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

4YO only | Class 1 | 2m 179y | 4 Runners | Turf

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 125

Winning hurdle debut at Uttoxeter (2m, good to soft) in October but limitations have been exposed in stronger company since and likely he'll be vulnerable once again.

Form: 134

Nassalam²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 142| BF

French recruit who started out for new yard with 2 wide-margin wins at Fontwell. Very good 2½ lengths to Adagio in Grade 1 Finale at Chepstow since. Likely even more to come and hard to beat.

Form: 2112

Sage Advice²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland

Fairly useful Flat winner In Ireland who looked a useful recruit to hurdles when making a successful start for new yard in Kempton juvenile 3 weeks ago. Looks the threat to Nassalam.

Form: 1

Yggdrasil²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: G Sheehan| T: Nick Williams

Half-brother to smart chaser Siruh du Lac. Promise when third on Sandown debut. Probably best not to judge him too harshly on his subsequent run in the Finale but he was well behind Nassalam.

Form: 35

Forecasts

Nassalam (2/5), Sage Advice (11/4), Cabot Cliffs (16/1), Yggdrasil (20/1)

NASSALAM lost his unbeaten record in Britain in the Finale but really impressed with the way he travelled through most of that contest and is very much the one to beat, although Sage Advice did win easily on his Kempton hurdle debut and could be good enough to give him something to think about.