Unicoin Homes Relkeel Hurdle 2010

1.20 Cheltenham
Unicoin Homes Relkeel Hurdle (Grade 2) (Class 1) (4YO plus)
Winner £19,954

Pick: Zaynar (win)

Afsoun: Not the force he was and stiff task at weights.

Ashakzar: Tricky but very talented hurdler (won Grade 2 over hurdles; fancied for Champion Hurdle off back of that) and had decent season last year, when winning twice in April, including in listed company; On ‘going’ day, major player, but hard to know if he is.

Carlito Brigante: Made major strides last season, winning maiden hurdle, Grade 2 at Leopardstown, and Triumph Hurdle trial before coming fourth behind Carltio Brigante in actual race; Held form well at Punchestown and already won this year, but trip is the worry.

Celestial Halo: High class hurdler (second and fourth in Champion Hurdles) who was the top rated chasing recruit this season until a fall and lacklustre third ruined thins on that front; Enthusiasm may be called into question by some but this race suits him down to ground.

Restless Harry: Became one of most likeable horses in training last season, dotting up in smart Cheltenham Novice Hurdle before running titanic race in Albert Bartlett (dotted up last time seen last year); Ran a very pleasing race considering that he was left 10 lengths behind at the start (beaten only 11 & ½ lengths in the end) in Silver Trophy; Solid third in Ascot Hurdle last time and will be thereabouts again .

Zaynar: Unbeaten in three starts as a juvenile (one here, won Triumph) and came into Champion Hurdle picture with impressive win in this race last year; Won Reelkeel doing handstands and performed with credit when third in Champion and Aintree Hurdles, looking like 3 miles would be ideal distance; Never going yard in Ascot Hurdle last time lacklustre fourth but blinkers may help and gets handy pull in weights.

Any Given Day: Took well to hurdling last term and made full use of race fitness when runaway winner of Silver Trophy at Chepstow: Good fourth in Greatwood last time but this harder.

Karabak: Progressed well last season, scoring emphatically prior to fine second to Mikael D'Haguenet at Cheltenham in Ballymore Novice’s Hurdle before being well beaten by Zayanar in this race last year; Got three miles really well when running great race to finish second to Big Buck’s in Long Walk hurdle and also to finish fourth in World Hurdle, so disappointing that he bombed at Punchestown afterwards; Well beaten behind Silviniaco Conti in Ascot Hurdle but clear second best so will be in thick of things.
Kayf Aramis: Has been put into Graded company since winning the Pertemps Final in 2009, and has performed admirably, never disgracing himself in process; Ran solid race when second behind Fair Along but well behind Big Bucks last time and will find this too hard.

Sentury Duty: Patchy hurdles strike rate (won 4 from 10) but very classy and good enough when the cards fall right; Likes a strong pace and should easily get one today, so major player although this will be a tough field to turn over even with question marks.

Quarts De Thaix: Improved with every run last season, impressive when beating Pontop by 5 and then 4 lengths at Cheltenham and Perth, handling an 8lbs rise inbetween; Improved again to win at Aintree (very strong effort to win comfortably) last time and not rules out of things.

Tail Of The Bank: Has potential to do better than last year, singing off with a 2m Newbury handicap win in March; Step up in trip will help but class should stop him.

Banjaxed Girl: Real improver last season, winning 4 times up to2m4f in decent races; Has displayed good attitude when second both starts from the front this term and on an upward curve but up in class and rider can´t claim.

VERDICT: A quality renewal which will tell us a lot about some pretty useful horses this season. It’s not impossible to expect ZAYNAR to run to his best but blinkers may well have the desired effect and given he has a handy weight pull with the 2 horses than beat him in the Ascot Hurdle (Karabak and Restless Harry). Celestial Halo is a class act at his best and should love this trip, while Sentry Duty will have the race run to suit.