Juvenile Hurdlers 2021/22

[Bachelors Hall]

GL Ian. you have the advantage of not drifting in and out of consciousness while looking at tomorrow’s race (I presume!)

The preview for tomorrow’s race at Hereford started off as an essay. However, before long, I was struggling to keep my eyes open and my thoughts were everywhere and nowhere. Whether it’s because I’m tired from a long day at work, or it’s simply a dire race is anybody’s guess. For what it’s worth, here’s all I managed.

The average winning juvenile hurdler at Hereford has a seasonal RPR of just 109.63 while the average participant has a seasonal RPR of 80.03. These figures are each in the bottom ten of British and Irish racecourses. The course is set to host its second running of this fillies’ maiden hurdle, the first of which was won by Raffles Gitane who went on to place in the Grade 3 handicap at Cheltenham’s April meeting. This year’s renewal, however, looks par for the course with the four experienced runners failing to win from a combined fifteen starts, and the four newcomers bringing either poor form or patchy profiles. Just north of the city described by Richard I as “Hereford in Wales”, the course is right-handed, mostly flat and has a sharp home turn. Its average winning DIs of 1.25 median, 1.42 mean, are on the higher side of standard, although its completion rate of 81.36% is the tenth lowest in the country. The circuit also provides a decent jumping test with a clear round rate of 95.34%; a test which is especially for hurdling debutants whose rate of 90.91% is lower only at Lingfield and Taunton amongst the British racecourses. The going has most recently been reported as soft, heavy in places, with strong winds potentially offsetting the forecast overnight showers. Pump It Up has been shown to set decent gallops in the past and while a couple of rivals have raced prominently, she will most probably be responsible for setting a decent pace.

Fiamette chf Jo Davis f3-0-0 (56) 48 j5-0-0 (88) 87 94
Free Eagle (Dr Fong){13-e}(0.57) 2/1 High Stratos 3rd 2m4f Conditions Hurdle, Punchestown 2015
Finishing eighth on all three starts on the all weather last winter, Fiamette’s flat mark of 56 exceeded her accomplishments. Leaving Anthony Carson for Jo Davis, she joins a trainer who has had a couple of winning juveniles, although none of her twelve with official marks improved on their flat form. Free Eagle is a positive as he enjoyed three winners from his first crop, and the damline has several winning jumpers nearby in High Stratos (2/1), Poet (2/1), Vanishing Point (2/2) and Alum Bay (3/1). There were few signs of her bettering her flat showings on her jumps debut at Stratford back in August. Racing in a first time visor, she gave chase to the two leaders and was not beaten off until dropping away towards the end of the back. Her hurdling was slow and steady to begin with, but she jumped better when ridden into her flights. Fiamette returned after a sixty-six day break for a warm looking contest at Ffos Las where she started at 150/1 having opened at 66/1. Tracking the leaders from the outset, apart from skewing slightly at the first and clipping the second, there was little complaint to be made of her jumping. She was still in contention turning into the straight and only began to lose touch approaching the penultimate flight from where she would finish a seventeen length fourth. Fiamette was helped by the underperformances of more fancied runners, with the subsequently pattern class Moka de Vassy finishing behind, but it still marked a career best. Her next outing came at Fontwell in early December where she was supported during the day from 33/1 to 10/1 before settling on 14/1 at the off. Her jumping took a slight regression as she hit the top of the second and got in very close to the sixth before finding herself comprehensively outpaced by the front three in the market. Nevertheless, she only failed by a neck to snatch third on the line and was twenty-eight lengths clear of the remainder. Shaping very much like a stayer, Fiamette’s most recent outings have come in handicaps over intermediate distances at Fontwell later in December, and at Ffos Las a fortnight ago. In the former contest, running off 98, she attracted support during the day and started the 9/2 second favourite. Setting off in mid division, she took closer order on the second circuit but made no impression from leaving the back before flattening the penultimate flight and finishing a twenty-four length fifth. Dropped to 92 for her latest appearance at Ffos Las, where she again attracted support. She jumped decently, if tight on occasions, and though shaken up at the end of the back, was back on the bit when close and untidy three from home. Though not a serious mistake, it did put an end to her effort and she would lose fourth close to the line where she finished just over twelve lengths behind the winner. This was a step back in the right direction and though Hereford would typically be on the sharp side, the conditions and pace angle are similar to what she enjoyed at Ffos Las in October. Furthermore, the visor which saw her run well on that occasion has been reapplied and the yard has had a winning juvenile at the course. Fiamette would have little more than a few pounds to find on best form, and with her rivals being less likely than herself to enjoy these conditions, a decent performance would not be unexpected.

