Sharp Novices' Hurdle 2011

2.55 Cheltenham

Opus Energy Novices' Hurdle (Registered As The Sharp Novices' Hurdle) (Grade 2) (Class 1)  (4YO plus)

Winner £12,244

Advice: 2 pts each/way Ericht (11/2 Ladbrokes, VC Bet)

Absolutlyfantastic: Looked like a real prospect when winning his bumper in good style and displayed a good attitude win again on his hurdles debut; Bumped into a very useful sort when second and well beaten last time; Good sort but this is harder and lack of allowance weight doesn’t help.

Redera: Had completed hat – trick under this rider before midfield showing in Galway Hurdle (had risen from a mark of 117 to 133) but disappointing in small novice hurdle and despite Walsh being up, passed over.

Steps To Freedom: Grade 2 winner of Aintree Bumper, getting better of extremely highly regarded Montbazon before Punchestown disappointment; Quickly back to best though, going unbeaten over hurdles in two runs including Grade 3 last time; Sure to go well.

Flycorn: Easy winner of Tipperary maiden hurdle, gaining due reward for having reached the frame on 5 of his 6 starts in bumpers ; Still doing well just to place here and readily left.

Prospect Wells: Decent flat horse (rated 99 on the level and that for a horse in decline); Made impressive winning debut having been keen throughout at Chepstow (poor race) a debut for which he should improve; Of interest.

 

Sublime Talent: Forced a dead heat on debut for Evan Williams at Ludlow, having moved from Dermot Weld’s yard; This far tougher and while he’s capable for doing better, that’s unlikely to be good enough.

Ericht: Made steady improvement throughout bumpers to land Grade 2 at Newbury, beating Bygones in Brid by four lengths at Newbury; Little disappointing in the Champion Bumper but still a useful prospect for hurdling and of interest here on debut.

Gumball: Useful place bumper form when he was third and then second in pair of bumpers but hurdles debut was disappointing and he must settle better if he’s to do much here.

Ohio Gold: Solid form last season, losing out to useful prospects on all occasions he got beaten; Nice sort, but might want more of a stamina test than this and exposed.

VERDICT: Steps To Freedom will be very popular and rightly so after his Grade 3 win in Ireland, as will Prospect Wells, who won well on his hurdling debut, but it’s hard not to think that ERICHT is a decent hurdling prospect and getting upwards of 4lbs from the top 2, it’s hard not to think he can go well if ready to jump hurdles today. Absolutlyfantastic is a useful horse but faces a massive step up in class and a tough weight.