Juvenile Hurdlers 2012/13

[Tuffers]

Tomorrow’s Ludlow contest centers around Bangor winner Tidal Way and Nicky Henderson’s second juvenile of the season in Amoralist. Waving could be of some interest on his breeding given his one good flat run whilst French flat winner Vasco D’Ycy is something of an unknown quantity whom connections will be hoping to fare better than stablemate Chendiyr.

I’ll be particularly interested to see how Amoralist runs as we tried to buy him at Doncaster sales.

Edit: I see he’s a non runner but holds an engagement next week.

[Bachelors Hall]

This afternoon sees the first graded race of the season and it is an absolutely mouthwatering contest with all of the entries standing their ground. Paul Nicholl’s Far West and Nicky Henderson’s Vasco Du Ronceray have the strongest form seen in Britain this year whilst Mcvicar and Dovils Date put their 100% records on the line. Roc D’Apsis is the most intriguing newcomer whilst Shelford is a newcomer with a solid pedigree.

Mcvicar 3/3

Auetaler

2nd Oddbins Handicap Hurdle (154), Aintree 2000
Shelford 2/2

Gibb River

1st Bet365 Handicap Hurdle (144), Sandown 2012*
Dovils Date 2/1

Hollow Tree

1st Finale Juvenile Hurdle (G1), Chepstow 2012
Far West 2/1

Present Bleu

1st Handicap Hurdle (120), Exeter 2001
Foster’s Road 3/2

Thinking Twice

3rd Lanzarote Hurdle (138), Kempton 1996
Vasco Du Ronceray 2/1

Nelson Du Ronceray

1st Novices’ Hurdle, Ayr 2007**
Outback 2/1

Helensburgh

1st 3YO Hurdle, Punchestown 2004
Shabra Emperor 4/3

Corniche

2nd Handicap Hurdle (115), Uttoxeter 2000***
Roc D’Apsis 4/1

Irenella

1st Prix Wild Monarch (Listed), Auteuil 1992
Flashman 2/1

Narciso

1st Novices’s Hurdle, Wetherby 2005

*Also 2/2 with Goblet Of Fire and 3/2 with Mon Michel
**Also 2/1 with Gloria Victis
***Corniche 13th in his Triumph

Sires

Shelford – Galileo (11)
Mcvicar – Tobougg (7)
Far West – Poliglote (3)
Vasco Du Ronceray – Al Namix (2)
Flashman – Doyen (2)

Some fifteen minutes later, there’s a juvenile at Punchestown with a sadly disappointing turnout for a race on such a card. Money Spider had a messy time of things en route to a good third at Thurles behind Everything Zain and subsequent Cork winner Brog Deas and has very much the strongest form on offer. Arthur Moore’s Positive Vibes won by four lengths on the flat off a low rating and would be the most interesting newcomer.

Money Spider 2/1

Battle Warning

1st Pertemps Handicap Hurdle (132), Cheltenham 2003
Positive Vibes 2/3

Locksmith

7th Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (G1), Cheltenham 2004
Harrier Exhibition 4/1

Northern Galaxy

4th INH Novice’s Hurdle (G2), Fairyhouse 1998*
Mad For Road 3/2

Didifon

3rd Handicap Hurdle (110, listed), Galway 2001
Dayrina 1/1

Galilean

3rd Maiden Hurdle, Kilbeggan 2008
Fast On 3/2

Mountain Snow

2nd Handicap Hurdle (104), Galway 2006

*Also 3/1 with Glitter Grey

Sires

Mad For Road – Galileo (11)
Money Spider – Danehill Dancer (3)
Positive Vibes – Nayef (3)
Fast On – Verglas (2)
Dayrina – Whipper (1)

[Tuffers]

Far West certainly cemented his place at the top of the juvenile tree yesterday. Even though there are undoubtedly more good horses to be seen in this sphere, it’s going to take a very good one indeed to lower his colours.

[Bachelors Hall]

Far West certainly cemented his place at the top of the juvenile tree yesterday. Even though there are undoubtedly more good horses to be seen in this sphere, it’s going to take a very good one indeed to lower his colours.

You’re absolutely right. Yesterday’s race was a deeply satisfying affair with two blatantly high ranking juveniles pulling a country mile clear of a decent field. Following Wednesday’s compliments to the Aintree form, one would have Far West, Vasco Du Ronceray, Handazan and For Two as the leaders in Britain thus far. After Triumph trial, Paul Nicholls stated that Far West would be his current leader though interestingly, Ruby Walsh was reluctant to split him with Sametegal.