Hang Up bf Fergal O’Brien f4-0-1 (65) 71
Lope de Vega (Authorized){1-l}(1.11) 3/1 Colophony 1st 2m3½f Handicap Hurdle (105), Huntingdon 2008
Wearing a hood when making her racecourse debut at Sandown in June, Hang Up looked in need of the experience but was beaten by less than five lengths when sixth of eight behind a couple of next time out winners. Kept to around ten furlongs at Wolverhampton a month later, she ran to a similar level when a four and a quarter length third in a novice fillies stakes. Hang Up was unable to sustain these efforts in a couple of appearances at Kempton in October where she was beaten twenty-three lengths in an eleven furlong maiden, and the best part of twelve lengths in a twelve furlong handicap off 68. Staying in the colours of Malcolm Denmark, she left James Fanshawe, whose former inmates have a 14.81% winner to runner rate in the division, to join a Fergal O’Brien yard with a respectable rate of 23.81%; as well as a first time rate of 15.38% with flat recruits. Sire Lope de Vega’s winner to runner rate of 17.39% is little better than fair and his progeny’s improvement rate of 28.57% is modest. Nevertheless, Authorized is doing well as a damsire (29.41% WR) and the third dam has produced a pair of winning jumpers in Colophony and Demographic. Hang Up will have to account for her two disappointing efforts in the Autumn, but her Summer form is just about the strongest brought from the flat. Her profile is such that a decent showing can not be discounted, although Hereford is not the most forgiving for a newcomer to the sphere.

Madam Malarkey brf Nigel Twiston-Davies b2-0-0 (-) – 42
Pether’s Moon (Presenting){1-l}(0.33) 1/0 Grenfell P-T-P Final Hunters’ Chase, Cheltenham 2009
Juvenile hurdlers who started off in bumpers have just a 2.36% first-time strike rate and none of the seven such trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies were able to oblige. Nevertheless, Mahogany Blaze did finish third on his hurdling debut for the Naunton based handler; whose winner to runner rate with juveniles is a healthy 32.56%. His latest former bumper horse to try her hand in the sphere is Madam Malarkey. The daughter of a prolific pointer, she will be her sire’s first representative in the division. Madam Malarkey is the niece of winning jumpers Shining Light and Brave King, good chaser Castle Warden appears at 3/1 on the damline, while Triumph third Al-‘Alawi and Toirdealbhach came from the fourth dam before becoming sires.
*Started favourite but ran no kind of race at Warwick on debut
*43l last at Taunton on second outing

Miss Curiosity bf Seamus Mullins b3-0-1 (-) 87
Life Force (Zerpour){u}(0.33) 2/1 Los Amigos 2m5½f 0-140 Rated Chase, Fairyhouse 2015
First juv for Life Force – very unlikely type although full-brother Vale Of York has had winners in France
2/1 Tom Horn 2/1 Shoughall’s Boy 3/1 Jamalade 4/1 Fairy King, State Case 4/3 Coole Avenue
ex-Bumper horses poor in juvs but improved on debut to finish second at Newbury in December – easy winner followed up at Cheltenham next time but form in behind not working out.
Seamus Mullins 12.07% WR, 3.64% FTO

Pretentieuse bf Deborah Faulkner j2-0-0 (-) 56 58
Great Pretender (Limnos){17-b}(0.45) 1/0 Limaranta 70.0 2nd Prix Bournosienne (G3,3yH), Auteul 2006
https://www.equidia.fr/chevaux/pretentieuse
(Patrice Lenogue) €3,000 Arqana Summer
Pretty good pedigree, poor form, cheap purchase.
0.5 Ri 57.0 1.3800m HcC 0.5 Emila Romagna 55.0 1.4yC Ploermel 2/1 Limarauth, Mango Bay 3/1 Rash Moment 4/1 Actinium

