William Hill Victor Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle

Off time: 12:50 | Winning time: 3m 50.5s

Quel Destin⁵¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: S Bowen| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 146| D

11/10

Hard to fault his record for this yard (won four of five) including two Grade 2's and a Grade 1 last time out. Showed a really good attitude when winning last time out by a neck from an odds-on favourite at Chepstow (2m, soft); hard to discount.

Form: 121111

Torpillo^h⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 145| D

11/8

Unbeaten over hurdles (twice in GB; both at Sandown on testing ground); has won both his starts in this country by wide margins (23L & 22L). Usually leads but this will be a far more testing proposition; smart prospect, more improvement to come.

Form: 1-11

Capone⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: G Sheehan| T: C J Mann| OR: 120| D

10/1

Useful maiden on the Flat in Germany at up to 1m4f; showed plenty of promise on his hurdling debut (Doncaster Grade 2; thrown in at deep end). Given an easier opportunity on his second hurdles start winning easily at Ludlow; more needed here though.

Form: 41

Fanzio^h1³²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: Paul O'Brien| T: R Hobson| OR: 113| D

14/1

Showed ability without winning in French bumpers before getting off the mark over hurdles for this yard on his second start; only a little improvement required from his debut. Jumping proved a little sketchy and this is a much tougher proposition.

Form: 324531

Forecasts

Quel Destin (11/10), Torpillo (11/8), Capone (10/1), Fanzio (14/1)

Very hard to split the two main protagonists in this with the official ratings favouring Quel Destin by 1lb but TORPILLO may just have the greater scope for improvement as he steps up in class. Both of the trainers of these two have taken the race before with Nigel Twiston-Davies winning the prize last year and Paul Nicholls landing the spoils with the redoubtable Frodon in 2016. Capone and Fanzio have a tough task at the weights to crack the main two but the former is preferred in the battle for the minor place having seen the back of Quel Destin before on his debut at Doncaster.