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14:00 Cheltenham

Wragge & Co Finesse Juvenile Novices' Hurdle (Class A)

  • 10 Runners
  • Distance: 2m 1f
  • Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 4m 19.30s
  • 10 Ran
Go to Full Result
1
Silk -

Mondul (GER)

11/2

    2
    Silk -

    Val Du Don (FR)

    12/1

      3
      Silk -

      Meryl (FR)

      9/2

        1
        Silk - Pink and Light Blue chevrons, Pink sleeves and cap

        Guilt

        28
        11/2
        • Form 01
        • Age 4
        • Weight 11-8

        held up rear, headway 3 out, outpaced from 2 out

        2
        Silk - Yellow, black star, hooped sleeves, red cap

        Howle Hill (IRE)

        16
        7/2
        • Form 121
        • Age 4
        • Weight 11-8

        held up, steady headway 6th, ridden to chase leaders 2 out, one pace

        3
        Silk - Emerald Green and White (quartered), Orange and White halved sleeves, Orange cap, White star

        Lough Derg (FR)

        14
        7/2
        • Form 11
        • Age 4
        • Weight 11-8

        held up mid-division, headway 5th, driven on every chance 2 out, weakened

        4
        Silk - Light blue, brown stripe and armlets

        Mondul (GER)

        28
        11/2
        • Form 112
        • Age 4
        • Weight 11-8

        tracked leader, led 5th, ridden 2 out, challenged when mistake last, kept on well

        5
        Silk - Black, Yellow star, Yellow sleeves, Black spots, Yellow cap, Black star

        Sunray

        28
        20/1
        • Form 4342P1
        • Age 4
        • Weight 11-8

        held up towards rear, outpaced from 5th, dropped rear and stayed on approaching last

        6
        Silk - Maroon and Grey stripes, Maroon cap

        Val Du Don (FR)

        23
        12/1
        • Form 3313
        • Age 4
        • Weight 11-8

        led, headed 5th, every chance 2 out, soon ridden, pressed winner last, no extra flat

        7
        Silk - RED and YELLOW stripes, YELLOW sleeves, RED armlets, RED cap

        Uncle Max (IRE)

        28
        100/1
        • Form 3142P
        • Age 4
        • Weight 11-4

        tracked leaders, pecked 1st, lost place 3rd, behind from 3 out

        8
        Silk - Royal Blue, Red sleeves, Royal Blue spots and spots on cap

        A Toi A Moi (FR)

        28
        25/1
        • Form 224
        • Age 4
        • Weight 11-0

        mid-division, headway 3 out, driven to chase leaders soon after, weakening when pecked last

        9
        Silk - Beige and Black (halved), chevrons on sleeves, Beige cap

        Dalaram (IRE)

        16/1
        • Age 4
        • Weight 11-0

        held up rear, headway 5th, ridden and weakened soon after 2 out

        10
        Silk - Red, Yellow hoop and armlets, Red cap

        Meryl (FR)

        23
        9/2
        • Form 3F22
        • Age 4
        • Weight 11-0

        held up in touch, headway 3 out, ridden and outpaced after 2 out, ran on again after last

        11
        NR

        Zimbabwe

        23
        • Form 24
        • Age 4
        • Weight 11-0

        Withdrawn

        In depth

        Verdict

        This looks a potentially informative trial for the Triumph Hurdle with several of the runners prominent in bookmaker's lists for the Championship race including Howle Hill, Lough Derg and Mondul, with the vote going to the first mentioned of that trio. Admittedly the selection has yet to convince as much a stablemate Trouble At Bay but Alan King's gelding is progressing along the right lines and, with his stable in fine form, he looks the percentage call. Martin Pipe has, so far, been reluctant to commit Lough Derg to the Triumph but the French-bred owing to his lack of experience but the son of Apple Tree has been impressive in two outings to date. This represents a stiffer task though and, with a strong pace likely, we would rather stick with a more experienced horse. Mondul would have claims if able to recapture the sort of form that saw him win races at Warwick and Lingfield last month but the Milton Harris-trained colt disappointed behind shock winner Sunray, who reopposes here, at Chepstow last time and is probably best watched today. Guillaume Macaire saddles both Meryl and Val du Don, who were separated by just three-quarters of a length behind Trouble At Bay over course and distance on New Year's Day. Both have plenty of experience and have to be respected. Howard Johnson introduces yet another expensive purchase from the flat in the shape of the ex-Sir Michael Stoute-trained Dalaram, while another useful flat horse Zimbabwe may be better than he has shown so far and cannot be discounted but we are happy to side with Howle Hill, who is taken to continue on the upgrade.