Pump It Up chf Richard Spencer f12-1-3 (49) 59 j4-0-1 (93) 83 98
Charming Thought (Pivotal){1-l}(2.08) 3/1 General Eliott  1st 2m½f Handicap Hurdle (100), Market Rasen 2011
***Preview from Doncaster where she finished second having very much got the run of the race
“Though rated just forty-nine on the flat, Pump It Up was at least able to win in that sphere, landing a twelve furlong heavy ground handicap at Windsor off 46 back in August. Another representative of Charming Thought, the closest winning jumper on the damline is handicapper General Elliott at 3/1, while 1989 Kennel Gate winner Arden shows up at 4/1. Unfancied on her hurdling debut in a fillies’ maiden at Fakenham in late October, Pump It Up started prominently but lost her place towards the end of the first circuit. One paced in midfield during the second lap, she plugged on for a forty-two length fourth, jumping reasonably if slightly awkward in the process. Her latest appearance came in another fillies’ maiden at Leicester six weeks ago where she started at 28/1. Leading at a reasonable clip, she jumped well apart from clipping the fourth. Joined by her rivals towards the end of the back, she was outpaced by the market leaders at the top of the straight, plugging on to finish a fourteen length fourth of seven. This probably marked a new career best for Pump It Up although the form has been done no favours by the first three who were each outclassed next time. An honest filly who can jump well, Pump It Up could be competitive off her mark of 86, although that would not be enough to give her a winning chance here.”
*Subsequently flopped when attempting same tactics in better race at Lingfield last time.

Simply Red chf Oliver Greenalll b2-0-0 (-) 57 j2-0-0 (-) 74 90
Proconsul (Motivator){22-d}(0.76) 2/1 Teela 4th Juvenile Maiden Hurdle, Sedgefield 2010
***Preview from Doncaster where she finished fifth, making little impression on Tiki Fire
Another to have started her career in junior bumpers, Simply Red was beaten thirty-four lengths at both Market Rasen in October, and Aintree in November. Her fourth dam produced a winning novice hurdler in Resist The Force, but closer relatives achieved very little over jumps and sire Proconsul has yet to have any winners of any description. Simply Red made her hurdling debut at Market Rasen early this month where she started at 100/1. Held up in the rear, making a few minor errors, she never remotely threatened to get involved although she did pass a few beaten horses in the straight to finish a twenty-three length fourth. The form looked quite modest beforehand and has been done few favours by those who have been out since.
*stable has been quite tepid recently but does have two winners and place from seven juveniles at Hereford

Tiki Fire bf Neil King f7-0-3 (64) 70 j4-0-1 (92) 90 96
Awtaad (Big Shuffle){1-h}(1.46) 3/2 Dictum 1st 2m3f Novices’ Chase, Haydock 2007
***Preview from Doncaster listed race where she finished tailed off
Initially with Karl Burke, Tiki Fire placed twice as a two-year-old at Haydock and Newcastle and would largely hold her form on four outings this term without troubling the judge. Selling for 10,000 guineas at the Tattersalls August Sale, she joined a Neil King yard with healthy winner to runner and improvement rates of 31.25% and 54.05% respectively. Sire Awtaad is another first crop sire, but while the Cape Cross line does get juveniles, Awtaad himself is not the tallest, was untried beyond a mile and his three runners to date have achieved little. Tiki Fire is quite tenuously related to Don Cossack (4/3) though the decent chaser Dictum is a slightly closer relative at 3/2. Making her hurdling debut in a fillies’ contest at Fakenham, Tiki Fire was quite weak in the market. Racing in a first time hood, she never left the rear of the field and made a couple of serious blunders before finishing a tailed off last. With such a lamentable effort along with the yard’s juveniles rarely firing first time, better could have been anticipated for her next outing which came at Warwick early last month. Starting at 100/1, Tiki Fire was once again waited with, hopping over the first and doing so again when landing atop the second. She was tight at the third but was better at the next and was in the process of making decent headway when briefly losing her footing on landing at the fifth. Though she picked up the bit soon enough, her leaving her hind legs in the sixth and stumbling badly cost her valuable ground and momentum. Tiki Fire did her best to get back within shouting distance but the race was gone by the time she entered the straight and after being slow away from two out, would merely plug on to finish fourth. Her effort was better than the bare result suggests and though easy in the market beforehand, she went into last month’s Doncaster contest with feasible prospects. Racing in midfield, Tiki Fire was some way off the pace turning for home, but was still able to get first run on the reopposing Galah. Her round of jumping was not as clean, as she clipped the first, was untidy at the second, tight at the fourth and was not smoothly away from three out. Headed by Galah approaching the last, without having caught the runaway leader, she could only plug on behind the front pair, four and a half lengths clear of the remainder. Tiki Fire was not disgraced on this occasion and posted her best performance to date over hurdles. However, there is no reason why she might reverse placing with Galah and the yard’s horses have not been running to form. 
*(yard has since been in better form)
*Yard one from two at Hereford (both prior to 2010)

