12:10 Cheltenham

Saturday 14 December 2019

All12:1012:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:40

JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle

Off time: 12:10 | Winning time: 4m 21.57s

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Selected odds by:

Langer Dan⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 128

5/1

Having taken a Ludlow juvenile on his hurdling debut (beat some moderate Flat types) he took the rise in class when winning a Listed contest at Wetherby in his stride. Two wins means has to give weight to all bar one rival, will improve some more.

Form: 11

Botox Has²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 11-2| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 132

8/11

Confirmed the form that he had shown in France some six months previously when taking a Fontwell juvenile easily in October on GB/stable debut. Better still when runner-up here last time looking as though the experience will have brought him on.

Form: 2-12

Group Stage³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 11-2| J: Adrian Heskin| T: A King

8/1

Flat maiden who despite not winning in that sphere showed some fair form and duly stepped up a level on his hurdling debut at Ludlow (2m). Handled the test well although he gave the impression a stiffer test would suit; in good hands, should improve.

Form: 1

Hereia⁹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 11-2| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland

33/1

First run for this yard having won a Roscommon juvenile on his hurdling debut (soft ground), had some fair form on the Flat despite remaining a maiden. Ran well under a penalty when last seen over hurdles (matched winning form); should be respected.

Form: 14

Art Of Diplomacy¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M & D Easterby

100/1

Hamilton 1m4f handicap winner in September his Flat form was useful overall buy he was friendless in the market for his Newcastle hurdling debut. Ran below the expected level, made mistakes and has the look of a longer-term project, others preferred.

Form: 4

Elysian Flame⁶⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: P J Brennan| T: M & D Easterby

4/1

One of two that the stable run in this with this one having some progressive Flat form to his name over the summer/autumn. No doubt that he has the ability to be successful in this sphere; the market may well be the best guide to expectations.

Form:

Rikoboy⁵³

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland

12/1

Ex-French chaser/hurdler; yet to win a race despite showing some useful form in both of those jumping disciplines. Makes GB/stable debut (yard good record with stable switchers); placed on his last two starts, positive market vibes would interest.

Form: 48-2723

Say The Word³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: J J Burke| T: T R George

40/1

Runner-up on all his three AW Flat starts when trained by Simon Crisford he looked in need of the experience on his Ludlow (2m, heavy) hurdles debut. Faded to finish fourth (behind Group Stage); entitled to do better although this looks out of reach.

Form: 4

Non-Runners

Repetitio¹

Weight: 11-2| Age: 3

T: N J Hawke J: David Noonan

Tremwedge¹³

Weight: 10-12| Age: 3

T: Miss Ellmarie Holden J: R Johnson

Forecasts

Botox Has (8/11), Elysian Flame (4/1), Tremwedge (4/1), Langer Dan (5/1), Repetitio (13/2), Group Stage (8/1), Rikoboy (12/1), Hereia (33/1), Say The Word (40/1), Art Of Diplomacy (100/1)

An intriguing opener in a race where its hard to draw all the various form lines together. The standard looks to be set by Gary Moore’s Botox Has who bolted up at Fontwell on his GB debut before getting close to one of the Triumph favourites in a Grade 2 here last time. Langer Dan 2-2 over hurdles now has to concede weight to all bar one of his rivals the exception being Friday’s handicap winner over C&D Repetitio; he’ll find this a tougher test if taking his chance. Tremwedge and Rikoboy have something of an unknown quantity about them so GROUP STAGE gets tentative vote. Alan King’s useful Flat type showed that he had taken well to hurdles at Ludlow, this stiffer test will suit far better.