totesport Trophy Hurdle 2011

3.35 Newbury
totesport Trophy Hurdle (Grade 3 Handicap) (Class 1) (4YO plus)
Winner £68,412

Picks: Walkon and Soldatino (each/way)

Solix: French import who was highly rated in France where he won a Grade Three over two and a half miles at Auteuil, before finishing fourth behind Bel La Vie in Grade 1 at same track; Clearly very good horse and while he’ll have to be Champion Hurdle class to win this off 152, clearly very useful and excellent 5lbs claimer David Bass every help.

Sadlen Licht: Showed plenty of promise in novice season last year, disappointing slightly in the Dovecote but running well behind Captain Chris on his next start; Did well on flat in Summer and extremely impressive when landing competitive Exeter handicap hurdle on first jumps start this year (form worked out very well); Well worth 10lbs rise and massive player.

Ronaldo Des Mottes: Justified strong support when building on promise as a juvenile at Kempton and ran a blinder when second to Get Me Out Of Here in this race last year (not disgraced in any way when 7th at Punchestown Festival afterwards); Given this yard, absence not overly conecerning but given that he’s been put up 9lbs in the meantime, lack of run may be a worry.

Get Me Out Of Here: Impressed when landing valuable Totesport Trophy at Newbury despite bungling the last and was unlucky to lose the Supreme Novices Hurdle, getting checked at a crucial stage; Has proven extremely disappointing this year in 2 big handicap hurdles; Has been suffering a back problem but with that apparently treated and fixed, he must have a massive chance if back to best.

Nearby: Has made huge strides in handicap hurdles this season, round off an impressive hat-trick with excellent win in the Elite Hurdle, coming clear of some useful types; Disappointing in Fighting Fifth Hurdle last time but still only 5lbs higher than for Elite Hurdle win, has a 7lbs claimer on board, and would be a lot shorter than 50’s had he not run in the Fighting Fifth.

Walkon: Was one of top juvenile hurdlers before injury struck two years ago, winning 4 times in 6 starts, including a 13 lengths romp in the Anniversary Hurdle at Aintree after Triumph Hurdle second; Ran a creamer after 660 days off when beating all but Tiger O’Toole in the Holloway’s Hurdle and massive chance if avoiding the bounce factor.

Soldatino: Unbeaten in three starts over hurdles and won the Adoins and then Triumph Hurdle on his first two starts for Henderson yard; Threw away his race before it had started in the Holloway’s Hurdle by careering away to start, and then pulling for three quarters of the race itself; Travelled like the best horse in the race until being hampered badly 2 out (not preserved with afterwards); Should do much better over 2 miles with that under his belt, and even better if he can settle.
Eradicate: Showed decent level of form to beat Overturn in the Swinton Hurdle in May from an 11lb lower mark and ran best race since when fourth in good Cheltenham Handicap last month; Right type for this race but this looks too hot.

Notus De La Tour: Made a good start to racing in Britain, bolting up at Plumpton in small race (beat useful sort into second) before being slammed in the Fred Winter by Sanctuaire (disappointing at Aintree); Shaped with encouragement at Ascot but this a hotter race and has a stiff mark.


The Betchworth Kid: Very smart on the flat, running up to a mark of 104 and made a pleasing hurdles debut when grinding out a Plumpton novice Hurdle; Went on from that and was staying on powerfully here on his seasonal debut, shaping with promise; Jumped very poorly when well beaten in the Lanzarote and has it all to do.

Final Approach: Only had 4 runs and was majorly impressive when landing the MCR Hurdle last time, coming through the pack with sharp turn of foot; Has a lot more on his plate here and 14lbs hike in the weights makes it all the more though for him; Big ask but has a lot more to come and not ignored.

Bothy: Won three form four last year (all on soft) and that possibly turned against them when beaten into seventh behind Sancutaire in Fred Winter; Ran an immense race on comeback when making Menorah pull out all the stops and has a big chance if producing same run here, although mark 9lbs higher won’t actually help.

Plaomar: Has really got his act together since joining current yard, winning a big handicap hurdle at Market Rasen in the summer last year; Has place prospects at least based on that run.

Zanir: Was going best of all turning for home in the Country Hurdle before flattering to deceive in the Country Hurdle at Cheltenham; Ran a good race when fourth on seasonal reappearance in decent handicap but others preferred.

Recession Proof: A winner of two of his three starts over hurdles and was kept on the go when winning a Jumpers Bumper in December; Would arguably be very interesting based on the subsequent exploits of Dunraven Storm and Organisetur and he’s one of the least exposed.

Tiger O’Toole: Won three times last season and was largely progressive until summer, before finding three stiff tasks too much; Took advantage of excellent ride and strong pace when landing Holloway’s Hurdle and while he should not be ignored, will be hard pressed to repeat that feat and beat Walkon.

Takari: Made a fine start to life for new yard when runner-up in a valuable handicap at Market Rasen and was making steady headway when falling at the third last in the Greatwood; Offically 4lbs well in and comes off good second to Oscar Whisky last week.

Sweet My Lord: fell early when just 4-1 second favourite for a Grade One at Punchestown in April (shows how highly he’s rated); Seemed a much improved horse for new tactics last time but this harder, even though stable are in flying form and rider has proven her worth by winning several good races.

Washington Irving: Looked set for a good future over hurdles when pasting up by 15 lengths on his first start; The trip was much too far next time out in soft ground and much the same story on his third run; Not up to Graded class at Aintree and disappointed first time out.

Iolith: Has won both his starts this season with considerable ease, bolting up at Taunton last time; Must have more to offer for handicapping and entered in the Supreme Novice Hurdle, so clearly well thought of; Stiff mark though.

Drill Sergeant: Very useful flat recruit (Royal Ascot winner; Stayed 2m) who has won 2 of his 4 starts over hurdles, though needed memorable ride from Tony McCoy over C&D for latest win; Was giving 6lbs to Toubab when second behind him, and probably better than bare form of latest run; Worth a chance.

Rebel Dance: Won his first run over hurdles for this yard at Huntingdon and was disputing things with Nearby (dramatic improver who’s won twice since) when falling and ran a cracker behind Tocca Ferro last time; Only 2lbs higher and given serious respect.

Sircosy: Stable has won two of the last three runnings and that alone makes this runner of major interest but let down by jumping in ordinary handicap last month, and hard to see him taking a hand from out the weights.

VERDICT: Hard to think of many better races run this season and if any of the topweights win they’d have to be bordering on Champion Hurdle class. Those comments can be applied directly to Soilx, and while a big run is probably coming based on stable reports and all known form, with an excellent claimer to help, winning this might be beyond him. WALKON ran a tremendous race when beating all bar Tiger O’Toole on his comeback at Ascot and he’d have won over two miles, or if fit. It’s well worth taking the chance that he’ll bounce to back him. SOLDATINO ran and amazing race considering that he threw it away at the start, before then travelling like the best horse in the race all the way round, and only failing for stamina at the end of 2m2f (when hampered badly). Salden Licht was hugely impressive in landing a decent handicap hurdle at Exeter last time out and the form has worked out brilliantly. Final Approach landed essentially the Irish equivalent of this last time and could go close again but a 14lbs hike in the ratings may be enough to stop him. Get Me Out Of Here will put up a bold fight to retain his title if over his back problems although this year’s renewal is a lot harder. Ronaldo Des Mottes should also prove a big threat on last year’s second but he’s got a lot more on (much like the winner last year) here and the lack of a run may tell.