Strong prospects
1. Fiamette
Reasonable prospects
2. Tiki Fire
3. Pump It Up
4. Hang Up
Feasible prospects
5. Simply Red
Moderate prospects
6. Miss Curiosity
7. Madam Malarkey
Negligible prospects
8. Pretentieuse

[IanDavies]

Cracking stuff, Simon, especially in the circumstances!

Thank you.

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[sporting sam]

Crikey this a hard one!!
Hope you are well BH, great summary.
I am leaning towards Tikki Fire, Hang up, Pump it up. Most likely a small combination forecast.
Stable’s record speaks for TF quietly while Fergal O’Brien is capable of readying one. Pump it up and TF have collaborative form.
Best wishes from
Sam.
P.S.
Perhaps the one to take out of this race will
be the french runner PRETENTIEUSE who has looked awful on two home races finishing out the back.
Will likely show improvement in this ordinary race and be seen to good effect in maidens and novice races in future.

[IanDavies]

Emboldened by success with Pump It Up today, I – somewhat boringly – cannot see beyond Interne De Sivola at Fontwell Park tomorrow.

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[Bachelors Hall]

Thanks guys and well done Ian. Your awakeness proved a most telling asset!

Dropped a total bollock on yesterday’s preview by downplaying Pump It Up’s chances due to her having the run of the race at Doncaster… Even though I suggested she may also get an easy lead in this race.

Have managed to stay awake long enough to write a more complete one for Fontwell since it is a better race, but don’t take this to mean that I am any more alert to the world!

The average winner of Fontwell’s February juvenile hurdle has a seasonal RPR of 124.5 median, 129.7 mean, making it a good ten pounds stronger than the average contest held at the venue. While still a class 4 affair, the race has still made ripples on the festival season with Blazing Bailey and Mobaasher (winners in 2006 and 2007) placing in the Triumph, and Ski Sunday and Christopher Wood (third in 2009 and first in 2019) placing in the Anniversary Hurdle. Mr Thriller (first in 2009), Monsieur Lecoq (third in 2018) and Pur de Sivola (third in 2007) are other graduates who would go on to reach respectable heights. This year’s renewal is unlikely to affect the Triumph market but it is not a race without merit. The five strong field is headed by three previous winners; two of whom made promising starts to their hurdling careers before disappointing at Cheltenham last time, and the third making good on his potential when leaving previous form behind with an emphatic win at Hereford. A decently priced flat recruit and a well bred jumps type, each with a bit to find on hurdling evidence, complete the line-up. The circuit at Fontwell is a sharp, flat, left-handed one although due to the distance of juvenile contests and the propensity for the ground to get testing, the winning DIs of 1.39 mean, 1.06 median are within the lowest third of British and Irish venues. These figures drop further to 1.06 and 0.91 for this particular contest. With the going described as heavy, soft in places, and two of the previous winning hurdlers doing so having made all, there will be few hiding places for non stayers despite the small field size.

