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You are here: Home / Archives for Festival Trials Day

JPFestival.com TV Weekly Wrap – Trials Day, Leopardstown and Doncaster

January 30, 2014 by Dan Kelly Leave a Comment

Filed Under: Festival Trials Day, JPFestival.com TV Tagged With: Festival Trials Day

Festival Trials Day Review

January 28, 2014 by Graham Richards Leave a Comment

Festival Trials Day Review

Big Buck’s returned to action in the Cleeve Hurdle. I felt he was at least a stone below his best which is a worry even allowing for improvement. This is demonstrated by Timeform’s figure of 156 (20lb below his best) and his RPR of 160 (18lb below his highest figure). Something to consider is the fact he has had either two or three races prior to the Festivals. On the plus side, Big Buck’s jumped and travelled well through the race. Suffice to say he looks to have a fight on his hands to regain his World Hurdle crown. The winner, Knockara Beau is unlikely to figure in a championship race in March, while At Fishers Cross showed something of a return to form. His jumping, whilst improved, was still ponderous at times. He travelled well through the race but gives vital ground away with his jumping. Given his well-documented issues with his back, that is understandable. However, it was disappointing, given was produced to win the race at the last hurdle, not to see him pass Knockara Beau on the run-in. His profile suggests soft/heavy ground is needed to produce his very best. FSF ratings suggest Reve De Sivola ran 11lb below his best. Given he was beaten just under eight lengths I feel his hard race at Ascot may have cost him the win here. Boston Bob had every chance turning for home. To my eyes, he weakened like a horse with something amiss.

Le Rocher won impressively and resides at the top of both Timeform’s and RPR ratings. He enjoys both track and heavy ground. Better ground is something of an unknown. However, he won on good to soft at Dieppe last June. Kentucky Hyden ran another game race solidifying the form. Vicenzo Mio was given a cavalier ride, which would be best served on an easier track.

The Giant Bolster ran out a game winner of the Argento Chase. He was 12lb below his best RPR rating which sums up the race as a supposed Gold Cup trial. Harry Topper ran a fine race under top weight. Not the most fluent of chasers, he never looked like falling and received a good ride from Mr Maguire.

Red Sherlock kept his unbeaten status, holding off the Willie Mullins trained Rathvinden. Both his Timeform and RPR ratings see him near the top of the novice hurdling division. With his jumping and stamina are proven, one hopes his habit of flashing his tail under pressure is down to immaturity. Rathvinden ran an honest race but was just not quite good enough. His jumping improved as the race developed. One would imagine, Mr Mullins has a horse residing at Closutton with stronger credentials for the Neptune Hurdle itself.

 

Annie Power bolted up at Doncaster without improving either her Timeform or RPR figure. This was her third win in the UK. The furthest she has gone is two and a half-miles and she does not look devoid of speed suggesting the Mares Hurdle may come into play along with the Champion Hurdle. Annie Power tends to race with the choke out leading one to suggest at this stage of her career one the shorter trips may prove the way to go. With Quevega pleasing at home and the race seemingly up for grabs, a shot at the World Hurdle may be on the cards. Her form in the Punchestown version of the World Hurdle is rock solid.

Valdez kept his unbeaten record over fences when successful at Doncaster. He took a while to get going having not jumped as well as he can. A likeable sort, he cannot be discounted in what is, at present, an open-looking Arkle.

Hurricane Fly completed his third win in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown. The race was run in a time just under two seconds slower than the maiden hurdle. Despite an untidy jump at the last flight, “The Fly” found enough reserves to hold off the persistent challenge of Our Conor. The latter is improving all the time but may lack the strength for a Champion Hurdle at this stage of his career. However, it is worth noting he improved his best juvenile RPR by 14lb when successful in the Triumph Hurdle. Jezki is not going to improve into a realistic contender until he settles in his races. He is a strong looking horse that should make a chaser one day. However, over hurdles I see no reason why he will reverse form Supreme Novices Hurdle with MTOY in the Champion Hurdle. Indeed, that form indicates MTOY and Hurricane Fly have similar claims to the opening day’s showpiece.

Trifolium took the Irish Arkle in good style. However, the race was something of a disappointment with both Felix Yonger and Mozoltov running well below their respective form shown in December. Perhaps the winner was the one most at home on the prevailing ground underhoof.

FSF

FORM ONLY

HURRICANE FLY Career best figure

168

174

MY TENT OR YOURS

165

169

THE NEW ONE

163

169

JEZKI

163

167

HURRICANE FLY 2013-14 Figure

162

172

ZARKANDAR

160

165

GRANDOUET

159

164

ANNIE POWER*

158

164

OUR CONOR

158

167

P’TIT ZIG

154

159

UN DE SCEAUX

153

157

MELODIC REDEZVOUS

153

155

*Annie Power receives 7lb mares allowance which should be added to her figure

Filed Under: Cheltenham Festival 2014, Festival Trials Day, Review Tagged With: Festival Trials Day, review

