Juvenile Hurdlers 2014/2015

[no idea]

Well done BH spot on.
Pleased you are back.

[Bachelors Hall]

Nice one No Idea. I’ve not really been too far away, rather I’ve just been tired recently but the new sleep pattern is starting to take shape. This weekend is probably going to be a bit messy with Man City kicking off at midday but slowly slowly…

I can’t say I enjoyed yesterday’s race at all though given what happened to poor Earl’s Bridge. I suppose one can be grateful that there hadn’t been a UK fatality until yesterday but it’s still awful for the horse as well as his connections.

The world keeps turning though and the party continues at Norfolk.

The first fillies Juvenile takes place at Fakenham tomorrow and it effectively doubles as a maiden event since neither of the two with experience have won as of yet.

Dry Your Eyes

is the most experienced of the two with hurdles form and with her being a half-sister to Bayan and representing Donald McCain, her bare profile is appealing. She faded on her debut at Cartmel over an extended seventeen furlongs but her second at Perth was much more encouraging. The Perth contest looked rather tepid beforehand but the winner was runner up to Sinndar’s Man under a penalty and the fourth won his own race at Fontwell so it’s looking well in hindsight. Her own performance in that contest was a great step up from her debut as she jumped nicely throughout and plugged on after being headed at the last. Her latest start at Wetherby was slightly disappointing but she was chasing a solid gallop, was still travelling well until the penultimate flight and her jumping was absolutely fine up to the last couple at which point her race was over in any case. She does have a habit of racing a bit keenly but over this sharp two miles, that shouldn’t cause too much of a problem and she sets a solid standard here.

Moving Waves

won a Southwell handicap over a mile and three quarters and it was stamina that earned her third place on her jumps debut at Ludlow. Held up in a race ran at a rather frenetic clip, when most in front of her had ran out of steam, she was able to inherit the placing almost by default. Her jumping wasn’t too convincing either and although there’s bound to be some improvement in that department, she’d be much better suited by a longer trip on a more galloping track. The standard of the newcomers’ flat form is really not much higher than of the experienced pair so an improvement for a switch to hurdling would be necessary for all of the following.

Isabella Liberty

is the only winner amongst the debutants and her win came at Saint-Cloud in a mile and a half maiden. That performance recieved an RPR of 81 but it was off roughly that kind of mark where she was well beaten in a Clairefontaine handicap and her UK return saw her beaten by seventy four lengths at Newmarket. Her trainer Robert Eddery has sent out barely a handful of runners over jumps and although he did train a winner in World Heritage in 2011, he jumped poorly on both of his starts and won on class alone. Stablemate

Olymnia

does have some royalty in her blood and stamina won’t be a concern but her flat form is no better than fair.

Keep To The Beat

is another representing a flat trainer in Kevin Ryan and her sequences of places in July would be the strongest flat form in this field. Her latest two starts have been disappointing though and with her entered in next week’s sales, this does look more like haphazard punt than a calculated career change.

Acquaint

is the most exposed horse in the field with fifteen runs without a win to her name. After failing to cut much ice at the Hannon yard as a two year old, she’s spent this season contesting middle and long distance races where her best effort was a fourth behind Keep To The Beat in a Beverley handicap in July. She’s a full sister to fair hurdler Taste The Wine but her trainer’s three percent strike rate with hurdlers is hardly inspirational.

L Ge R

wasn’t without promise as a two year old but since finishing fifth at Yarmouth on her reappearance in April, she has been regressive and she will need a huge step up on her latest fifteen length defeat off a mark of 50 to get competitive. A rare flat runner for her sire,

Little Flo

is veritably bred for a career over obstacles. Indeed, whatever she achieved on the flat was always going to be a bonus so to speak and with that in mind, her flat form isn’t too discouraging. Her best two starts involve subsequent hurdlers – she was three lengths fourth at Bath behind Ludlow scorer Bishop Wulstan and was quick enough to finish under a length third of thirteen over nine and a half furlongs at Wolverhampton with Kempton runner up Maid Of Tuscany way behind. Admittedly, it is still pretty poor but being trained by Brendan Powell, she’s at least likely to jump and stay.