Tomorrow takes us several grades down to Leicester for a fillies race which is, to be fair, a reasonable contest for the sphere. Madiera Girl has her first start for Jonjo O’Neill after a fair first start over hurdles and some improved subsequent flat form. Cufflink represents Donald McCain and comes here off the back of two wins on the flat including a Salisbury claimer at which she changed hands for £16,000. Allusive Power has the strongest British form on offer following her promising debut at Warwick where she was runner up to Juno The Muffinman and had Ironically and Isola Bella in behind.

Isola Bella 1/1

Grumeti

1st Anniversary 4-Y-O Hurdle (G1), Aintree 2012
Madiera Girl 3/3

Lounaos

4th Champion Hurdle (G1), Leopardstown 2007&2008 1st G2 10th
Cufflink 2/1

Ela Agapi Mou

1st Handicap Hurdle (126), Newbury 1998
Ironically 3/2

Bangalore

2nd Finale Juvenile Hurdle (G1), Chepstow 1999
Miss Conduct 5/4

Power Pack

1st Navan Races Hurdle, Navan 1995
Allusive Power 1/1

Font Of Wisdom

1st Maiden Hurdle, Ballinrobe 2012

Sires

Madiera Girl – Bachelor Duke (2)
Allusive Power – Verglas (2)
Miss Conduct – Overbury (1)

One hour later is a selling hurdle open to three year olds of which two are set to take up the engagement. Rano Pano was a cosy winner of a poor Ludlow seller last time whilst Song Of Joy has some placed flat form along with a couple of distantly related decent horses to her name.

Song Of Joy 4/2

Bumble Boy

1st Free Handicap Hurdle, Chepstow 1973*
Rano Pano 3/3

Quartino

1st Grade C Handicap Hurdle (114), Listowel 2008

*Also 4/2 with Positive 1st 1987 Scottish Champion Hurdle.

Sire

Song Of Joy – Oratorio (1)

[Bachelors Hall]

Ironically jumped better than the rest and it told at the end of the race as she stayed on past Miss Conduct who herself set a good gallop and ran her race. Cufflink was the obvious disappointment and simply doesn’t look like a hurdler.

Tomorrow’s maiden at Folkestone looks a decent one for the course and grade. The two horses who grab the attention are Sir Fredlot and Spider Zagato. Sir Fredlot’s Sandown second is the strongest hurdles form on offer. He comfortably beat Coup De Grace, While You Wait and Asparella in that race and on a line through Feb Thirtyfirst, holds Dollar Bill by several lengths. Spider Zagato won a heavy ground mile and a half maiden from a John Oxx inmate with the pair pulling ten lengths clear of the remainder. Following a disappointing start of the season for High Chaparral, he would represent his sire’s best chance thus far of finally getting on the scoreboard.

Dollar Bill 3/5

Royal Bonsai

1st Summit Juvenile Hurdle (G2), Doncaster 2011
Asparella 2/1

Pacha Du Polder

1st Conditions Hurdle, Enghien 2011
Petersboden 2/1

Dancing Pearl

1st Handicap Hurdle (120), Doncaster 2005
Shamrocked 2/1

Secret World

2nd Novices’ Hurdle, Taunton 2011
While You Wait 2/1

South Leinster

2nd Novices’ Hurdle, Newcastle 2011
Jaja De Jau 1/1

Jau

1st Maiden Hurdle, Hereford 2009*
Sir Fredlot 2/2

Waldvogel

1st Novices’ Hurdle, Musselburgh 2011
Naael 2/1

Tarrock

1st Novices’ Hurdle, Chepstow 1996
Oh So Charming dam

Charmatic

1st Novices’ Hurdle, Uttoxeter 2006
Coup De Grace 1/1

Fair Attitude

7th Prix Cambaceres (3yo, G1), Auteuil 2007**
Spider Zagato 2/2

Cima Prince

1st Premio Prime Siepi Hurdle (3yo listed), Merano 2009

*Also 1/1 with Graduation Night
**Also 2/1 with Lasting Grace, 1st Prix Wild Monarch 1993

Sires

Spider Zagato – High Chaparral (13)
Shamrocked – Rock Of Gibraltar (7)
Dollar Bill – Medicean (4)
Jaja De Jau – Sakhee (4)
Sir Fredlot – Choisir (3)
While You Wait – Whipper (1)
Oh So Charming – Kayf Tara (1)

[Tuffers]

Slightly off topic but I’m still waiting for Dylan Thomas’ second runner over hurdles. There are three of his offspring due to make their racecourse debuts in NH Flat races this week, though, so it may be that the NH scene will be graced by a few more of his progeny in due course.

