form by beating newcomer Project Bluebook at Catterick, himself an interesting staying Flat recruit from a yard that does well with juvenile hurdlers.To put the Doncaster form into some context, Zig Zag - who like Lord Justice and Landofhopeandglory is housed at Joseph O'Brien's yard - never raised a challenge to Cliffs Of Dover and finished almost 12 lengths adrift off level weights. He'd previously received a four-length beating, in receipt of 7lb, from his most illustrious stablemate.Landofhopeandglory's form also ties in with impressive Cork winner Dinaria Des Obeaux. She sauntered into the lead on her hurdling debut and first start for Gordon Elliott last Sunday having jumped very well bar for small mistakes at the second and second-last.Tout Et Permis and Alcander were left trailing 29 lengths and more behind; the latter had finished within five lengths of Landofhopeandglory at Fairyhouse on his previous start with the former almost seven lengths further adrift. Tout Et Permis got squeezed up slightly in a pincer movement at the third last but rallied like an improving stayer.Beaten favourite Tree Of Knowledge jumped poorly and lost a shoe. Bracklin Princess may have made her headway too quickly. Papal Motel and in particular Landsman caught the eye for future reference. However, there didn't look to be a great deal of depth behind the smart winner, who clocked a good time.Assistant trainer Olly Murphy admitted he was "pleasantly surprised" with Dinaria Des Obeaux. Owners Gigginstown Stud do not always find irresistible the seductive wiles of the Cheltenham Festival but fillies Apple's Jade and Petite Parisienne (both trained by Mullins) have represented them in the Triumph in the previous two years. The widespread 20/1 massively underestimates her.Finally Tyrell won Warwick's juvenile hurdle last Thursday in the style of a stayer. Wearing the blinkers he habitually donned on the Flat - but absent on his NH debut at Exeter - he made the running, jumped pretty well and galloped on strongly. He stayed two miles and preferred a sound surface in his former discipline."It was softer than he'd like but Tyrell learned plenty from Exeter. The blinkers certainly helped - they just get him to focus. He's essentially a galloper. We might leave him now until the spring as he's a good-ground horse," said trainer Alan King.