Arbitrary 1-2-3
1. Dry Your Eyes
2. Little Flo
3. Keep To The Beat

Moving Waves 3/3

Intersky Falcon

1st Christmas Hurdle (G1), Kempton 2002 & 2003
Olymnia 3/2

Royal Gait

1st Champion Hurdle (G1), Cheltenham 1992 (3/3 Contraband)
Little Flo 5/4

Texas Jack

1st Kinloch Brae Chase (G2), Thurles 2014
Keep To The Beat 4/3

Fingal Bay

1st Challow Hurdle (G1), Newbury 2011 (4/3 Ooodachee)
Dry Your Eyes .5

Bayan

3rd Coral Cup (G3,138), Cheltenham 2014
L Ge R 5/2

Juven Light

3rd National Spirit Hurdle (Listed), Fontwell 1988
Isabella Liberty 4/1

Arabian Moon

1st Handicap Hurdle (124), Cheltenham 2003
Acquaint 1/1

Taste The Wine

2nd Handicap Hurdle (112), Hereford 2012

Sires

Keep To The Beat – Beat Hollow (5)
Dry Your Eyes – Shamardal (2)
Acquaint – Verglas (2)
Moving Waves – Intense Focus
Olymnia – Teofilo
Little Flo – Midnight Legend
L Ge R – Pastoral Pursuits
Isabella Liberty – Soldier Of Fortune

[no idea]

Excellent race tomorrow at Aintree.
I was really impressed by the Pipe horse who I think will win but it will be close

[Bachelors Hall]

Agree with everything No Idea

This preview is a little short, partly because I’m going off memory and partly because I’m still peeved with the race at Fakenham. I have no problems making an error in judgement as I’ve done it several times this season already, including numerous times in the same race. However, I don’t like seeing "plot horses" in any grade or code of the sport.

Two horses who emerged from their respective debuts with blatant scope and promise. The second and third from

Starchitect

‘s Bangor race have both since finished runner up – Final Countdown at Wetherby and Guard Of Honour at Uttoxeter – whereas the value of

Unanimite

lies in what his opponents did previously. The Pipe horse does have to carry four pounds extra but the his form, at face value, does look four pounds better than that of Starchitect and whilst his quirky behaviour at Bangor can be rationalised, his honesty still needs to be proven on the track.

Witch From Rome

‘s two runners up spots are respectable and there are races in him but it still leaves him short here and that’s before the flat class is taken into account.

Cape Arrow

is here for the £382 and good luck to the connections for picking a race which would cut up like this.

Arbitrary 1-2-3
1. Unanimite
2. Starchitect
3. With From Rome

Starchitect 4/2

Vandas Choice

2nd Handicap Chase (Listed,135), Wetherby 2005
Unanimite 2/1

Barents

1st Conditions Hurdle, Lyon Parilly 2013
Cape Arrow .5

Conducting

2nd Novices’ Hurdle, Newton Abbot 2014
Guard Of Honour 4/3

The Woodstock Lady

1st Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (98), Exeter 2001

Sires

Guard Of Honour – Galileo (10)
Cape Arrow – Cape Cross (7)
Starchitect – Sea The Stars
Unanimite – Kentucky Dynamite

[no idea]

Excellent post BH and good race.
I thought Unanimite would still not have won if he had not kept jumping to his left and in fairness to the McCain horse he jumped far better than at Bangor and even allowing for the runner’s up jumping left I still think the winner would have won as he was inconvenienced at both 3 and 2 out and I could not understand why Maguire kept to the left of Unanimite when he had seen him jumping like that all down the back straight.
However it will be interting to see where these 2 are come March.

[no idea]

Diasppointing turnout for Listed hurdle tomorrow at Wetherby.
It looks like Full Day will start favourite, however on form there is little bewteen Full Day and stable companion Come on Sunshine.
Of the 2 I think Come on Sunshine will come out on top and win.
The other 3 look out or there depth.

