Racecards
12:40 Cheltenham
JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Finesse) (Class 1)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 179y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £32,000 added
- Winner: £18,224
- 2nd: £6,838
- 3rd: £3,424
- 4th: £1,706
- Form 5
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer A Ralph
- Jockey Lee Edwards
in touch, blundered 2 out, soon ridden and outpaced, no impression in modest 4th before last
- Form 1
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
held up in touch, headway on outside 2 out, soon outpaced, weakened before last, tailed off
- Form 44
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Nick Williams
- Jockey Lizzie Kelly
pressed leader, led 3rd, headed narrowly next, lost place 2 out, soon ridden, weakened before last
Look My Way
24- Form 21
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer J & S Quinn
- Jockey T Scudamore
raced keenly, tracked leaders, joined leader 3rd, led narrowly next, hard pressed approaching last, ridden and headed flat, no chance with winner in clear 2nd final 150 yards
- Form 42
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 109
led to 3rd, chased leaders, pushed along after 3 out, went 3rd between last 2, kept on same pace, no chance with clear pair
- Form 111
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey B J Geraghty
held up in touch, tracked leaders after 2nd, went 2nd before 2 out, driven to challenge approaching last, led flat, ridden clear final 150 yards, stayed on well
Verdict
APPLE’S SHAKIRA is already favourite for the Triumph Hurdle having won twice here already. She was impressive both times and it will be a surprise if the Henderson filly loses her unbeaten record today, though she will be a very short price. Look My Way is a real mudlark but made hard work of landing the odds at Ludlow after a debut second at Newcastle. Elixir De Nutz has a cracking pedigree for jumping but makes his hurdling debut at an elevated level, though is held in high regard. Erick Le Rouge looks best of the rest but looks to have little chance in this grade judged on his efforts so far.
Formwatch
Broughtons Admiral 6-1 (11-2) Held up, not fluent and stumbled 2nd, not fluent next or 5th, modest 6th 2 out, plugged on before last, no impression, 5th of 10, 14 1/4l behind Royale Zanzibar (11-2) at Hereford 2m mdn (5) sft in Jan.
Elixir De Nutz (FR) (9-9) won at Argentan 1m 6f mdn stks gs in Oct beating Elisa Des Obeaux (10-0) by shd, 10 ran.
Erick Le Rouge (FR) 14-1 (10-12) Led until 4 out, chased winner until 3 out, chased leaders, soon ridden, pushed along and no impression when lost 2nd 3 out, weakened between last 2, 4th of 12, 18l behind Style De Garde (11-4) at Newbury 2m (4) sft in Dec.
Look My Way 1-6fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, bumped soon after start, went 2nd from the 2nd, led when mistake 3 out, soon started hanging left, clear when jumped right last, still hanging left and looking far from straightforward flat, ridden out, won at Ludlow 2m (4) sft in Jan beating Nigh Or Never (10-12) by 10l, 6 ran.
Ulysses (GER) 7-2 (10-7) Disputed lead until led 3 out, ridden and headed soon after next, kept on one pace, 2nd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Ascendant (11-12) at Fakenham 2m 4f (5) hvy in Jan.
Apple's Shakira (FR) 1-10fav (10-12) Raced quite keenly, tracked leader, led before last, drew clear final 200 yards, not extended, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f (2) sft in Dec beating Nube Negra (11-2) by 3 1/2l, 4 ran.