Tolworth Hurdle 2013

2.25 Sandown

32Red Hurdle (Registered As The Tolworth Hurdle) (Grade 1 Novices' Hurdle) (Class 1)  (4YO plus)

Winner £19,932

Advice: 1 pt win, 2 pts place Melodic Rendezvous (9/2 and 13/8 Ladbrokes)

Court Minstrel: Dual bumper winner last season who has improved upon that markedly over hurdles already, making up impressive amount of ground to win maiden hurdle and then being given far too much to do in Cheltenham Grade 2 (one of the strongest novice races run this season); That form (second since won impressively, and 1^st was third in Christmas Hurdle) is the best here but unraced on anything worse than good to soft.

Golden Hoof: Successful in two novice hurdles at Kempton in easy style (first good to soft, second on soft), bolting up by eight lengths on latter start; Bright future for all that this is a steep step up in class.

Le Reve: Looks to have viable future based upon his third in bumper here and novice hurdle at Newbury, but this a different class of race and others make far more appeal.

Melodic Rendezvous: Best bumper form in this, showing big engine when winning easily at Chepstow on debut and then travelling well in Punchestown Grade 1 before floundering in atrocious ground; Not suited by the test of speed that his hurdling debut at Exeter became but impressed once again when beating reposing Royal Boy at Cheltenham, making up large amount of ground considering the surface; Copes with this ground and high on shortlist.

Pendra: This is much harder than any of the three races he’s won but got the job done in very taking style considering penalty at Plumpton latest, for all that he moved as if he’d have really liked a faster surface; Living upto his high class pedigree so far but interesting to see how he fares here.

Poet: Easily the best horse out of this field on the flat, winning 5 Listed/Group 3 races and running with credit at higher level on many occasions; Looked like he could show his best over hurdles when winning large field maiden in good style at Newbury (jumped well and won with more than a bit in hand) and needed ground with cut to show best on the flat, so makes big appeal here.

Royal Boy: Rallied hard to win Irish Point at Raithmorrisey, after which he was bought for £150,000 by current yard; Impressive debut when second to Melodic Rendezvous on rules debut at Cheltenham on heavy ground, where he gave the impression that he didn’t enjoy way race was run; Can improve and rates a big threat here.

VERDICT: A cracking renewal, with MELDOIC RENDEVZOUS taken to beat Royal Boy once again and confirm the promise he showed in his two bumper runs. Jeremy Scott’s charge was beaten on his hurdling debut at Exeter but he clearly relishes a testing surface as shown at Cheltenham, is clearly very talented, and may well have an advantage over others with the conditions as they are. Poet’s excellent flat form/engine, combined with his sound jumping and love of the ground, makes him the main threat, although Court Minstrel’s form is clearly the strongest in the field – however he’s unraced on anything worse than good to soft. Pendra and Golden Hoof could have bright futures.