Cheltenham Festival 2013 - Triumph Hurdle

1.30 Cheltenham Festival (Day 4, Race 1)

JCB Triumph Hurdle (Juvenile Grade 1) (Class 1)  (4YO only)

Winner £68,340

Advice: 1 pt win Rolling Star (7/2 general)

Cape Explorer: Looked sure to win at lower level after coming out a good second subsequent scorer in novice event at Sedgefield; This looks too tough.

Chris Pea Green: Looked like exciting prospect in making opposition look ordinary at Huntingdon and Lingfield, settling matters with fine burst of speed after turn on that occasion; Far too keen when behind Irish Saint latest and needs to settle better if he’s going to make impact.

Diakali: Looked to be right up there with the best of the Irish Juveniles after running easy winner of heavy-ground contests at Gowran and Punchestown, but thumped by Our Conor at Leopardstown latest when jumping didn’t help and hard to see him reversing that even if much stiffer track suits him well.

Far West: Established himself as leading Triumph hope with four wins from four British hurdles starts, all on soft/heavy (twice at Cheltenham) and all in some style; River Maigue didn’t do his form much good when well beaten on Tuesday but that a farcial race and will go well here anyway; Don’t necessarily believe stable in poor form (most of runners unfancied) and solid chance.

Gassion Golf: Promising even though beaten favourite when pulling far clear of the remainder in juvenile hurdle at Newbury, but any improvement needs to come in spades for this one.

Hidden Justice: Strong stayer on the flat with wins at upto 1m6f and using that stamina well over hurdles in clear wins; emphatic winner at Wetherby (heavy) and Catterick (soft) on two hurdling starts and this even harder test promises to suit him plenty, so not dismissed out of hand here and one to watch in running; Booking of Carberry noticeable.

Kashmir Peak: Unfair to say he’s second string of John Quinn pair given how he won juvenile every 9 lengths and then Grade 2 (beat Sametgal and Vasco Du Ronceray);Would have been fascinating to see what happened at levels between the pair at Musselbrugh latest, but still on bridle when coming down (been novicey beforehand) ; Unexposed and could go well.

King Of Dudes: Made good stable debt when winning maiden event at Ludlow but defeats under penalty in two subsequent starts and doesn’t look good enough here.

Lac Fontana: Pretty useful at up to 1m4f in France and just 16/1 for the Triumph before and after hurdling debut at Newbury, where he got bumped around before the last and didn’t jump as well as he could have; Well beaten in Dovecote at Kempton but in hindsight that as far removed from Triumph Hurdle as possible and plenty like him improved hand over fist (bears similar resemblance to same stable’s Dodging Bullets for this test; Can go well.

Masters Blazing: Hard to pick too many faults in visual impression of what he did at Warwick first up but that form not upto scratch and didn’t leave impression he had that much improvement left in him desite being green for most of race; Best avoided.

Our Conor: Useful on the flat but unbeaten in three starts over hurdles, confirming himself as Ireland’s best juvenile hurdler when comfortably beating Diakali in Grade 1 contest at Leopardstown last month (form boosted by Flaxen Flare earlier in week); Should throw down bold bid.

Rolling Star: Only moderate in Flat on France but different start since moving over obstacles, winning one French jumps start in excellent style and then arguably even more impressive when beating Irish Saint with little fuss here over C&D on Trials Day; That looked good at the time but for second to give weight and a beating to Vasco Du Ronceray made it even more impressive and will take the beating if he’s improved in the meantime, which is entirely possible given this is just third hurdles start.

Sametgal: Winner of second French start, and convincing wins t Wetherby (Listed) and Musselburgh, and gave 3lbs to Kashmir Peak when second in Grade 2 (shame we didn’t get to see them meet once again at levels); Possible heavy ground didn’t suit when beaten off 138 in Taunton handicap but looks exposed.

Stomeothersdohaveem: Proper stayer on flat, Four-time Flat winner at up to 2m, and plenty of stamina shown when second at Market Rasen and then one better at Doncaster; Looks short of what’s required.

Stocktons Wing: One of the better ones of these on the flat and useful form in graded races the last thrice, winning at the third attempt in Graded company at Fairyhouse; Not impossible he could find 2 lengths with Our Conor but unlikely.

Synmour: Easy winner at Newbury on hurdling debut and would most likely have won heavy-ground Grade 1 contest at Chepstow next time but for final-flight fall; Beaten at Doncaster since and Rucana destroyed by Our Conor since so signs don’t look too promising.

Vasco Du Ronceray: Looked a very useful prospect when hacking up at Hereford on British/Hurdling debut runner-up to Far West here then behind Kashmir Peak and Sametegal at Doncaster, while finished second in Grade 2 at Kempton; Looks clear second best behind Rolling Star on line through Irish Saint and while he can improve for stronger pace, others make more appeal.

VERDICT: With the surface underneath holding a lot of the winter moisture, it wouldn’t take much rain to turn this ground into soft and weather watching is essential for what will already be a stiff test. Plenty in this field are entailed to improve for the nature of this race but they’ll all have to go some to match the ntandard Far West, Our Conor, and ROLLING STAR set, with the latter’s Grade 2 win here showing immense promise even before the runner up won a Grade 2 at a track that wouldn’t have suited him. The potential rain would suit him more than most and he promises to come on for the experience, so makes the most appeal of any; Lac Fontana and Hidden Justice make most appeal of the others.