12:40 Cheltenham

Saturday 26 January 2019

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:10

JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Finesse)

Off time: 12:42 | Winning time: 4m 7.3s

Adjali³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 147| BF| D

5/4

Looked potentially smart when trained in France and made a winning debut for this yard at Market Rasen in December. Only narrowly denied in a subsequent Grade 1 at Chepstow and expected to be hard to beat, despite having to concede weight to all.

Form: 21-312

Nelson River⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Bannister| T: A W Carroll| OR: 135| CD

13/2

Moderate performer on the Flat but has looked a different proposition over hurdles, winning at Bangor on return before landing the Triumph Trial at the International Meeting last month. Clearly going the right way at present.

Form: 11

Dogon⁸²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls

12/1

Won on chase debut in France last time out on final start for Francois Nicolle. While he's an interesting recruit for this yard, he was win-less over hurdles in France and others make more appeal this time.

Form: 3-3231

Fakir D'Oudairies²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien

4/1

Showed bits of ability in France and improved markedly on debut for this yard at Cork when winning a 22-runner maiden. A couple in behind that day have run okay since and improvement expected here.

Form: 4-264F1

Fine Brunello³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: B J Geraghty| T: J P O'Brien

25/1

Bumper winner in France before finishing fourth of 17 at Limerick on yard debut on Boxing Day in behind a stablemate. Must improve to have a say here.

Form: 7144

Fukuto²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: T Scudamore| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 125

100/1

Improved from debut to win at Argentan in October and while he finished runner-up on UK debut at Sandown last time, he finished a long way behind the winner; others look more likely contenders in this.

Form: 412

Our Power³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 135| D

7/1

Useful on the Flat and has progressed over hurdles, winning two of his three starts. Particularly impressive last time out on soft ground at Newbury and still gives the impression there's more to come. Main danger to the top-weight.

Form: 121

Pagero⁸⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill

33/1

Won twice at around 1m2f, both with cut in the ground when trained in France, and was fifth in Listed company when last seen in November. Cost €190,000 since, and brings a decent level of ability with him to this hurdles/stable debut.

Form:

Protektorat⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| BF

12/1

Runner-up in Listed company in Flat but didn't get far when sent off favourite here at the International meeting last month, unseating his rider after a bad mistake. Remains with potential.

Form: 2U

Forecasts

Adjali (5/4), Fakir D'Oudairies (4/1), Nelson River (13/2), Our Power (7/1), Protektorat (12/1), Dogon (12/1), Fine Brunello (25/1), Pagero (33/1), Fukuto (100/1)

ADJALI is expected to be hard to beat for last year's winning trainer Nicky Henderson who has won four of the last six renewals of this race. Only narrowly denied last time out in a Grade 1, he rates as the most likely winner now returned to more suitable ground. Fakir D'Oudairies makes some appeal at likely bigger odds while Our Power rates as the main danger to the selection after his impressive success at Newbury last time.