[Bachelors Hall]

I noted three Dylan Thomas horses who joined jumps yards following the HIT sales. Namely Daneking who’s joined Willie Mullins, Swnymor who went to Tim Vaughan’s and Welsh Bard who’s now with Donald McCain.

The maiden at Hexham tomorrow doesn’t look a strong one but it’s trappy all the same. Kealshore Again finished ahead of Fine Kingdom at Sedgefield in September but Fine Kingdom has the benefit of a more recent run and is proven on the soft ground. The two newcomers have the better flat form and are also proven on a softer surface but each have disappointing runs to bounce back from.

The Young Master 5/2

Scolardy

1st Triumph Hurdle (G1), Cheltenham 2002
Madam Lilibet 2/1

Cape Express

1st Handicap Hurdle (125), Aintree 2012*
Kealshore Again 4/3

Balanak

1st Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle (G2), Kempton 1995
Fine Kingdom 4/1

Souabe

2nd Prix Jacques d’Indy (G3), Auteuil 1983
Joshua The First 3/1

Hear A Nightingale

5th Novices’ Hurdle, Windsor 1991

*Also 3/2 with Lisaan

Sires

Fine Kingdom – King’s Best (2)
Joshua The First – Kheleyf (1)

Immediately following the Hexham contest is another maiden at Fairyhouse. Blood Cotil makes his debut for Willie Mullins after a couple of runs in France whilst Casual Creeper and Hazariban look to continue their improved form. Shabra Emperor makes his eighth start over jumps.

Crystal Wings 3/2

Jack The Giant

1st The Ladbroke (127 listed), Ascot 2007
Hazariban 2/2

Handazan

1st Introductory Juvenile, Aintree 2012
Jackemil 1/1

Conclave

2nd Pertemps Hurdle (113), Leopardstown 2010
Shabra Emperor 4/3

Corniche

2nd Handicap Hurdle (115), Uttoxeter 2000
Blood Cotil 2/2

Prince Picard

1st Prix Rohan (listed), Auteuil 2011
Casual Creeper 4/1

Lion Hunter

4th Introductory Novices Hurdle, Newbury 2004

Sires

Crystal Wings – Hawk Wing (3)
Jackemil – Bachelor Duke (2)
Blood Cotil – Enrique (2)
Hazariban – Kahyasi (1)
Casual Creeper – One Cool Cat (1)

[Bachelors Hall]

Juvenile action returns to Gowran Park tomorrow with a maiden hurdle. The four horses with hurdles experience aren’t anything out of the ordinary and the race revolves around the two newcomers, each of whom being former Aga Khan horses. Both Vedani and Diakali have similar levels of form on the flat but with the Willie Mullins yard firing on all cylinders, Diakali will be strongly fancied to join Blood Cotil in the winners circle and provide Sinndar with his first juvenile winner of the season.

Wot A Shot 2/1

Mistinguett

1st Cleeve Hurdle (G1), Cheltenham 1998*
Spot The Pro 2/1

Nawamees

1st Handicap Hurdle (130), Wetherby 2004
Vedani 3/3

Young Poli

1st Prix La Barka (G2), Auteuil 2010
Danequest 3/1

Valedictory

1st Handicap Hurdle (122), Kelso 1999
Crouching Harry 2/1

Train Of Thought

1st 4YO Hurdle, Galway 2012
Diakali 4/3

Petuntse

1st Handicap Hurdle (103), Musselburgh 2002

*Mistinguett 2nd in her Triumph

Sires

Spot The Pro – Barathea (7)
Diakali – Sinndar (5)
Vedani – Dalakhani (4)
Crouching Harry – Tiger Hill (3)

[Tuffers]

Timform have updated their ‘Top Ten’ ratings. Here are the juveniles rate above 120:

143p FAR WEST
135p FOR TWO
134p VASCO DU RONCERAY
127 HILALI
126p SAMETEGAL
124 GRAND GOLD
121p HANDAZAN
121 FISHER

[Bachelors Hall]

I’d imagine that Diakali will be joining that 120+ list after that performance. Along with Our Conor, it’s nice to see some classy prospects emerging in Ireland.