[Bachelors Hall]

I’m almost inclined to agree with you. If the race was set to be ran on softer ground then I’d be inclined to make

Come On Sunshine

the favourite. Especially as he had a tune up on Tuesday. But with the weather being so unseasonably mild recently, I think the going tilts it in the filly’s favour. Indeed, Danny Cook takes the ride on

Full Day

and jockeys are usually decent judges. And yes, the bookies look like they’re being a bit stingy having

Bishop Wulstan

at 7/2 since through a tenuous Aristocracy and Vosne Romanee line, he has a stone and a half to find on the principals and it was a poor, tailor made race he won at Ludlow.

Magic Magnolia

has already been exposed as little better than claiming class and sole newcomer,

Sicilian Bay

will need to show substantial improvement on her twelve start.

And yes, without Top Notch and Mr Gallivanter, it is a very disappointing turnout but it is nice to see the Ellison horses take each other on all the same.

1. Full Day
2. Come On Sunshine
3. Bishop Wulstan

Bishop Wulstan .5

Gibb River

1st Handicap Hurdle (144), Sandown 2012
Sicilian Bay 3/4

Lord Jim

1st Bristol Novices’ Hurdle (G2), Cheltenham 1997
Full Day 6/4

Bright Oassis

145+ 1st Knowsley (Later "Top") Novices’ Hurdle, Aintree 1982
Come On Sunshine 4/2

Yorkshire

6th Christmas Hurdle (G1), Kempton 2002
Magic Magnolia No jumps relatives – American Bred

Sires

Sicilian Bay – Jeremy (8)
Come On Sunshine – Authorized (5)
Magic Magnolia – Azamour (4)
Bishop Wulstan – Oratorio (1)
Full Day – Champs Elysees

[TheBluesBrother]

I see that

Bonito Du Berlais

is declared tomorrow (1.00 Auteuil).

http://www.racingpost.com/horses2/cards … ceTabs=sc_

I keep on watching his last run, I have never seen a 3yo hurdler do what he does.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGjVjA1UcXQ

What did make me smile, he is running off a weight adjusted

RPR

of

168

tommorow, not bad for a 3yo

Mike.

[Bachelors Hall]

On that figure, Bonito du Berlais looks like he’ll develop into Frankel Arkle cross! Certainly a race to look forward to. Shame it has to clash with the Manchester Derby but it will be the first thing I watch when I get in. Another race competing with the clash of that Mancunian team and that American franchise will be Huntingdon’s opener.

Tomorrow’s juvenile at Huntingdon sees six experienced hurdlers take on five newcomers and with five flat winners set to line up, the race is of a fair standard. The two previous renewals of the race have been taken by the favourite and the winning stable from two years ago is represented again here.

The newcomers are probably headed by Gary Moore’s

Fennann

who was a recalcitrant sort on the flat and needed every yard of his two mile victory in a poor handicap on the flat. Those problems were evident on his jumps debut at Fontwell and re-emerged when he returned to the same track where he carried his head high when pushed along and hung after jumping the last. He stayed on for third that day and through the runner up Mercouer, whose rating increased to 113 after running in an all aged handicap, he’s probably worth a rating around the 100 mark which is reasonable enough at this level. He still shapes as though he needs further though so the two furlong drop in trip doesn’t bode well for him.

Ravenous

was inconsistent on the flat and following two lacklustre efforts at Stratford and Ludlow where stamina was his undoing, he put in his best effort to date at Kempton last time out. He took the lead on that occasion and his being the only experienced hurdler in the field enabled him to produce a bold showing. Nevertheless, his decent jumping could only take him so far as he was passed turning in by the flagrantly superior Stars Over The Sea and once again after the last by the fair-at-best Maid Of Tuscany. He will probably race prominently again but the contours of Huntingdon will not suit him as well as Kempton did.

Gladstone

was solid in the market prior to his UK/jumps debut for Warren Greatrex at Kempton but finished tailed off behind Ravenous. He sweated up beforehand and although his jumping was fine at the first four hurdles, a blunder at the fifth immediately sapped his enthusiasm and he was swiftly headed by inferior sorts. Nevertheless, he wasn’t asked any undue questions afterwards by Gavin Sheehan and was allowed to complete in his own time. Rated around 84 on the flat and an easy winner of a Maisons Laffitte claimer, he’s got as much class as any of these and is certainly capable of much better if leaving his debut behind him.

