Racecards
12:40 Cheltenham
JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial (Registered As The Finesse Juvenile Hurdle) (Grade 2) (Class 1)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £30,000 added
- Winner: £17,085
- 2nd: £6,411
- 3rd: £3,210
- 4th: £1,599
- Form 1P-11
- Age 4
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 147
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey N D Fehily
tracked leaders on inside, close up after 2 out, beaten in 4th when mistake last, no extra flat
- Form 21-
- Age 4
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
took keen hold, set slow gallop, headed 2 out, weakened before last
- Form 11
- Age 4
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey B J Geraghty
held up, raced keenly until before 2nd, closed on outside 2 out, challenging going well when not much room before last, soon led, ridden to assert final 150 yards, stayed on well
- Form 1222
- Age 4
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
held up in 5th, closed 4th, led after 2 out, ridden and edged right before last, soon led, stayed on same pace final 150 yards
- Form 1
- Age 4
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
took keen hold, tracked leader ,challenged 3rd, not fluent 3 out, led 2 out, soon headed, no extra flat
- Form 24
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer A M Balding
- Jockey Mr Sam Waley-Cohen
tracked leaders, took keen hold, not fluent 2 out, soon outpaced, no impression before last
Verdict
Bivouac should easily confirm Sandown and Kempton running with Storm Force Ten but has been found a couple of fairly soft races so far and it's no surprise that Barry Geraghty has chosen stablemate PEACE AND CO. The latter was hugely impressive when winning a Grade 2 at Doncaster on his UK debut and is already a leading fancy for the Triumph Hurdle back here in March. Ibis De Rheu has his first start for Paul Nicholls but could be anything and, along with the useful Karezak and Newbury winner Zarib, also has a Triumph Hurdle entry.
Formwatch
Bivouac (FR) 9-4fav (11-8) Held up in mid-division, headway on outside tracking leaders when hampered 4 out, chased clear leader on long run to 2 out, closed soon after last, ridden to lead final 125 yards, stayed on well, won at Kempton 2m 3yo hdl (3) sft in Dec beating San Benedeto (10-12) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Ibis Du Rheu (FR) (10-7) won at Enghien(FR) 2m 3yo hdl sft in Apr beating Tomkevi (10-3) by 7l, 12 ran.
Peace And Co (FR) 10-11fav (11-5) Tracked leader, led before 4 out, clear before 2 out, hard held, impressive, won at Doncaster 2m 3yo hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Dec beating Starchitect (11-2) by 19l, 6 ran.
Karezak (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) Tracked leaders on inside, challenging when not fluent 4 out, led before next, not fluent and headed 2 out, no impression on winner from last, one pace, 2nd of 10, 6l behind Bristol De Mai (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 3yo hdl Grd 1 (1) hvy in Dec.
Zarib (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders in chasing grou, headway going well approaching 3 out, led approaching and hit last, stayed on well run-in, won at Newbury 2m 3yo hdl (4) sft in Dec beating Jalingo (10-12) by 4l, 10 ran.
Storm Force Ten 11-4 (10-9) Took keen hold tracking leaders, went left and chased clear leader 3 out until well before next, chased leading pair until before 2 out, mistake and outpaced 2 out, went modest 4th before last, hung left run-in, 4th of 9, 16l behind Bivouac (11-8) at Kempton 2m 3yo hdl (3) sft in Dec.