1.50pm - Grade 2 Coral Adonis Juvenile Hurdle
The first two in the market could be pretty nice horses in the long run, both unbeaten over hurdles having had the two runs each. Givemefive has had both of his runs in the UK, whereas the Paul Nicholls-trained Kalif Du Berlais has had one start in France, and one in the UK, catching the eye over course and distance.
His sole performance back in France came at Compiegne and that was a very nice performance, so naturally he attracted plenty of interest from the UK-based top-end owners, eventually ending up with the Ferguson, Mason, Hales & Done partnership.
He was sent off the short-priced favourite for his UK debut over course and distance last time, where he jumped left on occasions, but still made all to win unchallenged, keeping on very well as he headed to the line.
The Triumph Hurdle is not really on the agenda for connections, so it will likely be this on the way to Aintree, as that is a meeting Paul tends to do much better at and aim his horses for.
Kalif Du Berlais looks to be a really nice prospect for the team, and although he will be tested against a nice rival of Harry Derham's here, this will be the perfect test for him at this stage in his career.
2.27pm - Grade 2 Coral Pendil Novices Chase
I think this sort of trip will suit La Patron a bit better than two miles, and even though he does have Grade 1 form, where that form has been franked nicely, I think the three-week turnaround from his last run is a shade concerning here.
Blow Your Wad is a nice horse that I like and well-fancied to win at Cheltenham last time, however he finished disappointingly.
Therefore I land on the only mare in the field, who therefore she gets the valuable allowance, the Nicky Henderson-trained Arclight. She was a decent enough Flat horse for Sir Mark Prescott, and since then has been pitched into some decent novice contests since going to Seven Barrows, and although having just five runs and two wins over hurdles, she has since looked a very good chaser in the making.
A winner of all three of her runs over the larger obstacles, that includes wins at Kempton, Exeter and Wincanton, gradually taking a slight step up in class in her stride nicely. The form of that Wincanton win has since been franked,as recently as Thursday, when Marsh Wren went over to Ireland to win the Listed Coolrevy contest at Thurles.
She seems to be very much on an upward trajectory at the moment, and could easily improve into a 145-plus rated horse, and landing this Grade 2 will surely make her that sort of horse here.
She does have quite the step up in class to deal with here, but I think like all of her runs over fences at this stage, she will just take it very much in her stride.
3.00pm - Grade 2 Coral Dovecote Novices Hurdle
Although there isn't much between the form and ratings of Lump Sum and Fiercely Proud, it is the latter I would be siding with here - purely based on the fact he looked to still be learning his job in the Rossington Main Hurdle last time, where he ran on pretty well in the closing stages.
Ben Pauling’s horses are very much in a purple patch at the moment, as the yard operates at a very good 30% win strike rate, with Ben Jones at the forefront of those winners with his own 40% strike rate.
Fiercely Proud was a decent winner of both of his first two runs over hurdles, winning at Hereford then backing that up under a penalty to win at Taunton, scraping home but always doing enough to win under the penalty.
He then took a step up in class to run in the Grade 2 Supreme Trial at Haydock last time, and although he came 3rd (2nd was Lump Sum) he was only beaten by a couple of lengths, always staying on at the same pace. That was a decent race and was on good ground conditions, so the expected softer ground here should suit him (as he has previously won on softer going) and given the fact he is a real galloper, he should be staying on the best to win this contest.
He could still be improving as he is very lightly raced, and given how well the Ben Pauling horses are going at the moment, he is the one to side with for me.
Selection Summary:
- 1.50 - Kalif Du Berlais (10/11)
- 2.27 - Arclight (4/1)
- 3.00 - Fiercely Proud (10/3)
As a treble it pays around 40/1 at the time of writing (prices from PlanetSportbet and subject to change).
Previews and tips provided by @ Jake Russell