Triumph Odds
Interne de Sivola 66/1 (75)
Silver Shade 100/1 (610)

Fred Winter
Interne de Sivola 33/1
Silver Shade 33/1
Hayedo 40/1

Hayedo bg Gary Moore f4-0-3 (-) 84 j3-1-1 (115) 114 118
Sea The Moon (Sholokhov){7-c}(0.65) 3/1 Hill Fairy 1st Lombardstown Mares Novice Chase (L), Cork 2008
https://www.pronoturf.es/ficha-caballo/c58dbcc04143b4253160b8d619314a2e
https://www.equidia.fr/chevaux/hayedo
Starting his career in Spain before racing in France, the German bred Hayedo is set to have his fourth outing over British hurdles. After fetching €58,000 as a yearling, Hayedo twice ran for Patrik Olave at La Zarzuela, Madrid late in the season, placing second on each occasion. Hayedo’s third flat outing is much more easily quantified. Having his first run for Edouard Monfort, Hayedo reappeared in a quite valuable maiden contest at Longchamp over 2000m in May. Keen in the early stages, he pulled himself into the lead and settled better as a result. He would maintain his advantage to the distance and though outpaced by the winner, would keep on gamely to hold second. The form is of a reasonable standard with the length and a quarter winner rated 96.8, and the third rated 88. Hayedo failed to match this form on his sole subsequent outing which came over 2200m at Lyon the following month. Though running a similar kind of race, he did not settle quite so well and while he fought on bravely after being headed turning for home, he found himself swamped in the final strides, finishing just under two lengths behind in fourth. There was encouragement for Hayedo’s new vocation in the pedigree. Sea The Moon (Allmankind, Tritonic) has a winner runner rate of 28.57% and an improvement rate of 50%. Sholokhov is untried as a damsire but 30% of his own progeny win in the sphere and the third dam is the matriarch of winning jumpers Hill Fairy (3/1), Hey Little Boy (3/1) and North Hill (3/2). His first run over hurdles came at Fontwell in November where he was backed into 9/1 having opened twice that price in the ring. Initially held up, he moved into midfield during the first circuit and was tracking the leaders going out second time round. However, he began to lose touch nearing the end of the back and was ultimately beaten thirty-three lengths. His caused was not helped by some novicey jumping which grew more dramatic as the race progressed, closing his round by hopping through his hurdles. Hayedo reappeared at Sandown early last month and was once again subject to outside support, trimmed from 16/1 to 10/1 at the off. He was sent into the lead and though he was still prone to hopping through the top of his flights at times, it was a much better round overall. He ceded the lead approaching the penultimate flight and had little left after the last, losing a remote second close to the line. Four weeks later, Hayedo returned in a maiden hurdle at Hereford; drifting from 4/1 to 8/1 during the day, before returning to 9/2 in the ring. Taking a keen hold, Hayedo went straight to the front while demonstrating good improvement in his jumping. He was neat when ridden into the first, but though rather tight at the second, was fluent from thereon. His rivals were all in trouble at the cross section and by the time he entered the straight, he was half-a-dozen lengths clear. Hayedo was steady before hopping through the top of the last, but the runner-up made an even worse blunder which allowed him to storm to a thirteen length success. His task was made easier by the favourite pulling too hard, but the form is close to his flat best and there may be even further to come. He was withdrawn from an intended engagement at Ascot in a contest where the yard had previously sent Goshen, Beat The Judge and Casa Loupi. Nevertheless, Gary Moore also has a strong record with juveniles at Fontwell with a strike rate of 28.26% including two winners and six placings from nine runners in this particular contest. Though there is a concern over his racing keenly, said trait is less pronounced than with his main rivals. If all form is taken at face value, he does have several pounds to find on Interne de Sivola. Nevertheless, he is improving with each run and there is the potential for more from the enhanced stamina test. Hayedo has the least to answer for overall and based on his Ascot entry, is held in decent regard for a trainer that enjoys plenty of success at the track.

