Deloitte Novice Hurdle 2012

2.10 Leopardstown

Deloitte Novice Hurdle (grade 1) (Class 1)  (5YO plus)

Winner €52,000

Advice: 1 pt win Cash And Go (11/4 general), 2 pts Cash & Go for Top 2 finish (11/10 Hills)

Beneficent: Seemed to thrive for the step up to 2m4f when running away with ordinary Navan novice hurdle in December but a flop on last start and this a Grade 1 race.

Il Fenomeno: Has group 3 winning form on the flat in Italy, and didn’t shape without promise when fifth and fourth on two very tough hurdles tasks last season; Impressive attitude to win twice this year, notably when beating stablemate (who offers key form link) in Navan Grade 3; Found to be stiff when disappointing in Royal Bond Novice Hurdle so can’t be fully dismissed here for all that this is probably a lot tougher.  

Lord Windermere: Pulled clear of the field with two subsequent winners at Thurles on first completed start and then showed strong attitude to deny Dylan Ross in heavy ground at Punchestown; This ground could be faster than anything he’s encountered before but likely that he’s going to enjoy the step up in trip.

Sous Les Cieux: French import who suffered stress fracture when beaten on debut (odds on); Showed he’d recovered when unextended to come home in his own time and win by 6 lengths in weak maiden hurdle, but that still impressive; Dropped in trip and upped in class for Royal Bond Hurdle but travelling much the best in the straight and won well after being challenged by listed flat winner; Clearly not at same level when disappointing at Christmas meeting (very keen infront and hung head to one side under pressure); Presumably better is expected in some capacity today and has to be respected, although hard to be too confident about his chances.

Captain Conan: Brought to Britain after facile 15 length win in France and won Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle on first start for over 200 days, being helped in no uncertain terms by second literally throwing race away; Has to be respected having been supplemented for this by top yard and should be thereabouts.

Cash And Go: Useful bumper horse, winning by seven lengths, ending up fourth in decent Listed event (winner second in Grade 1 company at end of year) and then third again in good contest; Made it three from three over hurdles with really gutsy performance to win Future Champions (Sous Les Cioux very well beaten) and respected here off the back of that.

 

Burn And Turn: Won in clear cut fashion here at the last meeting but easily beaten by Il Fenomeno in Grade 3 before that and despite improved form of stable at late, passed over.

VERDICT: A fascinating race with many possible angles. Having been supplemented, Captain Conan should be given a good deal of respect with anticipation of the improvement he’s likely to make having had 200 days off when winning the Tolworth, for all that he was all but given the race by the hanging of Colour Squadron, and the form in behind isn’t looking that great either. Sous Les Cioux would take a good level of catching based on his Royal Bond win but he was well beaten by CASH AND GO in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle, and Edward O’Grady’s charge looks value to triumph once again, with the longer trip not expected to be a problem.