Cheltenham Festival - JCB Triumph

Cheltenham Festival (Day 4, Race 1)

JCB Triumph Hurdle (1.30)

Picks: Zarkandar and Sam Winner (each/way)

Aikiedeau: Interesting French recruit for the Stewart family and the Rowe’s and while he made a good debut at Pau he was well beaten on first and only British start and ignored here.

Architrave: Won first three on the bounce and so impressive he was sent off just 5/1 for Grade 2 event here in November; Well beaten then and lack of run since means others are preferred.

Brampour: Listed placed on flat in France and one of most anticipated recruits all season; Shaped with promise on debut at Kempton although would have been beaten by A Media Luz had she stayed up; Improved on that when coming home clear in good maiden hurdle at Taunton, looking as if he had Trop Fort beaten when left clear at last; Strongly run race the key to him although plenty more needed.

First Fandango: Unbeaten in two juvenile races, and both useful contests at Ffos Las and Ayr respectably; Can expect a good showing here although his form has been let down and he’s now got something to prove.

Grandouet: Taken time to get used to UK racing but progressing fast now; Gave stablemate A Media Luz 17lb and an easy beating at Newbury in December, and impressed many when making short work of modest opposition at Ascot last time; Seems very solid and yard’s record in this race means he’s got to be given a big chance although position at heed of market largely down to fact he’s won twice impressively in easy contests.

Houblon Des Obeaux: Had looked exposed based on French efforts but was a fine second in Final Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow, arguably best juvenile hurdle run this season; Managed to just get better of Third Intention thanks to fact that runner up pulling too hard and soft ground; Many will expect form to be reversed on better ground but this horse is 3lbs better off and improving.

Kulisriver: Desperately disappointing when trashed into second considering strength of contest he finished runner up in on debut, an effort for which he should have improved.

Local Hero: Has done everything asked of him in great style on both starts, dotting up at Catterick before giving weight and a beating to Franklino at Doncaster (easily); Gained biggest success yet when gamely beating Third Intention to win Grade 2 on trials day here despite sloppy jumping but that stopped him when well beaten fourth at Chepstow when jumping out the right; Ground will suit better but too many questions to answer.

Mister Carter: Smart on flat, and did well to win in such impressive style on debut so disappointing when well beaten in Grade 3 and unlikely to be good enough to make impact in this.

Moltof: Showed useful form when runner – up on both starts in French juvenile hurdles; Made pleasing debut when second to Zarkandar at Kempton but unlikely to reverse form with reopposing conqueror here.

New Den: Outclassed on his one and only run, a poor seventh.

Sailors Warn: Improved on first two runs by massive amount when winning a Grade 2 event ran over C&D with plenty to spare after the last; Well beaten behind Unaccompanied last time and has a lot of ground to make up to be winning a Triumph.

Sam Winner: Had shown useful form when coming second on all three French starts and duly built on that when romping home in JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial by unextended 15 lengths here, smashing Grandouet with ease; Not reached that form since (not pushed in too hard to double up here following month); Well beaten fourth in Finale Juvenile Hurdle over Christmas but slow pace and soft ground wouldn’t have helped; Been given break since (that run also came very soon after December meeting) and promises to improve for this test.

Sir Pitt: Holds little chance of winning here.

Smad Place: Came to top stable having been runner-up on second of starts over hurdles in French Provinces; Made a hugely impressive debut when slamming Doulatulo by 27 lengths at Newbury and another who wanted more pace in race when third in Finale Juvenile Hurdle; Beaten elders in warm up since and can go close here.

Third Intention: Showed impressive attitude for a debutant when landing a good juvenile hurdle at Newbury, beating a subsequent second and winner; Built on that in defeat at Cheltenham, pulling hard early on and only just getting caught by Local Hero; Same story again when getting caught by Houblon Des Oebaux; Finally has it all dropping right for him although he needs to up his game again to get involved.

Tilahow: Taking a step forward with every run over hurdles, winning Grade 3 event two starts ago; Well beaten when seventh last time behind Unaccompanied.

Trop Fort: Very well-liked by yard and expected to make winning debut at Taunton, having won twice at AQPS level  in France; Wasn’t beaten but looked to be second best to Brampour when taking heavy fall and while he’s probably quite talented this is different ball game and awful lot to prove.

Walter De La Mare: No real chance here.

Zarkandar: Half-brother to unbeaten Arc winner Zarkava; Showed plenty of talent when finishing first, second and third on only three flat starts in France but made immensely promising debut when jumping well and coming right away with Moltof; Well beaten  third Kumbeshwar was since second off to weight in the Fred Winter so form enhanced and will go well here.

A Media Luz: Very smart filly on the flat in France, winning her first 2 starts before runner up in a Group 3 at Saint Cloud and excellent sixth in the Prix Vermille; Taken time to get used to jumping, pulling her race away on first two runs before coming down when set to win at Kempton but put that right when bolting up from useful yardstick Panxatoa at Huntingdon last time and entitled to a lot of respect.

High Ransom: Maiden on the Flat for Michael Jarvis; Only just touched off on her hurdling debut but shaped like a stayer when finding a race last time and needs more here.

Unaccompanied: Made most taking debut when romping home by 9 lengths on debut, showing serious speed when dismissing her field; Proved merit of that win with clear cut and taking success in Grade 1 at Leopardstown last time, travelling like class act before winning with authority; Will be fine on good ground (won on good to firm on flat) and major player here even if more is needed.

VERDICT: A fiercely competitive renewal. Nicky Henderson holds yet another strong hand and in Grandouet he has a worthy contender, although he’s favourite on how he’s won his last two starts and represents more of a reliable/experienced option here. ZARKANDAR posted a potentially immense effort when beating Moltof with something to spare in the Adonis hurdle (a race with a very strong recent history) and also thrashing the Fred Winter runner up Kumbeshwar to underline the form. Another Nicholls inmate, SAM WINNER, can also go close and confirm the form with market leader Grandouet from their November meeting with a fast pace and good ground. Of the others, Unaccompanied makes a lot of appeal, with good ground not being a forecast problem, and she’s just taken over the other filly A Media Luz, although these are very much her conditions. The same could be said of Third Intention although his pulling is a worry now and it remains to be seen how good he actually is. Of the others, Smad Place will go well and Houblon Des Obeaux might be a tad overpriced.