Interne De Sivola bg Nick Williams j3-1-1 (130) 121 125
Noroit (Cadoudal){u}(0.33) 0.5 Ut De Sivola 2nd Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (G1), Punchestown 2012
Regular readers will be aware that previously unraced horses have a modest record in the sphere, with such horses having a winner to runner rate of 7.27%. Said readers will also be aware that this maxim does not necessarily apply to those hailing from George Nympton as their winner to runner rate is 30.77%. Interne de Sivola is one of this season’s contributors to this healthy figure and like many of his ilk, has a pedigree which justifies the Williams’ anomaly. By Noroit, who has three winners from six with British and Irish trained juveniles, Interne de Sivola is a half-brother to five winning jumpers in Ut de Sivola, Sivola de Sivola, Artifice Sivola, Task Force Sivola and Radsoc de Sivola; all of whom showed useful form as youngsters. Their dam, Kerrana, won twice as a four-year-old at Auteuil, is the auntie of another winner in Dark Caviar, and the niece of New Will and Quick Will. The top-class pair of My Will and Unioniste appear at 3/2 on Intene de Sivola’s damline. His racecorse debut came at Warwick in early November where he drifted during the day’s exchanges before being clipped into 11/1 in the ring. Initially making the running, Interne de Sivola was content to track a couple of more eager leaders on passing the stands where he would remain to the end of the back straight where he found himself outpaced. In the deep end of the contest, he was able to keep on with the front pair without threatening either, and finished fourteen lengths clear of the remainder. His first public round of jumping was not flawless as he was slightly steady at the third, close to the sixth where he skewed quite badly before hopping over the last. Nevertheless, it was a respectable round overall and the form is decent with the winner, in This World, leading the British contingent on the Triumph market before being ruled out for the season, and the runner-up Graystone scoring twice in good company. A month later at Cheltenham, Interne de Sivola made good on this promise by readily landing the spoils by five and a half lengths. The form was boosted when the second and third, Yorksea and Galah, won next time and save for being awkward at the last, Interne de Sivola put up a decent round of jumping. Cosy as his victory was, there is a possiblility that he was somewhat flattered as he was able to set a steady tempo and get first run on a field which was littered with messy in-running stories. This performance was enough to see him start the 5/1 third favourite in the Grade Two Finesse hurdle back in the Cotswolds three weeks ago. However, his tendency to take a firm grip was exacerbated by a constant challenge for the lead and his jumping suffered as a result; as he reached and hopped over the second and fifth, hit the top of the sixth and flattened the penultimate flight which cost him vital momentum and sealed his retreat. This drop in class will be appreciated and if his win at Cheltenham is taken at face value, he sets a clear standard on form. However, he may be unsettled by a contested lead and his Cheltenham success is a stone superior to his other outings.

Silver Shade grg Milton Harris f9-2-2 (73) 80 j2-1-0 (-) 103 111
Kendargent (Alzao){4-b}(0.57) 2/1 Teenage Idol 1st 2m4f Handicap Hurdle (124), Ayr 2012
Milton Harris has enjoyed an outstanding season to date in the division and much of this is down to some astute buying at Tattersalls at the July and Autumn sales. Aliomaana, Knight Salute, Genuflex and Galah have all won this term having gone around the Newmarket ring, with no price tag exceeding 21,000 guineas. Silver Shade cost 18,000 at the Autumn Sale, leaving Mark Johnston with two wins and a mark of 73 to his name. Finishing down the field during three outings at two, Silver Shade returned from his winter break sans testicles. The shedding of two stones reaped immediate results as he finished second over a mile and a half in a Lingfield handicap off 58 before landing a double at Newcastle and Southwell in March and April. Both contests were held over the same trip with neither being especially competitive. Silver Shade had only three rivals to defeat at Newcastle and while he was a most convincing winner, the subsequent form has not worked out. At Southwell, had only the one opponent who he beat in a canter to justify 30/100 favouritism. There is more substance to his Sandown second next time out where he raced over a heavy fourteen furlongs off 73. Although he was no match for Zinc White, he still had enough to fend off the challenge of Pied Piper for second; the latter, who was giving away thirteen pounds, is now a leading candidate for the Triumph. Lacking the pace for a steadily run class 2 on good to firm at Doncaster, Silver Shade was last seen pulling up immediately after the start of a Musselburgh handicap in late June. In the event, he had actually fractured his pelvis, although while unable to run again on the flat for his initial connections, was sound enough to get past the Tattersalls vets with full disclosure. Since 2004/05, thoroughbred family 4-b has had no winning juveniles from six, although this does not appear to be an endemic issue as Three Kingdoms was a useful sort who won three times at four while König Ulrich, a distant relative at 6/4, won the Prix Maurice Gillois (the Arkle chase for four-year-olds) in 1989. Closer on the damline are the good German hurdler Königstreuer at 4/1 while uncle Teenage Idol was a fairly useful winner. Kendargent’s record in France is a solid nine winners from forty-eight, and his record across the channel became a respectable three from twelve when Silver Shade made a winning hurdling bow at Kempton in the middle of last month. In what was a weak looking contest for the venue, he was allowed to open at 11/2 in the ring before being trimmed to a slightly more appropriate 9/2. Opting to sit towards the rear in a slowly run affair, Silver Shade took a bit of a grip for much of the journey but was travelling with purpose on turning into the straight. Keeping the front pair firmly in his sights as the race developed, he jumped into the last with a share of the lead and though rather awkward at the last, quickened well enough on the run-in to score by a comfortable length and a quarter. Along with his being awkward at the last, he was also steady and close at the first and made a meal of getting over three out, but his good jumps were neat and economical. Moreover, while it was not the strongest looking contest on paper, the second and third did appear to maintain their form next time out. Silver Shade was thrown into much deeper waters when taking in the Finesse Hurdle a fortnight later. His task was illustrated by his 25/1 starting price and he performed accordingly. Held up towards the rear, he made a short-lived effort at the bottom of the hill but was unable to make any serious inroads and finished a thirty-five length fifth. His cause was not helped by a novicey round of jumping where he was particularly untidy at the first, fifth and seventh. Silver Shade returns to calmer waters and may also appreciate the return to a flat circuit. However, there is still a poor outing to overcome as well as a few pounds to find on both flat and hurdles form.