Knockara Beau: King For A Day

January 28, 2014 by Nigel Keeling 1 Comment

Knockara Beau: King For A Day

Festival Trials Day has become one of the most eagerly anticipated meetings in the Jump Racing calendar. A huge crowd poured into Prestbury Park with the return of the mighty Big Buck’s the main attraction. The Cleeve Hurdle had been targeted by Team Ditcheat for the all-conquering staying hurdler. Off the track for more than a year and facing a small yet powerful field, this was certain to be a difficult starting point. With Sam Twiston-Davies taking the ride for the first time and obvious question marks over Big Buck’s fitness, his record breaking run would be under serious threat. And so it proved in a thrilling finish. Facing several younger progressive types the major shock was to see him beaten by another 11-year-old in Knockara Beau. George Charlton’s stable star had failed to get his nose in front in 15 previous visits to the home of jump racing. He had run some terrific races in defeat. Previously seconds and fourths in the Cleeve, along with a third place in the Argento Chase, had shown the horses liking for Trials Day. Good enough to place fourth and fifth in a RSA and a Neptune at the Festival, the horse is undoubtedly a class act. But Saturday’s victory, so long overdue, is certain to go down as his finest performance. To conquer Cheltenham a horse has to love the famous hill. Even in numerous defeats, Knockara provided eye-catching finishes, storming up the final climb to the finish. Indeed had the line been a further furlong up the lung bursting slope then he would surely have broken his Cheltenham duck many years ago. In truth his sensational win at the weekend had looked unlikely running downhill to the second last. With all five of his rivals ahead of him, he appeared to be struggling to stay in touch. But as so often, at this most famous of tracks, the hill would have the final say. Three in a line at the last, with Big Buck’s fitness tested to the full, first Knockara Beau and then a rejuvenated At Fishers Cross, headed the favourite. At the line only a short head and three-quarters of a length separated the warriors. Jan Faltejsek punched the air in the knowledge that he, and his mighty challenger from the north, had finally achieved the dream. There is little doubt that a stunned Cheltenham crowd had hoped for another victory for the great Big Buck’s. Earlier in the midst of a mighty storm, crowds had applauded the arrival of the champion in the parade ring. But many later through social media voiced their annoyance at the style of defeat. Rather than a time of anger and frustration I am only able to see the result as a time of celebration. If ever a horse, trainer and jockey deserved their moment of glory then surely it was Knockara, George Charlton and Jan. The reason Jump Racing fans invest so much emotion in this wonderous sport is epitomized in Knockara Beau. Alastair Down called him “a magnificent-looking beast of an 11-year-old” in his own touching column in Sunday’s Racing Post. We fall in love with these warriors and rightly rejoice in their success. Big Buck’s will be back in March, and fighting fit for Saturday’s exertions, he has every chance of taking the World Hurdle crown once again. But surely no-one could deny this moment for Knockara, who in defeating Jump Racing royalty became King for a day.

Filed Under: Festival Trials Day Tagged With: Cheltenham Trials Day, Cleeve Hurdle, Knockara Beau

Look to Neptune on Festival Trials Day to find the brightest stars

January 23, 2014 by Nigel Keeling Leave a Comment

Look to Neptune on Festival Trials Day to find the brightest stars

There can be little doubt that further Festival clues will be revealed on Saturday, as Cheltenham hold the meeting known as Trials Day. Trainers often target this weekend as it enables a favourable six week break for their equine stars before the ‘big one’ in March.

The meeting rarely fails to deliver. On Trials Day in 2007 the race now known as The Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle, was won by Wichita Lineman. He defeated Tidal Bay, with Massini’s Maguire back in third. The winner made a successful return to Prestbury Park in the 3m novice hurdle (now the Albert Bartlett) at that year’s Festival, whilst Massini’s Maguire beat Tidal Bay into second in the 2m5f novice hurdle (now the Neptune).

The same Trials Day renewal in 2011 saw Bobs Worth defeat Rock On Ruby. The former went on to win the Albert Bartlett whilst the latter was pipped at the post in the Neptune. And who could forget last season’s race when At Fishers Cross outfought The New One in a thrilling finish. Both went on to glory at The Festival, in the Albert Bartlett and Neptune respectively.

The quality of this trial race over the years is undeniable. Future Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle and Arkle winners have come from the race. It’s interesting to note that the winner was often stepped up in trip when the Festival arrived whilst defeated horses often continued along the 2m5f route.

This year’s renewal may lack a truly eye-catching entrant, yet still looks likely to be contested by top stables including Willie Mullins, Nicky Henderson and David Pipe. Indeed, the undefeated Red Sherlock is arguably one of the Pipe team’s potential stars.

Another horse of great interest is Nick Williams Aubusson. He won over course and distance on New Years’ Day and had a very strong field behind him. The likely soft or even heavy ground on Saturday is sure to suit, and I would anticipate a big run from this talented youngster.

Whatever the outcome, several names are certain to enter the notebook with a view to the Festival in March. If history is anything to go by, this ‘Neptune’ trial will again guide us to future Cheltenham stars.

Filed Under: Festival Trials Day Tagged With: Festival Trials Day, horse racing, horses to follow, Jump Racing

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