JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial |
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| Grade 2, Cheltenham 12:40 £30,000 added, 3yo only, 2m 87y, Class 1  |
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| Saturday 12th November 2016 | |
1 Defi Du Seuil 5/4F
2 Diable De Sivola 8/1
3 Lambeau Field 33/1
9 ran Distances: 1¾l, 58l, 1¾l
TIME 4m 6.70s (slow by 15.70s)
Defi Du Seuil bolts up in gruelling Triumph Trial
Defi Du Seuil produced a commanding performance to comfortably justify 5/4 favouritism.
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The Philip Hobbs-trained three-year-old was always travelling powerfully for jockey Barry Geraghty and, while his task was made somewhat easier by the fall of Dino Velvet at the final flight, he had looked all over the winner at that point and his jockey only had to let out an inch of rein to get the better of runner-up Diable De Sivola and record a length and three quarter success.
Geraghty was encouraged by the run of Defi Du Seuil, who is owned by his retaining owner J P McManus, and thought there was more to come from the juvenile hurdler.
"He travelled really well didn't he?" said the jockey.
"They went a nice pace and I'd say he's a nice type. He's only a juvenile but he's got plenty of scope and I'd say his future lies over fences.
"The ground is between good to soft and soft - probably more on the soft side.
"I suppose it's possible he could be a Triumph Hurdle horse but you only have to look at the strength of this race and that will tell you how good he is so far.
"He's a good type of horse and the right type to get better as he goes on but whether he'd be good enough for a Triumph, it's a bit too early to say."
Diable De Sivola finished second by a length and three-quarters, with a further 58 lengths back to Lambeau Field in third.
Diable De Sivola was trained by Nick Williams and ridden by Lizzie Kelly. The French-bred three-year-old is owned by Robert Forster, who bought him as a yearling.
Forster said: "I'm very pleased with that - and very excited. Lizzie rode him exactly as she said she would - hold out the back and then about four out, come through. It was perfect; she's a great jockey.
"I have a number of horses with Jane and Nick - they source them for me and Lizzie rides them.
"I personally think the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at The Festival might be the aim, but I will be guided by the Williams'."
Charlie Longsdon is already looking to the future for Lambeau Field, who stayed on up the hill to claim third place.
He said: "He's a big, weak backward horse so I'm really happy with that. He didn't handle the ground but Aidan [Coleman] looked after him. He had a hard race so we'll definitely give him a break now and bring him back in the spring for a handicap. He's more of a three-mile chaser - he'll be a lovely horse in time.
"I know he got beaten a long way but, apart from the first two, the others were nursed home. You don't want to bottom a horse at this time of the year.
"I think he's got a really nice future, certainly over the longer trips. He won't be over-raced this season, that's for sure."
JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial
(Registered As The Prestbury Juvenile Hurdle) (Grade 2)
£30,000 added, 3yo only, 2m 87y, Class 1
9 ran
Going: Good to Soft
| Pos | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Defi Du Seuil (FR) 5/4f | B J Geraghty 10-12 |
P J Hobbs | 3 | |
| 2nd | 1¾ | Diable De Sivola (FR) 8/1 | Lizzie Kelly 11-2 |
Nick Williams | 3 |
| 3rd | 58 | Lambeau Field (USA) 33/1 | Aidan Coleman 10-12 |
C E Longsdon | 3 |
| 4th | 1¾ | Hazamar (IRE) 66/1 | P Townend 10-12 |
Mrs S Leech | 3 |
| 5th | 8 | Red Hot Chilly (IRE) 33/1 | Ian Popham 10-12 |
D Burchell | 3 |
| PU | Wealth Des Mottes (FR) 7/2 | Sean Bowen 11-5 |
P F Nicholls | 3 | |
| PU | East Indies 14/1 | Joshua Moore 11-2 |
G L Moore | 3 | |
| PU | Nucky Thompson 10/1 | N D Fehily 11-2 |
Richard Spencer | 3 | |
| F | Dino Velvet (FR) 6/1 | Wayne Hutchinson 10-12 |
A King | 3 |
