JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial (Registered As The Finesse Juvenile Hurdle) 2012

12.55 Cheltenham

JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial (Registered As The Finesse Juvenile Hurdle) (Grade 2) (Class 1)  (4YO only)

Winner £14,238

Advice: 2 pts win Grumeti (6/4 Bet365), 1 pt Grumeti to win today and the Triumph Hurdle (16/1 Totesport)

Baby Mix: Fifth on one and only hurdles start in France but vastly improved when hugely impressive in beating Hinterland by seven lengths with ease; May be more strength in depth to this but that form more than solid enough and should stake a major Triumph Hurdle claim.

Hollow Tree: Made excellent start to life over hurdles, winning soft event by wide margin before decent, if not well beaten second to Hinterland (who in turn was well beaten by Baby Mix, albeit giving 7lbs); before winning twice since, including Grade 1 at Chepstow; A bit behind Baby Mix on that form but not hard to see him taking a big hand here.

Pearl Swan: Useful enough on the flat despite being a maiden and made an excellent start to life over hurdles when winning all aged novice (one of two in field to have done so) at Taunton; This a step up in class but not to be underestimated for stable with decent hand in this division.

 

Tango De Juiley: Winner at Clairefontine in the spring before this season and has since run very well in defeat twice, both behind stablemates of Grumeti at Newbury on soft ground; Entitled to respect here off levels although this no easier.

Colebrooke: Got the better of two more fancied horses (one of which won impressively yesterday) at Sandown on what was his seventh start over hurdles, taking advantage of the 7lbs claim of Brendan Powell; Needs much more here based on his well held fourth behind Secret Edge.

Grumeti: Possibly the most impressive performance by a novice this season when he routed all aged field on his debut at Taunton, winning by 14 lengths; Form of that event looked solid beforehand (15 length third second to Pearl Swan) and looked set to win before tipping up at Newbury (more on landing); Should take a big hand here.

VERDICT: No “big three” match up with Sadler’s Risk absent but still a select field. Baby Mix was hugely impressive when routing Grade 2 winner Hinterland on his debut and so was GRUMETI when winning by 14 lengths at Taunton, and the latter gets the vote here. He was unlucky on his last start at Newbury, comes from an inform yard, and gets 3lbs from all but one of his rivals, so has an excellent chance of underling his Triumph Hurdle credentials with a win here. Hollow Tree, Pearl Swan, and Tango De Juiley all have their toughest tasks yet but are worthy of respect.