3.05 – Unibet International Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m179y
CH’TIBELLO 8-y-o b g
Trainer: Dan Skelton
Jockey: Harry Skelton
Official Rating: 157
Weight: 11-4
Ch'tibello placed fourth in the corresponding contest in 2017 but clearly demonstrated his liking for this course and distance when landing the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Dan Skelton's vastly experienced eight-year-old will be having his first outing since placing third behind Supasundae and Buveur D'Air in the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle, and he is more than capable of making his presence felt if ready to fire on his seasonal reappearance.
GUMBALL 5-y-o gr g
Trainer: Philip Hobbs
Jockey: Ben Jones
Official Rating: 152
Weight: 11-4
Gumball arrives here on a steep upward curve and rallied well to get within a neck of victory in Grade 3 Unibet Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham last month.
Philip Hobbs’ rapidly improving grey scored a game front-running success in the Listed Sodexo Handicap Hurdle at Ascot on his penultimate outing, and his determined attitude and enthusiastic style of running makes it hard to predict where his progression will end.
Naturally, this represents another step up the steep class ladder. However, he is right in the mix on official ratings and upcoming conditional jockey Ben Jones, who secured his biggest success to date when landing the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury two-weeks-ago, will maintain the partnership tomorrow.
Another fittingly brilliant finish at the home of jumps racing.
Alan King's Harambe edges home in front of Monsieur Lecoq and the gallant Gumball to land the Greatwood.pic.twitter.com/87vrxXUHYj
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) November 17, 2019
LE PATRIOTE 7-y-o b g
Trainer: Dr Richard Newland
Jockey: Richard Johnson
Official Rating: 154
Weight: 11-4
Le Patriote was two places behind the re-opposing Call Me Lord at Ascot last month and is worth trying in this company after landing back-to-back competitive handicaps at Cheltenham and Haydock during the spring.
Dr Richard Newland's smart seven-year-old brought-up a hat-trick of victories when successfully defying a mark of 148 in the Grade 3 Swinton Handicap Hurdle at Haydock in May. Naturally, more will be required to land this Grade 2 prize. However, this is an open contest on paper and a bold showing can not be ruled out.
ELIXIR DE NUTZ 5-y-o gr g
Trainer: Colin Tizzard
Jockey: Harry Cobden
Official Rating: 153
Weight: 11-3
Elixir De Nutz hasn't be sighted since landing the Grade 1 Unibet Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown in January. However, clearly connections feel that the French-bred can develop into a genuine Unibet Champion Hurdle contender this winter. Therefore, the course and distance winner, who improved for every outing last season, warrants plenty of respect.
The progressive son of Al Namix defeated Itchy Feet, Jarveys Plate, Grand Sancy and Southfield Stone amongstothers before injury robbed him of his chance to contest the Supreme Novices' Hurdle in March. Therefore, he is hard to weigh up in the context of this race but he could easily have more to offer if fully tuned-up after 11 months off the track.
PENTLAND HILLS 4-y-o b g
Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Jockey: Nico De Boinville
Official Rating: 153
Weight: 11-3
Pentland Hills caused a 20/1 surprise in the Triumph in March, but confirmed that success to be no fluke when defeating the super exciting Fakir D'oudaries in Grade 1 company at Aintree.
The Seven Barrows inmate, who was 3 lengths too good for recent Grade 2 WKD Hurdle scorer Coeur Sublime at the Cheltenham Festival, is now 3-3 over hurdles and is no bigger than 8/1 for the Unibet Champion Hurdle in March. Therefore, success in this contest could send shockwaves through the antepost markets.
BALLYANDY 8-y-o b g
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies
Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
Official Rating: 151
Weight: 11-0
Ballyandy failed to see out the 3 mile trip in the Grade 2 West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby last month and will drop back to 2 miles for the first time since placing fourth in the 2017 Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
The 2016 Champion Bumper winner ran a huge race to place third in last season's Coral Cup off a mark of 148 and now finds himself in limbo both in terms of trip and class. However, the experienced eight-year-old should be well suited to the more stamina demanding new course and Sam Twiston-Davies will be keen to ensure that this doesn't develop into a test of speed.
BIG BLUE 7-y-o ch g
Trainer: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Jockey: Jonathan Burke
Official Rating: Unrated
Weight: 11-0
Australian based performer Big Blue brings international flair to this Unibet International Hurdle and rates a fascinating contender on his first trip to Britain.
Rated 108 on the level, this chestnut son of Galileo will undoubtedly face his sternest test to date. However, he does arrive with form figures of 1121 over hurdles and will handle soft conditions. Therefore, he is no forlorn hope.
CALL ME LORD 6-y-o b/br g
Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Jockey: James Bowen
Official Rating: 160
Weight: 11-0
Call Me Lord travelled menacing well prior to being out-stayed by Aintree Grade 1 winner If The Cap Fits in the Grade 2 Coral Hurdle at Ascot three-weeks-ago. However, he has plenty in his favour now dropping back in trip.
The Simon Munir and Isaac Souede owned six-year-old is the highest rated runner in this Grade 2 contest and he displayed his class when placing third – one place behind the re-opposing Monsieur Lecoq, whom received 32lbs – in the Grade 3 Imperial Cup off top-weight in March.
The Seven Barrows inmate will receive weight from his main market rivals and may go slightly under the radar given the presence of his better fancied stablemate. However, he will handle conditions and rates a very big player on these terms.
MONSIEUR LECOQ 5-y-o b g
Trainer: Mrs Jane Williams
Jockey: Lizzie Kelly
Official Rating: 150
Weight: 11-0
Monsieur Lecoq was only beaten two necks in the Unibet Greatwood Hurdle last month after pulling like a train for the first mile of the Grade 3 contest. Therefore, he is well worth trying at this level and could easily outperform market expectations is settling better in the early stages.
Jane Williams’ progressive five-year-old placed second in the ultra-competitive Grade 3 Imperial Cup at Sandown in March, and he ran out a cosy winner of the Welsh Champion Hurdle on his seasonal reappearance at Ffos Las.
The smart son of Diamond Boy is clearly progressing at a rate of knots and will appreciate any rainfall that may arrive.
SUMMARY:
Gumball and Monsieur Lecoq have earned their place in this contest by virtue of their exploits in competitive handicap company. While course and distance winners Ch’Tibello and Elixir De Nutz could easily go close if fully wound-up on their seasonal reappearances. Dual Grade 1 winning juvenile hurdler Pentland Hills is already a single figure price for the Champion Hurdle in March and could be anything at this stage of his career. However, stablemate CALL ME LORD is a very big player on these terms and may be the answer to this tricky Grade 2 puzzle. The Simon Munir and Isaac Souede owned six-year-old is officially the highest rated runner this field and he will strip fitter for his runner-up effort at Ascot three-weeks-ago. The smart son of Slickly should be well suited by dropping back in trip and he will not be inconvenienced by the weather.
- Call Me Lord
- Pentland Hills
- Monsieur Lecoq
Stuart Williams (@Jimbo_JumpsMan)
