Unibet Casino Juvenile Hurdle

Off time: 12:15 | Winning time: 4m 16.75s

Hereia^t1²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 122| D

4/1

Successful on his debut over hurdles when trained in Ireland he faced a stiff task on his GB/stable debut at Cheltenham after three months off. Tongue-tie now on for the first time as he is eased in grade but giving weight away all-round.

Form: 145

Brambledown⁶⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 108

20/1

Second on his first two starts over hurdles he proved a disappointment when quickly switched to handicaps (unable to handle the test of speed at Fakenham). Still looked rather green last time; yet to run on ground this soft though, questions remain.

Form: 226

Palladium²³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| BF

4/11

Brother to fairly useful hurdler Petit Palais; fair maiden on the Flat in a light career. Made a good impression on his first hurdles start after a break just failing to reel in a race-fit winner who got first run; could well make amends here.

Form: 2

Zarafshan¹¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss E C Lavelle

9/1

The only one of these not to have run over hurdles but was a fairly useful maiden on the Flat for Dermot Weld (shaped better than his finishing position a couple of times). Cost €26,000, could be useful in this sphere, may need the experience.

Form:

Non-Runners

Mr Chua²⁹

Weight: 10-12| Age: 4

T: M Scudamore J: R Johnson

Forecasts

Palladium (4/11), Hereia (4/1), Zarafshan (9/1), Mr Chua (10/1), Brambledown (20/1)

He never really showed his full potential on the Flat when with Martyn Meade but PALLADIUM has the potential to make a hurdler and was a little unlucky not to make a winning debut in this sphere at Warwick. With that experience under his belt he should go close to making amends here. The 6lb that Hereia has to concede to the rest of the field looks as though it could anchor him despite the drop in grade. Both Brambledown and Mr Chua have questions to answer and it may well be that the biggest danger comes from Zarafshan on his hurdling debut, he has a very similar profile to the favourite and could well make up into a hurdler.