Harlem Soul chg Harriet Brown f8-1-2 (79) 88 j1-0-0 (-) 89 99
Frankel (Giant’s Causeway){9-f}(0.68) 3/1 Percussionist 1st Grand National (G1), Far Hills 2010
Mark Johnston is one of the most prolific suppliers of juvenile hurdlers and while only a third will maintain or improve for the switch in codes, former residents of Kingsley Park do have a solid winner to runner rate of 23.56%; a figure which increases to 32.79% for those rated 75 and above on the level. Harlem Soul is one such animal, amassing a win, two places and a final rating of 79 from eight outings. His win came at the fourth time of asking in a four-runner, twelve-furlong Ripon contest in the middle of June, in his handicap debut off an 80 perch. Tracking the leader off an ordinary gallop, he took up the running three furlongs from home and kept on well for comfortable two and three quarter length victory over Nicky Henderson’s useful juvenile Impulsive One. However, he was unable to build on this performance on four subsequent outings and though he was not disgraced in quite valuable contests at Haydock and Ascot, he did not have many excuses either beyond a questionable disposition. Sold for 40,000 guineas at the Tattersalls August Sale, he joined Harriet Brown and was gelded during the Autumn. Harlem Soul’s pedigree is strong for a flat horse; coming from a Frankel x Giant’s Causeway cross, he is a half-brother to Ispolini (Group 3 winner in Germany and Dubai), and his granddam Playful Act, a half-sister to Nathaniel, won the Fillies’ Mile. Frankel’s record with juvenile hurdlers has been only fair at best to this point and the same can be said for Giant’s Causeway as a damsire. Notwithstanding, Playful Act is also a full-sister to the classy Percussionist, who was respectable over hurdles, and the auntie of Supasundae, Distingo, Whispering Gallery and Great Bear. Harlem Soul’s hurdling debut came in a Wincanton novice a fortnight where he was an 11/1 shot. His temperament was not alleviated by his castration however as he took a keen hold and gave his flights plenty of air. Initially racing prominently, he tracked the leader for much of the contest, but lost ground on the turn for home; making no further impression and finishing tired. Harlem Soul can improve for the experience, but said improvement would have to be highly dramatic if he is to mature sufficiently to make a strong challenge in this company.

