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16:50 Cheltenham
Wednesday 15 March 2017
All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30
Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
- 4YO only | Class 1 | 2m 87y | Good to Soft (Good in places) | 22 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 16:54 | Winning time: 3m 58.1s
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Yard won this with another French import in 2012. Showed a good battling attitude to beat leading Triumph Hurdle hope Master Blueyes at Huntingdon. Would have met that rival on 15lb better terms had he come here instead. That form makes him impossible to ignore.
Beaten by Nietzsche on hurdling debut but has made giant strides since then. Has a useful turn of foot which is needed in these races. Yet to race on a track as stiff as this but remains an interesting contender.
Trainer likes him a lot and has brought him along with this meeting in mind. Has struggled in better company having beaten Poker Play at Kempton. Latest effort gives him something to find with Project Bluebook.
Looks like a typical runner from the stable that has been brought along with the big festivals in mind. Beat two subsequent winners when scoring at Hereford to earn his rating of 135 and then finished runner-up to Master Blueyes. That gives him something to find with the topweight but the trainer/jockey combination earns him respect.
Stable had the first two in this last year and have won two other renewals. As they were all French imports this Chepstow winner will have plenty of support. Has come up against smart horses on his last two starts and is not overburdened.
Beat a reliable yardstick at Newbury. That form suggests he is no more than fairly handicapped in this and a subsequent defeat at Kempton confirms that. Yard are 0-35 at the Festival.
Winner of two small races and failed when tested against stronger opposition. Has twice accounted for Dakota Moirette and he appeals as the more likely of the two as being suited to this course. Jockey booking enhances his prospects.
Beaten at long odds-on by Fidux on first run having been purchased for £280,000 at the Cheltenham 2016 December Sales. Should clearly be capable of better judged on his 1L defeat by Charli Parcs at Enghien. Stable have done well with French imports in this having had one winner and four placed horses since 2007. Tongue-tie now fitted.
Impressive winner of two small races and clearly holds Nietzsche on the first of them. Made a crucial error in only defeat, which came here. Hard to evaluate on what has been achieved so far and handicapper does not appear to have risked too much.
Looks held by Dolos and has not shown signs of the progress needed to turn the tables. Has landed a couple of small races and readily outpointed by the Triumph Hurdle favourite last time.
Looks well held by a number of these on various form lines. Handicap mark appears to be based on a flattering effort behind Defi Du Seuil here in November. Yard are 0-35 at this meeting.
Earned his place in the line-up with a couple of minor victories before Christmas. Neither of those efforts suggest he has been leniently treated by the handicapper.
Has the profile of other winners his yard has had in this race. His bare form does not look good enough but the Nicholls-factor earns him some respect.
Latest effort represents improvement and gives him a chance to reverse placings with Prospectus on today's terms. Represents a yard that have won this previously and have been unlucky not to have had more success. Another who could add to the tally of French-bred winners but free-running style is not ideal for this track.
Has his fair share of weight and the handicapper has set him a stiff task as he attempts to turn around deficits with Project Bluebook and Domperignon Du Lys. Good honest sort who will be suited by the gallop but astute trainer needs to pull several pounds from somewhere.
Much depends on whether he settles for young rider. Has looked short of stamina in recent outings having raced keenly. Tongue-tie now fitted but has a lot to find on form.
Building up a frustrating profile and hard to excuse latest defeat. Has been found wanting in a battle before and that is not a trait you want in a race as tough as this.
Should finish closer to Dreamcatching than she did at Wincanton. That form may not be good enough so fair to assume significant improvement will be required.
Looks fairly treated judged by his efforts so far and his 3L defeat by Don Bersy is the pick of his form. Suited to waiting tactics and may have hit the front too soon last time. Could be suited to the pace of this race.
Beat Zig Zag 9L last August and weighted to confirm that form. A line through that horse and subsequent efforts suggest there are better options in this.
His lack of physical presence would be a concern in a race like this. Has not looked a natural jumper and recent form doesn't look up to scratch for winning this.
Has shown a tendency to get worked up before his races and to race too freely. Neither trait will help him here. Has been off the course since the Triumph Trial here in December, form which gives him a lot to find with the projected principles.
Forecasts
Divin Bere (9/2), Linger (7/1), Domperignon Du Lys (8/1), Long Call (9/1), Dino Velvet (11/1), Nietzsche (12/1), Dolos (12/1), Dreamcatching (12/1), Project Bluebook (14/1), Prospectus (14/1), Percy Street (16/1), Poker Play (16/1), Dakota Moirette (25/1), Icario (25/1), Flying Tiger (33/1), Diable De Sivola (33/1), Fadas (40/1), Rainbow Dreamer (50/1), Candy Burg (50/1), Fidux (50/1), Zig Zag (66/1), Dodgybingo (80/1)
Recent results show how hard this race is to solve and that favourites do not fare well. That being said DIVIN BERE is taken to continue what is already proving to be a brilliant Festival for his yard. He was weak in the market before his Huntingdon defeat of Master Blueyes. That rival was strongly fancied and has gone on to develop into a leading contender for the Triumph Hurdle. The fact that Divin Bere looked and ran as though he would improve for the run augurs well for his prospects given that he was set to receive 15lb from that same rival in this. Master Blueyes' trainer Alan King is well represented and Dino Velvet could prove the pick. His second to Don Bersy is good form and he looks the ideal sort to be suited by his race. Paul Nicholls has an outstanding record in this and Dolos looks the pick of his runners.
- Divin Bere
- Dino Velvet
- Dolos
Previous Winners
Prize Money
1st: £45,560.002nd: £17,096.003rd: £8,560.004th: £4,264.005th: £2,144.006th: £1,072.00
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