Racecards
12:45 Cheltenham
JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial (Registered As The Prestbury Juvenile Hurdle) (Grade 2) (Class 1)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Soft, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £25,000 added
- Winner: £14,238
- 2nd: £5,342
- 3rd: £2,675
- 4th: £1,332
- Form 11
- Age 3
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 131
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
held up in touch, headway to chase leaders when mistake 4th, close 3rd and every chance 3 out, pushed along and outpaced approaching next, no extra in 4th before last, dropped to 5th post
- Form 1
- Age 3
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Tim Vaughan
- Jockey R Johnson
in touch, hit 3rd, headway to chase leaders 5th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 5th and no chance when blundered next, went modest 4th post
- Form 3-1
- Age 3
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
led and took keen hold, went right 1st, settled in 2nd before next, led again soon after next, ridden and 1 length ahead last, driven and stayed on strongly, came clear flat
- Form 13341
- Age 3
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer M R Channon
- Jockey W T Kennedy
held up in last pair, mistake 4th, hit 3 out, never involved, well behind when hit 2 out, tailed off
- Form 3-211
- Age 3
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey B J Geraghty
took keen hold, tracked leaders, went 2nd approaching 3 out, every chance next, 1 length down when hit last, no extra run-in
Flashman
15- Form 2
- Age 3
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer R A Fahey
- Jockey B S Hughes
chased leaders, mistake 3rd, mistake and lost place next, soon beaten, mistake 3 out, tailed off
Roc D'Apsis (FR)
175- Age 3
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey P J Brennan
took keen hold, held up in last pair, pushed along and outpaced after 5th, headway approaching next, went 4th after 3 out, stayed on to moderate 3rd before last, never any chance with leading duo
- Form 077737
- Age 3
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer P O Brady
- Jockey Christian Williams
chased leader, went left 1st, led before next, headed soon after 3rd, chased winner until weakened quickly 4 out, tailed off when hit 2 out, pulled up before last
Verdict
Mcvicar has taken very well to timber and has decent claims of completing his hat-trick but the concession of weight to a couple of French imports representing the top two stables in the country may prove a bridge too far. The choice is FAR WEST, who receives 4lb from the Alan King topweight. Paul Nicholls' charge was mightily impressive on his Chepstow debut when giving the impression he could take high rank in this season's juvenile hurdle echelon. He is just preferred to a similar sort in Vasco Du Ronceray for the Henderson team, a facile winner on his first start in the UK when hacking up in a poor Hereford contest. He rates a potent threat, whilst Dovils Date, a smooth scorer on his Musselburgh debut, also warrants shortlist inclusion.
Formwatch
Mcvicar 3-10fav (11-5) Made virtually all, jumped well, drew clear approaching 2 out, very easy, won at Huntingdon 2m 3yo hdl (4) sft beating Outback (11-0) by 15l, 6 ran.
Dovils Date 6-4fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, led before 2 out, clear when mistake last, kept on well, eased towards finish, won at Musselburgh 2m 3yo hdl (4) gd beating Asteroid Belt (11-5) by 11l, 8 ran.
Far West (FR) 15-8 (10-12) Tracked leader, led 4th, clear before 2 out, stayed on strongly, easily, won at Chepstow 2m 3yo hdl (4) sft in Oct beating Handazan (10-12) by 12l, 8 ran.
Foster's Road 8-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, pressed leaders next, ridden to lead bend before last, ridden and stayed on gamely, won at Fakenham 2m 3yo hdl (4) gs in Oct beating Operation Tracer (10-12) by nk, 9 ran.
Vasco Du Ronceray (FR) 1-5fav (10-12) Made all, mistake 2nd, clear 3 out, unchallenged, won at Hereford 2m 1f 3yo hdl (4) gs beating Cool Hand Luke (10-7) by 32l, 6 ran.
Flashman 5-1 (10-12) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd before 3 out, hit next, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 6, 8l behind Sametegal (11-6) at Wetherby 2m Listed hdl 3yo (1) gs.
Roc D'Apsis (FR) (8-11) won at Chateaubriant(FR) 1m 5f stk std in May beating Motivation (8-12) by 1/2l, 11 ran (flat).
Shabra Emperor (IRE) 16-1 (10-7) Led, ridden and headed after 3 out, kept on, slight mistake and no extra 2 out, 4th when bad mistake last and weakened, 7th of 9, 38l behind Our Conor (11-0) at Navan 2m 3yo mdn hdl.
Outback (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) With leader, under pressure 4th, every chance before 3 out, outpaced next, kept on under pressure, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 15l behind Mcvicar (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m 3yo hdl (4) sft.
Shelford (IRE) 16-1 (9-1) Rear of mid-division, driven along in rear 4f out, no extra, last of 14, 11l behind I Have A Dream (9-12) at Leopardstown 1m 6f hcp gd in Sep (flat).