[Bachelors Hall]

After going the best part of a week without a juvenile hurdle, the three year olds are back in force with two highly intriguing contests tomorrow at first Newbury then ten minutes later near the Scottish capital.

The Newbury contest has thrown up decent horses in the past such as Smad Place, Chapoturgeon, Crack Away Jack and Turko and this year’s renewal looks up to scratch. At 85,000gns, Bold Cuffs was one of the most expensive prospective juveniles to go under the hammer during autumn and makes his debut for Colin Tizzard. Saphir Du Rheu makes his British debut and though described as a chasing type by his trainer, the same comment applies to For Two who’s already made a promising start. Phillip Hobbs saddles his first juvenile of the season in former Michael Stoute inmate Pistol and these three newcomers are set a reasonable benchmark by Vasco d’Ycy and Cropley.

Bold Cuffs 3/2

Desert Quest

2nd Elite Hurdle (160 G2), Wincanton 2006*
Cropley 2/1

Nishamira

2nd Handicap Hurdle (129), Warwick 1998
Isobella 4/2

Tiananmen Square

2nd Champion Hurdle Trial (G2), Haydock 1994**
Khan Of Khans 1/1

Esporao

1st Novices’ Hurdle, Ludlow 2011
Hector’s Choice 1/1

Cullentry Royal

2nd Maiden Hurdle, Clonmel 2012
Saphir Du Rheu 1/1

Cebtuare Du Rheu

2nd Prix Finot (3YO listed unraced), Auteuil 2011***
Pistol 2/2

Herald Angel

1st Handicap Hurdle (88), Fontwell 2010
Chella Thriller 2/1

Erinella

2nd Handicap Hurdle (88), Sligo 2003
Vasco d’Ycy 1/1

Sun Des Mottes

7th Novices’ Hurdle, Hereford 2011

*Also 2/1 with Scorned
**Also 4/2 with Oregon Trail and 4/3 with Dusky Warbler
***Also 2/1 with Ponte Novu

Sires

Pistol – High Chaparral (13)
Cropley – Galileo (11)
Saphir Du Rheu – Al Namix (2)
Chella Thriller – Chevalier (2)

Musselburgh’s second juvenile contest of the season casts two decent recruits from the flat in the shape of Lucinda Russell’s Hallmark Star and Richard Fahey’s Docs Legacy against Wetherby winner and course and distance runner up Asteroid Belt and John Quinn’s Kashmir Peak who made a highly promising debut at Market Rasen when readily disposing of Dont Take Me Alive by nine lengths.

Ferndale 4/2

Blackstairmountain

1st Champion Novice Hurdle (G1), Punchestown 2010*
Kashmir Peak 4/1

Beldale Star

2nd New Year’s Day Hurdle (listed), Windsor 1990
Hallmark Star 2/2

Tarxien

2nd Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (G1), Aintree 2002**
Docs Legacy 2/1

Lightning Strike

6th Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle (G1), Cheltenham 2008
Lone Foot Laddie 3/3

Weather Front

1st Handicap Hurdle (115), Stratford 2009
Cruachan 4/3

Considine

5th Handicap Hurdle (108), Punchestown 2007
Zambezi Tiger 3/1

Bunkers Hill

4th Handicap Hurdle (88), Clonmel 2006
Asteroid Belt 2/1

Blue Streak

1st Claiming Hurdle, Plumpton 2003

*Also 3/2 with Hora
**Also 4/3 with Quick

Sires

Kashmir Peak – Tiger Hill (3)
Hallmark Star – Nayef (3)
Zambezi Tiger – Tiger Hill (3)
Docs Legacy – Ad Valorem (1)

[Tuffers]

I’m looking forward to the Newbury contest. It will certainly sort the men from the boys.

[Bachelors Hall]

For those interested, King’s Wharf, one of the better early juveniles, begins his new career in a 1m2f maiden at Dundalk in little over an hour and a half (20:10).

[Bachelors Hall]

Fairyhouse plays host to Ireland’s first graded juvenile hurdle of the season this afternoon. Outside of Willie Mullins’ two recent newcomers, it features this season’s leading Irish three year olds. Our Conor and Stocktons Wing both represent this season’s leading sire, Jeremy, and would be the strongest candidates to take the prize.