My Ticketyboo bg Chris Gordon j2-0-0 (-) 73 78
Shirocco (Subtle Power){1-b}(0.57) 2/1 Sher Beau 3rd John Durkan Punchestown Chase (G1), Punchestown 2006
As alluded to in Interne de Sivola’s profile, unraced debutants in juvenile hurdles have a modest record and when isolating Irish breds, their first time strike rate is just 1.71%. If anything can be said for My Ticketyboo’s breeding, it is that he has a proper national hunt pedigree. Shirocco has produced the likes of Annie Power and Minella Rocco, damsire Subtle Power was responsible for Lie Forrit and Highland Hunter, the dam is a half-sister to four good winners in Sher Beau, Last Goodbye, Freds Benefit and Glen Beg while coming from the same line as Givus A Buck. However, the aforementioned all started in bumpers and points while Shirocco’s winner to runner rate with juveniles is a moderate 12.50%. Chris Gordon does have a winner to runner rate of 23.33%, but his first time strike rate was just 3.57% prior to My Ticketyboo making his hurdling debut at Hereford in early January. Starting the day at 20/1, but starting the race at 50/1, he was in the rear from the outset. After jumping slowly over the first, and big and skewed over the next two, he became so detached that no more of his jumps were picked up by the cameras. Stepping up to nineteen furlongs for a Fontwell maiden at the end of last month, he raced in mid-division for the first circuit and though dropping to the rear for the second lap, was able to pass a couple of beaten rivals on the run to the last before finishing a twenty-nine length fourth of seven finishers. Though awkward over the first and last pair of jumps, he hurdled more fluently for his Hereford experience. It is not unfeasible that My Ticketyboo does have a future as a national hunt racehorse, but he would be highly unlikely to make any real impact in this contest.

Strong prospects
1. Hayedo
Reasonable prospects
2. Interne de Sivola
3. Silver Shade
Feasible prospects
.
Moderate prospects
4. Harlem Soul
Negligible prospects
5. My Ticketyboo

[IanDavies]

Yet another splendid read.

Thank you, BH.

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[IanDavies]

Interne De Sivola wins it for me if he doesn’t make a Horlicks of two out.

Battled on gamely in tiring ground after the error to be fair.

That’s racing!

It’s the Victor Ludorum on Saturday.

Takes me back to the days of Rathconrath!

Porticello wins it half the track on my numbers (stone in hand), but what do I know?

I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"

[IanDavies]

Giddy with the euphoria of identifying a winning long odds-on favourite, Krypton Gold 1.00 Market Rasen is my choice in this feast.

I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"

[GSP]

Glen Again for me if he can transfer the flat form to hurdles.

[IanDavies]

Moka De Vassy for me in the Adonis.

I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"

[gamble]

The Messiah took the Cross
I chose a lazy life
and have succeeded with distinction.
even the devil is jealous
of my sloth !

Excellence is hard to find
especially coupled with such
fine endeavour.
Keep on keeping on
It is an example to us all

[IanDavies]

Vazir for me at Newbury today.

I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"

[IanDavies]

Genuflex for me at Kelso.

I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"

[IanDavies]

Monsieur Pom Pom clear pick of the weights for me in the opener at Sandown Park tomorrow.

Hoping BH will return soon.

I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"

[gamble]

Give gamble a wide berth in the early hours BH – he can be a bit of a creep !
I am not in the serious game at the moment. It used to be a passion for me – a staple, a tenet of my very existence. I very much hope to engender the all consuming interest again, even on a slightly lower plane to feel my pulse at the very least.
Well no, I don’t want it to be an all consuming part of my life, rather part consuming and such that I can turn it on and off like a light switch. I do miss swimming to the depths, if you get my drift. A twenty foot plunge would be nice. I hope you and others enjoy the coming Festival – my time will come.

MY PREVIOUS ABERRATION
HAS BEEN NEATLY FILED
IN THE BIN

…the strange thoughts of Arthur Fraud.

[gamble]

Maybe total immersion is the way to get my mojo back
Breakfast : horse
Lunch : horse
Dinner : horse
Nightcap : No she wouldn’t be havin’ it – she’d draw the line and the bedroom door would be locked.
“There’s gotta be limits she’d say….MY RULES “

[IanDavies]

Interne De Sivola 2.20 Stratford

I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"

[Author]

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