December 7, 2016

Landofhopeandglory strengthened his claim to being the best juvenile hurdler we've seen in Britain or Ireland so far this season by extending his unbeaten run to three in Fairyhouse's Grade Three last Sunday. As a smart Flat recruit, he'll certainly not lack for experience when lining up for the JCB Triumph Hurdle next March for which he is best priced at 8/1.He travelled and mostly jumped well; when he met an obstacle imperfectly, he was clever. He was flanked on both sides when coming to challenge Irish debutant Bapaume at the second last, with Mega Fortune also ranging up on his outer. He jumped it less cleanly and exited less quickly than Bapaume but Geraghty only needed hands and heels to get back on terms come the last. Thereafter, three reminders were sufficient to assert. He isn't the sort of horse to put in more work than is strictly necessary.Geraghty commented: "It rode like a decent race. It was a bit tactical and Ruby [Walsh, on Bapaume] was trying to dictate from the front, which we were all aware of, but when you have the horse it's always much easier. He missed the second last but I made his mind up going to the last and he winged it. He's shaping up to be a Triumph Hurdle horse."Trainer Joseph O'Brien, who in practice trained last year's Triumph winner Ivanonvich Gorbatov under the auspices of his father's licence, contrasted their profiles: "Ivanovich went to Christmas for his maiden while this lad is after having three runs already. They are different models and it's hard to compare the two of them because they aren't similar types really."O'Brien is now considering running Landofhopeandglory again over Christmas and it would informative to see him in a more strongly paced contest.Bapaume's hurdling in France was said to be error-strewn but he jumped well on his debut for Mullins bar for an awkward mistake at the critical last. He may be best suited by a sound surface and by going further than either of the other principals; he very much got the run of things out solo on the lead.Mega Fortune jumped stickily and got tired from the effort of keeping on terms with the leaders in between the final two flights but kept on well.However, Aintree's juvenile fillies' hurdle also produced a performer worthy of top billing in ravenous galloper Evening Hush. She and Paul Moloney made their intentions clear from the outset and yet, rather than stagger home in soft ground under such aggressive tactics, this filly would have kept on galloping all the way to Liverpool town centre had Moloney not persuaded her to take things easy near the line.Time-analysis comparisons with the other hurdle events on the card only serve to underline what a classy achievement this was - briefly, you would expect her to have slowed down far more markedly than she did given the pace she set off at.She will probably always need soft ground to be this devastating and her rivals may have underperformed under such rigorous examination but don't underestimate her ability.At Sandown the previous day, Dino Velvet got off the mark over hurdles for Alan King after having made a highly creditable debut behind Defi Du Seuil in a Cheltenham Grade Two last month that sadly ended with a tired tumble at the last.His jumping still requires some polish - in particular, he made mistakes at each of the last two flights when moving through to take control of this race. He settled better than last time however, with rider Wayne Hutchinson able to get him covered up from the second hurdle - necessary tactics according to his trainer.King also commented: "I like the way Dino Velvet finished off the race and he will have learned plenty from that. I think over the first few he was remembering his fall at Cheltenham last time and he was green over the last two but the way he powered up the hill pleased me."For those who followed the well-backed Imari Kid closely on the Flat, it was no surprise to see him fight Josh Moore for his head and have nothing left with which to finish off his race here. He faded into sixth but is a talented horse and will win races over hurdles for his shrewd yard.Not long now until Shark Hanlon's frequent-flyer points entitle his horses to complimentary hay in the first-class lounge. Linger has crossed to the UK four times already this season and after his latest wide-margin success at Market Rasen last Thursday his trainer suggested they'd be back again in March. "I'll give him a break now and train him for the Triumph," he said.Linger cost Hanlon just £1,800 at the Doncaster sales in January, following three unplaced runs for Mark Johnston and Godolphin as a two-year-old. Since then, he's already raced seven times over hurdles, including successes at Tipperary and Ludlow.On this latest occasion, he conceded upwards of 7lbs to an 11-strong field (with rider Liam McKenna's 7lb claim helping to take some of the strain), took a prominent position from the outset and quickened away on the approach to the second last. He was a little scrappy at the final two hurdles but never looked remotely under threat. However, his form still lies some way below the level required to be competitive in Cheltenham's Grade One.Behind Linger in this order, Regal Gait and the fillies Folly Bergere and Hepburn all made encouraging debuts. The runner-up, a 13.5f winner for Simon Dow at Chelmsford, got outpaced before the home turn but stayed on to snatch second. The third, who was still improving as a thorough stayer on the Flat, tried to go with the winner and looks capable of winning for the first time if tightening up her jumping. Hepburn was also a maiden on the Flat but will need further than two miles.

November 30, 2016

A smart-looking juvenile carried the two-tone green silks of Munir and Souede to victory on his UK debut at Newcastle last Saturday. Domperignon Du Lys was the most professional in the five-strong contest, despite being the least experienced of the key players.This ex-French bumper winner settled relatively well behind the steady pace set only reluctantly by Nietzsche and Danny Cook once everyone had spent several seconds looking at each other at the start. For a debutant, the winner's hurdling technique was impressive.His only mistake of note came when the leader drifted left across him three out and blundered to boot, meaning there wasn't much room on landing. Following that minor blemish, Jacob switched his mount immediately left to lead narrowly on the bridle by the next.Nietzsche had previously run at least as well when second to the doughty Cliffs Of Dover at Wetherby but was let down by his jumping here. He's a four-time winner on the Flat who stays 1m5f. The drifter So Celebre's best Flat form is at 1m2f and 10lbs inferior; he refused to settle on his second start over hurdles but probably ran better than on his debut.In a fog-shrouded contest at Gowran on the same day, Champagne Pat was a gritty and, others thought, fortunate victor. Four rivals departed at the first obstacle, one of which (the well-backed Easy Pass) then proceeded to bother the winner on the lead in a variety of ways, from hampering him at the fifth last to squeezing and bumping him at the penultimate flight.Easy Pass owed him one therefore and repaid the debt promptly when carrying wildly left the smooth-travelling Niven and rallying Skeaping at the final hurdle. The unaffected Champagne Pat kept on for a hard-ridden two-length success over the latter, seemingly much improved on his third start over hurdles, and the former, who found little after being hampered.This is form to be wary of given the conditions, the number of fallers and the fact only prominently positioned horses got involved. Who knows what went on in their wake?Earlier in the week, Coeur De Lion made a winning debut for the King yard in a manner familiar to those who've watched him on the Flat. He's a thorough stayer and needed all of Wetherby's two miles to run down fellow Flat recruit Forth Bridge near the line. There is so much more to come from the honest-hearted winner.My French correspondent says Nicolle trains a classy juvenile filly called De Bon Coeur. She's unbeaten in three starts, the latest of which was a nine-length defeat of Invicter with as much again back to the Nicholls-trained seven-length Chepstow winner Dolos in third. The time at Auteuil was smart, too. However, given various highly remunerated options exist in her homeland from April onwards, she's unlikely to pitch up for the Triumph.