Stocktons Wing 1/1

Desert Quest

2nd Elite Handicap Hurdle (G2 160), Wincanton 2006
Brog Deas 5/1

First Audition

2nd Imperial Cup (11-2), Sandown 1966
South South West 3/4

What’s The Verdict

2nd Champion Novice Hurdle (G2), Ptown 1997
Our Conor 1/1

Gidam Gidam

1st Handicap Hurdle (124), Market Rasen 2007
Dayrina 1/1

Galilean

3rd Maiden Hurdle, Kilbeggan 2008

Sire

Dayrina – Whipper (1)

[Bachelors Hall]

Tomorrow’s Catterick juvenile has been won in the past by decent types in Kudu Country and La Vecchia Scuola and this year’s edition looks likely to throw up another nice sort. Moidore and Right To Rule bring the best hurdles form to the table and whilst Moidore’s Aintree third is the strongest individual strand, he is held by Right To Rule on a strict line through Suraj. Forster Street has been placed on his last two outings and should again run his race. Eight horses are set to make their hurdles debut and three stand out on flat form. Ruacana represents the Bloomfields outfit and as well as holding the strongest flat form held by any of these, he was also very consistent and will have no issues handling soft ground. Richard Fahey’s Docs Legacy is another who will appreciate the soft surface whereas the ground may be an issue for the ex Luca Cumani trained Totalize.

Ferndale 4/2

Blackstairmountain

1st Champion Novice Hurdle (G1), Punchestown 2010*
Moidore 2/2

Border Castle

1st Scottish Champion Hurdle (140 G2), Ayr 2008**
Right To Rule 1/1

Simenon

3rd Champion Novice Hurdle, Punchestown 2012***
Ma Kellys 3/3

Give It Time

2nd Tara Hurdle (G2), Navan 2009****
Totalize 5/2

Her Honour

5th Stayers’ Hurdle (G1), Cheltenham 1995
Docs Legacy 2/1

Lightning Strike

6th Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle (G1), Cheltenham 2008
Red Seal 1/1

Deep Purple

2nd Tolworth Hurdle (G1), Sandown 2008
Feeling Good 3/4

Lady Arpel

2nd Champion 4yo Hurdle (G1), Punchestown 1996
Pelican Rock 4/2

Perfect Venue

8th Supreme Novices 1999
Ruacana 3/2

Saibot

2nd Galway Hurdle (G2), Galway 1995
Forster Street 2/1

Easy Wonder

3rd Conditions Hurdle, Dundalk 1995
Saffa Hill 2/1

Treeko

2nd Novice Hurdle, Sedgefield 2009
Blades Lad 6/3

Qualitair Pride

3rd Juvenile Hurdle, Leicester 1996
Leyland 1/1

Lucky Breeze

2nd Juvenile Hurdle, Sandown 2011

*Also 3/2 with Hora
**Also 4/4 with Chief Yeoman
***Also 2/2 with Aigle D’Or
****Also 4/5 with Jim Thorpe

Sires

Moidore – Galileo (11)
Right To Rule – Rock Of Gibraltar (7)
Red Seal – Haafhd (4)
Ruacana – Cape Cross (4)
Blades Lad – Haafhd (4)
Forster Street – Acclamation (3)
Saffa Hill – Tiger Hill (3)
Leyland – Peintre Celebre (3)
Docs Legacy – Ad Valorem (1)
Feeling Good – Shamardal (1)

[Bachelors Hall]

Ruacana was a very nice winner today, jumping well for the most part and always holding the runner up. Totalize and Docs Legacy also made nice debuts coming well clear of the remainder although it must be noted that Right To Rule, who dropped out as if something was amiss (ground no reason for such performance)and Moidore, who jumped several of his flights in a woeful fashion, both ran below par. True to his pedigree, Red Seal stepped up considerably on his flat form and should find a small race at some point.

Two more intriguing contests featuring decent looking newcomers take place at Market Rasen and Clonmel tomorrow. Brian Ellison forked out 160,000gns for Mashaari making him the second most expensive juvenile purchased at the sales. John Quinn’s Calculated Risk, a half brother to King’s Quay by Motivator, himself a son of King’s Quay’s sire Montjeu, is the other interesting newcomer. The opposition for these two is headed by Ludlow winner Haymarket and Alan King’s Rayadour who looks to put his Sandown disappointment behind him.

