JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Finesse)

Off time: 12:42 | Winning time: 4m 26.3s

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Selected odds by:

Broughtons Admiral¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Lee Edwards| T: A Ralph

50/1

Moderate performer on the Flat, placing five times in 10 starts and achieved an official rating of 60 in that discipline. Didn't jump well enough on hurdles debut at Hereford when fifth of 10 and likely outsider here.

Form: 5

Elixir De Nutz¹¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White

10/1

Impressive winner of a French bumper in October and subsequently acquired by this yard. Thrown in at the deep end for UK debut but yard do well with these types and betting market likely to be informative.

Form: 1

Erick Le Rouge³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Lizzie Kelly| T: Nick Williams

25/1

Produced a respectable effort on debut at Bangor and took a small step forward at Newbury when fourth of 12 in deeper contest. Form of that race nothing to write home about though and plenty more on his plate here.

Form: 44

Look My Way²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: T Scudamore| T: J & S Quinn

5/1

Heavy ground winner off 79 on the Flat and finished runner-up on hurdles/yard debut before an easy success last time at Ludlow. Looked particularly babyish in the closing stages, jumping right before hanging left in closing stages; needs to improve.

Form: 21

Ulysses^p²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: F Brennan| OR: 109

100/1

Moderate performer on the Flat and has changed yards twice since the summer. Encouraging effort in a seller at Fakenham but too much improvement needed to consider him threat to the principles here.

Form: 42

Apple's Shakira⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: B J Geraghty| T: N J Henderson| CD

1/7

Won her sole start in France before switching to this yard and producing two breathtaking performances here. A shade keen in the early stages last time but hard to oppose with plenty more to come and looks capable of maintaining her unbeaten record.

Form: 111

Forecasts

Apple's Shakira (1/7), Look My Way (5/1), Elixir De Nutz (10/1), Erick Le Rouge (25/1), Broughtons Admiral (50/1), Ulysses (100/1)

APPLE'S SHAKIRA has been outstanding in two previous Cheltenham efforts this season and she looks capable of making it three wins from three starts for her current yard. Elixir De Nutz is an interesting acquisition for the Phillip Hobbs yard and he may prove the main danger to the selection. Look My Way didn't look the easiest ride last time but he ought to have the measure of the remaining runners.