Racecards
12:40 Cheltenham
JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial (Registered As The Prestbury Juvenile Hurdle) (Grade 2) (Class 1)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £30,000 added
- Winner: £17,085
- 2nd: £6,411
- 3rd: £3,210
- 4th: £1,599
- Form 1112
- Age 3
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey D A Jacob
tracked leaders, outpaced before 3 out, weakened next, tailed off
- Form 121
- Age 3
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer D T Hughes
- Jockey B J Cooper
tracked leaders, went 2nd 2 out, 1 length down last, soon ridden, kept on same pace, well held flat
- Form 11
- Age 3
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey B J Geraghty
led, headed narrowly 2nd, led again 3 out, 1 length clear when not fluent last, ridden and stayed on well flat
- Form 223231
- Age 3
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer A W Carroll
- Jockey Mr J Hamer
in touch on outside, pushed along after 3rd, lost place and behind next, struggling 4 out, soon ridden, plugged on to take moderate 4th towards finish, no chance with leaders
- Form 211
- Age 3
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, outpaced in 4th after next, soon no chance with leaders, weakened into 6th towards finish
- Form 3-11
- Age 3
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
with leader, led narrowly 2nd, headed 3 out, ridden and outpaced in 3rd after next, no chance with front pair before last
- Form 2
- Age 3
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Nick Williams
- Jockey R Johnson
tracked leaders on inside, outpaced before 3 out, soon lost place, no chance with leaders from next
Verdict
Guitar Pete surprisingly failed to confirm Listowel running with Lindenhurst at Gowran last month but bounced back in emphatic style at Down Royal. However, ROYAL IRISH HUSSAR was equally impressive when beating five previous winners in a Listed contest at Wetherby earlier this month and is fancied to complete the hat-trick as Art Mauresque was a little disappointing when beaten at Auteuil last time and has his first start here for Paul Nicholls. Azza has scope but beat little of note at Carlisle and Herod The Great also faces his stiffest task to date. Akdam already looks exposed but Abracadabra Sivola will have learned plenty from his run at Newton Abbot, though may need further than this.
Formwatch
Art Mauresque (FR) (10-3) 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Vicenzo Mio (10-3) at Auteuil(FR) 2m 2f hdl sft in Sep.
Guitar Pete (IRE) 11-4 (11-5) Chased leader in 2nd, challenged 2 out, soon led, pushed out to assert before last, kept on strongly run-in, won at Down Royal 2m 3yo hdl beating Gerdago (10-12) by 7l, 8 ran.
Royal Irish Hussar (IRE) 5-2fav (11-6) Made all, clear before 2 out, ran on strongly, won at Wetherby 2m Listed hdl 3yo (1) gs beating Cadoudoff (11-6) by 14l, 7 ran.
Akdam (IRE) 10-11fav (11-0) Made all, ridden and hard pressed run-in, rallied and held on well towards finish, won at Musselburgh 2m 3yo hdl (4) gd beating Gold Chain (10-5) by 1/2l, 4 ran.
Herod The Great 5-2 (11-5) Made all, clear before 2 out, jumped left last, stayed on well, ridden out, won at Warwick 2m 3yo hdl (4) gs beating Cafe Au Lait (10-12) by 6l, 6 ran.
Azza (FR) 1-6fav (10-12) Made all, clear from 2 out, kept on, won at Carlisle 2m 1f 3yo hdl (4) sft in Oct beating Most Honourable (10-12) by 6l, 7 ran.
Abracadabra Sivola (FR) 9-4 (10-12) Behind, reminder before 6th, went 3rd before 2 out, soon ridden, chased winner before last, kept on and no impression, 2nd of 7, 9l behind Harristown (10-9) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f 3yo hdl (4) gd in Oct.