Extremely Alert 2/2

Jack Cool

1st Grade B Handicap Hurdle (136), Fairyhouse 2011
Mashaari 4/2

Chivalry

3rd Agfa Hurdle (listed), Sandown 2005*
Calculated Risk 1/1

Kings Quay

1st Elite Hurdle (133 G2), Wincanton 2007**
Rayadour 2/1

Rayshan

1st Lanzarote Hurdle (125), Carlisle 2006
Rhyme Royal 1/1

Secret Edge

5th Champion 4yo Hurdle (G1), Punchestown 2012
Tresabella 3/3

Viaduct Joey

4th Handicap Hurdle (118), Clonmel 2011
Watt Broderick 2/3

Medicinal

5th Conditions Hurdle, Fairyhouse 2007
Haymarket 2/1

Red Wine

9th Triumph Hurdle (G1), Cheltenham 2003
Bountiful Catch 3/1

Ermine Sea

2nd Maiden Hurdle, Fontwell 2009
Only Orsenfoolsies 1/1

Royal Opera

1st Juvenile Hurdle, Market Rasen 2011
Chendiyr 2/1

Moon Mix

1st Maiden Hurdle, Limerick 2007
Blades Lad 6/3

Qualitair Pride

3rd Juvenile Hurdle, Leicester 1996

*Also 1/1 with Raajih
**Also 2/2 with Statim

Sires

Chendiyr – Red Ransom (4)
Blades Lad – Haafhd (4)
Extremely Alert – Nayef (3)
Rayadour – Azamour (3)
Watt Broderick – Hawk Wing (3)
Calculated Risk – Motivator (2)
Haymarket – Singspiel (1)

Twenty-five minutes later at Clonmel, Willie Mullins attempts to maintain his perfect record with his juvenile geldings this season with Fatcatinthehat looking to join Blood Cotil and Diakali in the embryonic Triumph picture. He is joined by Gigginstown’s first juvenile of the season in Volt Sun who ran second in a French bumper to Paul Nicholls’ Varom who has since placed at Haydock. The three hurdlers with experience have all been placed in Ireland but their form isn’t very strong and the two main newcomers wouldn’t have to be too out of the ordinary to share this race between them.

Son Of York 4/3

Verasi

1st Lanzarote Hurdle (130), Kempton 2007
Hurricane Jojo 2/1

Saticon

2nd Adonis Juvenile Hurdle (G2), Kempton 2009
Hello Humpfrey 3/3

Duty

1st Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle (G3), Fairyhouse 2007*
Crouching Harry 2/1

Train Of Thought

1st 4YO Hurdle, Galway 2012
Fatcatinthehat 2/1

All Gong

9th Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (G1), Cheltenham 1999**
Hazariban 2/2

Domino Dancer

2nd Handicap Hurdle (116), Stratford 2011***
Mudaffar 4/3

Crafty Roberto

3rd Free Handicap Hurdle (121), Chepstow 2012
Dayrina 1/1

Galilean

3rd Maiden Hurdle, Kilbeggan 2008
Volt Sun dam

Flaming Sun

cross country chase winner

*Also 2/1 with Karasi
**Also 4/2 with Shelbourne
***Also 2/2 with Handazan

Sires

Mudaffar – Red Ransom (4)
Crouching Harry – Tiger Hill (3)
Hazariban – Kahyasi (1)
Dayrina – Whipper (1)
Volt Sun – Network (1)

[Tuffers]

Ruacana was a very nice winner today, jumping well for the most part and always holding the runner up. Totalize and Docs Legacy also made nice debuts coming well clear of the remainder although it must be noted that Right To Rule, who dropped out as if something was amiss (ground no reason for such performance)and Moidore, who jumped several of his flights in a woeful fashion, both ran below par. True to his pedigree, Red Seal stepped up considerably on his flat form and should find a small race at some point.

More proof that jumping ability over hurdles is absolutely critical. I think there is a tendency not to give enough weight to whether hurdlers are good jumpers when assessing a race but it’s one of the most important factors in these juvenile races.

Just a quick update on Poetic Power. Weather permitting, he will have his third run over hurdles on Sunday at Warwick. After that, he is unlikely to run over hurdles until the Spring but we’ll consider giving him a run on the AW if he’s on good terms with himself after Sunday.

[Author]

Posts