Officer Drivel

is an enigma at best given his propensity to be withdrawn and follow a solid effort with a lacklustre one. He drifted in the market before capitulating in the race at Newton Abbot, ran a very solid race under a slipped saddle at Plumpton then after receiving healthy support in the market over today’s course and distance, blew his chances by pulling himself to the front again. The services of Sam Twiston-Davies might make a difference but the overall impression of this horse is one of rank unreliability.

Symphony Of Pearls

was tailed off on her only flat start, unseated at the second at Chepstow before running around at the next obstacles whilst loose, then put in an uninspired round of jumping when well beaten in a Ludlow Claimer.

Worthy Spirit

managed to unseat his rider on his only flat start and didn’t behave particularly better when finishing well behind in a Wetherby maiden. With all the experienced runners meandering under a capricious cloud of mediocrity, the door looks decidedly open for a newcomer. Alan King won this race two years ago with the penalised McVicar and bids to repeat the dose with a newcomer with a gender specific allowance.

Nyanza

is a stoutly bred filly, closely related to Nobilita who was a decent enough four year old hurdler in France. Whilst predictably slow from the blocks as a two year old, albeit not without promise, she began her three year old career with back to back victories at Kempton over eleven furlongs. She progressed in two starts in the summer on faster ground than good which probably wouldn’t have suited and was last seen three weeks ago finishing second at Wolverhampton which would have tuned her up nicely for this event. The evidence suggests she may even do better over further but there will be no stamina doubts for her jumps debut and her trainer has already hinted that she’s being aimed at the fillies hurdle at Aintree which the yard took with L’Unique.

Loving Your Work

progressed through the spring and his good run at form culminated with a victory in a fifteen runner Newbury handicap in June where he had Nyanza behind in third. He ran no sort of race in listed company next time at Royal Ascot but though he wasn’t disgraced when last of four at Yarmouth, his last two starts on softer ground at Chepstow and Windsor have been steps in the wrong direction. Mick Channon’s filly,

Stoneham

is the last of the runners with a win to her name and that win came in early October from a mark of 50 in a Wolverhampton handicap over an extended nine furlongs. Since then, she was beaten in a classifed stakes over the same course and distance and even when disregarding her inconsistency, her best form would leave her with plenty to do.

Ferngrove

wasn’t utterly without promise in three runs on the flat as a two year old at up to seven furlongs but it wasn’t great form either and his sole start as a three year old over nine and a half furlongs in September didn’t suggest that a career over hurdles would earn his connections any money.

Pretty Mobile

is bred to be a jumper in France so last month’s debut in a Wolverhampton maiden can’t be taken as anything other than a public gallop session. Even so, she showed nothing at Dunstall Park and there are weaker contests for her to make her debut in than this one.

Arbitrary 1-2-3
1. Nyanza
2. Gladstone
3. Fennann

Loving Your Work 2/1

Jack The Giant

3rd Arkle Chase (G1), Cheltenham 2007
Symphony Of Pearls 5/3

Micko’s Dream

1st Dan Moore Handicap Chase (153), Fairyhouse 2001
Nyanza 2/1

Nobilita

1st Prix de Besancon (listed), Enghien 2008
Fennann 2/1

Trenchant

1st National Spirit Hurdle (G2), Fontwell 2010
Stoneham 5/3

Once More For Luck

3rd Handicap Hurdle (139), Sedgefield 1999
Worthy Spirit 4/1

Wing And A Prayer

1st Tolworth Hurdle (Listed), Sandown 1985 (4/4 Istimraar)
Gladstone 2/2

Wingtips

5th Triumph Hurdle (G1), Cheltenham 2012
Pretty Mobile 2/0

Goburge

3rd Prix d’Iena, Auteuil 1998 (2/1 Gorgibus)
Ravenous .5

Superciliary

1st Handicap Hurdle (108), Wincanton 2014
Officer Drivel 2/1

King Of Oriel

1st Handicap Hurdle (95), Punchestown 2013
Ferngrove 2/1

Whispering Wind

1st 4YO Maiden Hurdle, Naas 2000

Sires

Pretty Mobile – Al Namix (4)
Worthy Spirit – Shirocco (3)
Ravenous – Raven’s Pass (2)
Officer Drivel – Captain Rio (2)
Fennann – Dutch Art (1)
Stoneham – Sixties Icon (1)
Loving Your Work – Royal Applause
Symphony Of Pearls – Lucarno
Nyanza – Dai Jin
Gladstone – Mizzen Mast
Ferngrove – Rockport Harbor

