Racecards
12:10 Cheltenham
JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial (Registered As The Finesse Juvenile Hurdle) (Grade 2) (Class 1)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f
- Going: Heavy, Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £30,000 added
- Winner: £17,085
- 2nd: £6,411
- 3rd: £3,210
- 4th: £1,599
- Form 11
- Age 4
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
led, 1 length clear last, ridden and hard pressed flat, kept on until headed and no extra final 100 yards
- Form 1
- Age 4
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey B J Geraghty
tracked leading pair, went 2nd approaching 2 out, poised to challenge when not fluent last, shaken up flat, stayed on to lead final 100 yards
- Form 22114
- Age 4
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer Miss S West
- Jockey M Goldstein
tracked leader, ridden after 3 out, lost place approaching next, no impression with front pair before last, kept on same pace, lost well beaten 3rd near finish
- Form 1
- Age 4
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey Joshua Moore
held up in touch, not fluent 5th, chased leaders on outside 3 out, ridden and lost place after next, weakened before last
Double Cee
106- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer W Greatrex
- Jockey N D Fehily
held up in touch, not fluent and lost place 3rd, soon behind, struggling before 3 out, tailed off
Last Shadow
17- Form 4
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A P McCoy
went left 1st, held up in touch, lost place 2 out, soon outpaced, rallied to dispute well beaten 3rd after last, no impression with leaders
Milord (GER)
17- Form 6
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer K C Bailey
- Jockey J M Maguire
held up in last pair, headway approaching 2 out, ridden to dispute well beaten 3rd between last 2, no extra from last
- Form 3
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey P J Brennan
held up in last pair, driven to chase leaders after 3 out, outpaced after next, switched left flat, stayed on to take 3rd near finish, no chance with front pair
Verdict
Knight Of Pleasure looked a nice prospect at Sandown and his trainer has been firing the winners in while Feb Thirtyfirst was by no means disgraced in the Grade 1 Finale at Chepstow after his earlier successes. Last Shadow certainly caught the eye on his introduction at Doncaster and this expensive purchase is better than he showed that day but will need to be an outstanding performer to get the better of IRISH SAINT. Paul Nicholls' charge, a Listed winner at Auteuil in September, could hardly have been more impressive at Kempton and is near the head of the betting for the Triumph Hurdle. He faces a strong challenge from Rolling Star, who arrives with a big reputation after his victory in France, but should be good enough to retain his unbeaten record.
Formwatch
Irish Saint (FR) 10-11fav (11-8) Led after 1st, headed after next, stayed close up, challenged 3 out, led before next, clear last, stayed on well, won at Kempton 2m 3yo hdl (3) hvy in Dec beating Mcvicar (11-8) by 18l, 7 ran.
Rolling Star (FR) (10-7) won at Auteuil(FR) 2m 2f 3yo hdl gs in Oct beating Royal Coralia (10-3) by 3l, 11 ran.
Feb Thirtyfirst 25-1 (11-0) Prominent, ridden approaching 3 out, no extra before last, 4th of 8, 14l behind Ruacana (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) hvy.
Knight Of Pleasure 20-1 (10-9) Held up in 6th, good headway to chase leading trio at 3rd, headway approaching 2 out, went 2nd and not fluent 2 out, led approaching and hit last, stayed on strongly to assert final 100 yards, won at Sandown 2m 4yo hdl (4) hvy beating For Two (11-5) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.
Double Cee 28-1 (9-1) In touch, outpaced when hung left from well over 2f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no impression, 6th of 16, 11l behind Educate (9-7) at York 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) hvy in Oct (flat).
Last Shadow 9-2 (10-12) Mid-division, headway before 3 out, kept on one pace, went 4th towards finish, no impression, 4th of 11, 9l behind Calculated Risk (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 4yo hdl (4) gs.
Milord (GER) 20-1 (10-12) In touch, weakened before 2 out, 6th of 11, 31l behind Calculated Risk (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 4yo hdl (4) gs.
Roc D'Apsis (FR) 12-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, held up in last pair, pushed along and outpaced after 5th, headway approaching next, went 4th after 3 out, stayed on to moderate 3rd before last, never any chance with leading duo, 3rd of 8, 33l behind Far West (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 3yo hdl (1) sft in Nov.
Good of Luck 14-1 (9-4) Started slowly, held up in rear, headway on outside to 4th over 3f out, ridden 2f out, soon hung left and beaten, lost modest 4th over 1f out, last of 5, 23l behind Between Us (9-4) at Brighton 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Aug (flat).