12:40 Cheltenham

Saturday 16 November 2019

All12:0512:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3016:00

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

Off time: 12:42 | Winning time: 4m 7.58s

Mick Pastor¹⁹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 11-3| J: B J Geraghty| T: P F Nicholls

5/2

Top-class prospect from a yard that have a good record in this race; makes GB/stable debut. Won on only hurdles start so far beating 14 rivals at Auteuil by 6L from subsequent French Group 1 winner; handled soft on that occasion, sure to improve.

Form: 1

Admirals Bay¹³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: James Davies| T: Henry Oliver| BF

100/1

Fair winner on the Flat when he was with Andrew Balding at up 1m4f but given a very stiff task on hurdles/stable debut. Dam half-sister to fairly useful hurdler/useful chaser (stays 2½m) Hallings Comet; would make very limited appeal.

Form:

Allmankind^h,t⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| D

11/4

Did well to win on stable/hurdles debut at Warwick having been very free (typical trait of his). Likely to demonstrate the same tendencies here; will be fortunate to get away with the same antics in this stronger company and on testing ground.

Form: 1

Botox Has⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore

11/4

Showed promise on his French hurdling debut in a Listed event at Auteuil before making all to win at Fontwell on GB/stable debut last month. Didn't need to match his debut form (won 18L) on that occasion (jumped well enough); faces a stiffer task.

Form: 2-1

Chocks Away⁴⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: Nick Williams

14/1

Built on his debut hurdles promise at Huntingdon last time looking the sort to do even better with more experience (unraced on Flat). Has 3L to make up on Nordano from that race and this will be the most testing surface that he's encountered so far.

Form: 7-2

Green Etoile^p1⁹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: L Treadwell| T: A Ralph| D

80/1

Fair Flat performer winning at Salisbury in handicap company before taking a Hexham juvenile event on hurdles debut. Beaten in both spheres since running very poorly over hurdles last time; cheekpieces on first-time as he debuts for a new yard.

Form: 15

Nordano¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Bryony Le Clerc| T: N B King| OR: 123| BF| D

9/1

Maiden on the Flat (fair form); much better over hurdles landing back-to-back juvenile events when introduced to hurdling. Lost his unbeaten record over timber last time in a Wetherby Listed event (not disgraced); needs a real test of stamina.

Form: 113

Prefontaine^b²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 128| D

12/1

Useful Flat type (stays well) who improved for the refitting of blinkers last time to open his hurdles account when getting the run of the race at Kempton (2m, good). Now has to prove himself at this level; has shown some quirks in the past.

Form: U21

Repetitio^h³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: David Noonan| T: N J Hawke| OR: 118

33/1

The most experienced in the field; improved in a first-time hood to win a Newton Abbot handicap (third hurdles run). Beaten twice since returned to juvenile company; this look a far tougher task than he's been set before with further progress needed.

Form: 42133

Thatsmyseat^t1³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 10-5| J: Felix de Giles| T: E Clayeux

25/1

Shown some fair form in three French hurdles contests with her best run coming when second of five at Moulins in June. Didn't fare too badly when third over fences last time at Lyon Parilly (should do better in that sphere); hard to consider here.

Form: 9273

Non-Runners

Dawn Treader¹³

Weight: 10-12| Age: 3

T: Mrs S Leech J: Adrian Heskin

Forecasts

Mick Pastor (5/2), Allmankind (11/4), Botox Has (11/4), Nordano (9/1), Prefontaine (12/1), Chocks Away (14/1), Thatsmyseat (25/1), Repetitio (33/1), Dawn Treader (66/1), Green Etoile (80/1), Admirals Bay (100/1)

Paul Nicholls has a good record in this race and he looks to have another useful type on his hands here in the shape of MICK PASTOR whose level of form that he showed when winning on his hurdling debut would have been good enough to win this in four of the last five seasons. That’s not to say that there aren’t dangers with Botox Has also having some good French form to his name prior to winning well at Fontwell. Nordano who looks laden with stamina ought to relish this test and although he was beaten last time, he wasn’t disgraced at all in a race that wasn’t run to suit. Allmankind (needs to settle) and Prefontaine (blinkers need to work again) also enter the mix but do need to improve.