[no idea]

Spot on as usual BH

[Bachelors Hall]

Cheers No Idea

I see that

Bonito Du Berlais

is declared tomorrow (1.00 Auteuil).

http://www.racingpost.com/horses2/cards … ceTabs=sc_

I keep on watching his last run, I have never seen a 3yo hurdler do what he does.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGjVjA1UcXQ

What did make me smile, he is running off a weight adjusted

RPR

of

168

tommorow, not bad for a 3yo

Mike.

I’m looking forward to seeing what you made of today’s performance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDxdbUl4qAY

If BdB was heading to Cheltenham in March, I would have him at 2/1 for the Triumph with a run because the Champion Hurdle would be a more appropriate target.

I was impressed with Our Conor when he appeared as a juvenile but Bonito du Berlais looks like a demon.

[Nenni]

BdB currently being quoted at 14-1 for the Triumph. Just need him to turn up now!

[TheBluesBrother]

Auteuil (FR

)

02-Nov-14

11:55 Arch Duchess 2m2f

115

12:25 Vezelay 2m5½f

78

01:00 Bonito Du Berlais 2m2f

117

01:30 Royale Flag 2m6f

126

02:08 Vapalo 2m2f

100

02:45 Milord Thomas 3m3½f

120

03:50 Alex De Larredya 2m5½f

81

03:20 Daliacelte 2m2f

97

Bonito Du Berlais

02Nov14   Aut 18VSft 3yHG1 101K 1/6 (12L, Champ De Bataille10-6) h 2/5F

117

12Oct14   Aut 18Hy 3yHG2 65K 1/7 (6L, Solonder10-3) 1/3F

123

23Sep14   Aut 18VSft 3yHL 34K 1/6 (6L, Saint D’Arcole10-3) 4/5F

122

08Jun14   Aut 17.5VSft 3yHL 46K 1/9 (1¾L, Magique Des Landes10-3) 1/2F

75

18May14   Aut 17.5VSft 3yHL 34K 1/11 (10L, Karelcytic10-6) 27/10

79

04Apr14   Aut 15VSft 3yH 22K 3/15 (1¼L, Le Baron Noir10-3) 67/10

60

So far on my speed figures, the British and Irish haven’t got a 3yo Juvenile within a distance of

Bonito Du Berlais

.
If you were to compare him against Brian Ellison’s recent Wetherby winner

Full Day

, his top two speed figures are only a

77

and

76

Just for the record, the best performance against the clock during the two days at Auteuil, was

Zarkander

with a figure of

138

[no idea]

Interesting race at Warwick tomorrow.
I woud think the Nicholls horse would have to be pretty good to beat Hobbs horse that ran a blinder first time up

[Bachelors Hall]

I’m busy doing the reviews for all the races I’ve missed because it makes more sense to preview races once the reviews are in… All the same, El Beau looks like an interesting newcomer in half an hour’s time (John Quinn, consistent at a decent level on flat over right trip, straightforward enough, versatile with ground). Blue Talisman looks like he can improve on his Wetherby run but the form isn’t outstanding and Al Musheer looks average but at least has experience and has shown himself to be above fodder level.

Arbitrary 1-2-3
1. El Beau
2. Blue Talisman
3. Al Musheer

[no idea]

Another winner BH-it’s a shame that you can’t preview the night before as I work and can’t get access to your tips.
Anyway your write ups are always an excellent read so please keep up the good work

[stilvi]

I am a bit puzzled as to why Bonito Du Berlais is being quoted for the Triumph. He is English owned but I haven’t read any quotes to suggest he will be doing anything other than having a French campaign in the Spring.

[Author]

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