November 23, 2016

The Triumph favourite, Landofhopeandglory, was in action at Punchestown last Saturday and carried a penalty for his previous win at Fairyhouse to a comfortable success, again with a stable companion as his nearest pursuer. The time was pretty good but clipping two points off his ante-post price wasn't earned.He was a bit flat-footed at some of his hurdles early on but never made a real error and was able to assert for hands and heels approaching the last. Rider Mark Walsh hinted that his mount isn't unnecessarily generous in front. "He is not the kind of horse that is going to win any race by a distance. I would say he just does what he has to do," he said.It should be noted that the horse has already doubled his Flat tally - he never again won after his debut under that code. His relish for a battle has not yet been examined over hurdles, but that will happen as he faces ever-stiffer tests. It sounds as though connections plan to give him lots of experience.Stablemate Zig Zag lacked the winner's gears and also endured his 7lb-claiming rider going from sitting to hitting, with an at-times high whip action, within four strides. This was the horse's eighth start over hurdles and he had quite a hard race to be comfortably held. He is quietly improving at best.Tout Est Permis blundered at the second last but that was a long way out to have definitively made the difference between third and fourth. Under a hard ride with a large emphasis on the whip, New Millennnium pipped him to the former spot on his hurdles debut. Zanjabeel, a winner here in October, was too far adrift from the outset ever to hope to get involved.

November 16, 2016

McManus already holds a strong hand among the three-year-olds. In a Fairyhouse maiden last week, Landofhopeandglory led home a 1-2 for the green-and-gold-hooped silks, both of which were formerly trained by Aidan O'Brien and now reside at the burgeoning yard of Joseph O'Brien.His new trainer even rode him in races in as a two-year-old, and here he travelled well in and amongst horses, giving the odd flat-footed jump but attacking the last really well after moving into the lead on the bridle.He is a high-class recruit from the Flat, having finished second in the Group Two Curragh Cup and fourth in a deep edition of the Queen's Vase, but more importantly has already taken extremely well to hurdles. He ranges from 10/1 to 12/1 for the Triumph.His stablemate Big Ben was narrowing the gap at the line having come from further back, but never really mounted a challenge. He's far less experienced having made it to the track only twice on the Flat, including success in a late summer Curragh 10f maiden on his second start. There's quite a lot of Flat speed on the dam's side of his pedigree.Back in third, Alcander came from even further off the pace and Icario, who helped set it rather too aggressively for his purposes, showed some ability. The former seems to have been helped by a tongue-tie and looks set for handicap company; the latter was having his first run in Ireland and over hurdles since being purchased from France.Five days later and another McManus juvenile was impressing at Cheltenham. On his second start for Philip Hobbs, Defi Du Seuil won the Grade Two JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial hard held.The rain had already turned the ground from 'good' to 'soft' by the first race (on times) and the two leaders, East Indies and Red Hot Chilly, did far too much on the lead, the former stopped with alarming rapidity.The winner was patiently ridden and did everything right. He looks smart and is best-priced at 16/1 for the Triumph. The ground is likely to be quicker come the Festival but he did win (admittedly a poor race) at Ffos Las on good..In attempting to concede 4lb to winner, Diable De Sivola appeared to take a good step forward on his fourth start over hurdles. He's typical of the kind of horse trainer Nick Williams does well with.Dino Velvet was making a lovely debut when, having come to the end of his tether on his hurdling debut, he stumbled and capsized on landing after the last when in third place. In trying to give the winner a race from three out, however, he showed enough to suggest that Alan King has another decent juvenile recruit for the McNeill family and friends.The disappointment of the race was the Nicholls-trained Wealth Des Mottes, who was never going on this British debut and was ultimately pulled up.