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

12.40 Cheltenham

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

Winner £17,085

Advice: 1 pt win Le Rocher (11/4 Bet365, Ladbrokes)

Ballygasheen: Huge improvement from Ludlow win and thirds there and at Sedgefield when getting the better of Kentucky Hyden in a muddling race over C&D (Vincenzo Mio well beaten, disappointing/improved since); Getting 4lbs from that pair and hard to see him maintain that form.

Kentucky Hyden: Useful French form at Auteuil, especially when fourth in Listed hurdle on last French start; 1/3 on UK debut and strolled home in fine style there, but beaten, albeit giving weight, to Balygasheen, and then well held by Le Rocher in Finale hurdle at Haydock; Consistent but seemingly held.

Le Rocher: Going well when falling on debut and deeply impressive when winning at Dieppe and Auteil the next twice; Disappointing in Grade at Auteuil , but back to something like his best form when winning Finale hurdle at Haydock with Kentucky Hyden second; Could have more to give still on just second UK start and respected greatly here.

Vincenzo Mio: Would have a leading chance based on extremely impressive latest win, one backed up by fourth since winning at Ascot; Fair to assume he’s much better than his UK debut and respected here for all that this much harder task for him.

Goodwood Mirage: The best of these on the flat by some margin, fourth in the Noel Murless Stakes and competitive at the end of competitive handicaps; Would really need to come from his Kempton win to make an impact here but not beyond the boundaries of reckoning.

Ronaldinho: Yard does well with juveniles and has a good record in this; Went well most of the way before fading out badly down the home straight; Much better to be expected today but that bare form not great for the level and faces some tough competition here.

VERDICT: As ever Trials Day looks set to provide crucial clues towards Cheltenham, although this race’s influence upon the Triumph has declined with the rise of the Adonis Juvenile Hurdle. Vincenzo Mio’s last time out win was understandably very promising and improvement would see him take the beating but LE ROCHER was impressive in his own way when beating Kentucky Hyden on his UK debut in the Finale Hurdle and if coming forward, has every chance in what could be an open contest.