11:40 Cheltenham

Saturday 28 January 2023

All11:4012:1012:4013:2013:5014:2515:0015:3516:10

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

Off time: 11:43 | Winning time: 4m 9.06s

Comfort Zone³²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 130

2/1

Useful Flat performer who impressed when making successful start over hurdles at Navan in November. Better form when third in Fairyhouse Grade 3 a week later and landed the odds in workmanlike fashion in a Grade 2 at Chepstow a month ago. Dixon Cove, a neck second that day, is 5 lb better off.

Form: 131

Mombasa^t²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr D Maxwell| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 125| D

80/1

Useful 17f dual-hurdles winner in France (latterly at listed level) who changed hands for €250,000 in July. Nowhere near that level both starts for current connections so has a lot to prove.

Form: 1142

More Felons^t²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: P J Brennan| T: M F Harris| OR: 130| C| D

5/2

Useful on the Flat and looks set to reach an even higher level over hurdles, leaving behind the bare form of his Sedgefield win when landing 8-runner Cheltenham Grade 2 in November (by 2¼ lengths from Perseus Way). Tongue tie on and continued the excellent work when defying a lofty mark on the AW.

Form: 11

Active Duty²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Luca Morgan| T: B Pauling

50/1

Fairly useful maiden on Flat (stays 1½m) in Ireland. Sold out of Stephen O'Donoghue's stable for 60,000 in October. Had wind surgery ahead of hurdles debut and promising start when third amidst inexperience at Ludlow 3 weeks ago. Big step forward needed in this company, though.

Form: 3

Jupiter Du Gite^h²⁸

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

3/1

Hooded/tongue strap on when debut third in a French bumper last spring and he caused a major upset when making all on British/hurdles debut at Newbury last month. That performance is backed up by the clock and he's a smart juvenile in the making.

Form: 3-1

Dixon Cove^t³²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 125| D

4/1

Placed all 3 starts in France (including in Grade 3 company) and having transferred to Paul Nicholls, she won her first 2 starts at Hereford and Aintree. Closed down the strong-travelling winner Comfort Zone at Chepstow a month ago and now 5 lb better off. More to come.

Form: 32-3112

Naeva^h1,t1²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Adam Wedge| T: Alexandra Dunn| D

150/1

Fair form in France, winning 3 claiming events in France (2 hurdle, 1 chase) since October. Strong suspicion she may prove vulnerable at this level of competition on her British debut, though.

Form: 611712

Non-Runners

Fils De Roi³²

Weight: 11-0| Age: 4

T: F O'Brien J: Jack Hogan

Forecasts

Comfort Zone (2/1), More Felons (5/2), Jupiter Du Gite (3/1), Dixon Cove (4/1), Fils De Roi (25/1), Active Duty (50/1), Mombasa (80/1), Naeva (150/1)

If there's a runner here with the ability to be a factor in the Triumph itself it's surely JUPITER DU GITE, who lowered the colours of a well-touted Nicky Henderson runner on his British debut at Newbury and there was certainly no fluke about that performance despite his unflattering SP. Comfort Zone is already a winner at this Grade 2 level but he didn't have much in hand come the line with Dixon Cove closing fast and that rival may reverse the form this time on these terms.