Wetherby Racecourse

Cheltenham Festival

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John Smith's Hurdle (Registered As The West Yorkshire Hurdle) Grade 2 (Class 1) (4yo+) 28/10/06

1st 5 Redemption 12/1
2nd 10 My Way De Solzen 4/9
3rd 6 Tees Components 17/2

Last season's World Hurdle winner My Way De Solzen was surprisingly beaten by Redemption, under a confident ride from Timmy Murphy, in the John Smith's Hurdle at Wetherby.

My Way De Solzen, sent off the 4-9 favourite, made most of the running in the Grade Two event and turned for home still travelling strongly.

Redemption made smooth progress to breathe down that rival's neck, however, and after jumping to the front two out, he galloped on strongly to keep Alan King's charge at bay.

The 12-1 winner fluffed the last but had the race in safe keeping, eventually passing the post six lengths to the good over My Way De Solzen.

Keith Reveley's 11-year-old Tees Components claimed third spot, a further six lengths behind the first two.

Winning owner Michael Purtill said: "That was fantastic - there's life in the old horse yet. He's full of surprises and ran well in the race last year so we came here quietly optimistic and he's run a great race.

"He could go back over fences or he could stay hurdling but what happens next is down to Nigel (Twiston-Davies)."

Redemption was introduced at 25-1 by Stan James for the British Horseracing Board Order Of Merit Series. King added of the second: "He was 20 kilos above his racing weight and I just can't get him fit at home. He'll come on a lot for this.

"This has made the decision to go chasing easier, and as long as he jumps fences OK, he will go to Newbury.

"He hasn't schooled yet but the way he jumps hurdles means you'd be optimistic about the future. Don't be surprised if I drop him back to two miles and he'll probably be effective over two and a half."

Tees Components Primed For John Smith's Hurdle
25/10/06

Veteran hurdler Tees Components is reported to be as good as ever ahead of a stiff test against the young stars of the three-mile hurdle division in a fantastic renewal of the Grade Two £40,000 John Smith's Hurdle at Wetherby on Saturday, October 28.

Saltburn trainer Keith Reveley is thrilled with the form of the 11-year-old, who made a winning return from injury in a mile and three-quarter Haydock Flat handicap on September 23, and followed up with a second place in a two and a quarter mile York handicap on the level on October 7, when conceding over two stone to the winner Juniper Girl.

Reveley revealed today: "All being well, Tees Components runs in the John Smith's Hurdle on Saturday. He was injured at Wetherby in a beginners' chase at the Christmas meeting when he chipped a bone in a hind joint, but he came back fine, probably as good as ever - certainly on the Flat anyway. His last two races on the Flat would be as good as he's ever shown."

Tees Components was a high-class bumper horse in his younger days, winning a Grade Two Championship' contest at Chepstow in December, 2001, while over hurdles he added the Grade Two River Don Novices' Hurdle at Doncaster in January, 2003.

Injuries have hampered Tees Components' career, but he posted a smart effort in last year's renewal of the Grade Two John Smith's Hurdle when finishing third to the then reigning champion stayer, Inglis Drever.

Reveley said: "He ran well in the race last year. He led at the second last and then Inglis Drever came past us quite easily, but he wasn't disgraced and hopefully he won't be disgraced this time. He'll go on any ground other than firm, so he should be ok.

"It's a tough ask against some of those horses that will turn up on Saturday, but he's in good form and we'll have another go."

The prestigious Grade Two John Smith's Hurdle promises to be a thrilling contest, with last season's unbeaten champion novice Black Jack Ketchum set to lock horns with Grade One Ladbrokes World Hurdle hero My Way De Solzen, and Grade One winner No Refuge.

Reveley is set to have several runners at Wetherby on Saturday, October 28, day two of the Yorkshire course's high-quality bet365 Charlie Hall Meeting.

The trainer reported: "Bayside, The Ring and Celtic Carisma will run in the bet365 Novices' Hurdle (4.00pm), provided they don't get balloted out. It will be a maximum field so we'll have to wait and see what happens with that.

"Bayside was a decent bumper horse two seasons ago when he won two from four. He had a little niggling problem and we gave him some time off. He's coming back off quite a long break now, so he'll probably need the run but is a nice horse in the making."

The five-year-old's stable-mate Celtic Carisma, a four-time winner on the Flat, is having her first outing over hurdles, while The Ring is returning from a two-year absence.

The two-mile contest could see the hurdles debut of Tidal Bay, second to Pangbourne in the Grade Two John Smith's Champion Standard National Hunt Flat Race at Aintree in April, before being purchased for 300,000 guineas to race out of Howard Johnson's County Durham yard.

Reveley could also be represented by Totally Scottish in the bet365 Handicap Hurdle (5.10pm) over an extended two and a half miles. The 10-year-old won over the course and distance on heavy ground in May, defeating Celtic Blaze by half a length.

The trainer reported: "Totally Scottish is getting a bit long in the tooth and is not that well handicapped but will take his chance. He won a claimer over the course and distance but his best form was in a decent three-mile handicap around Southwell.

"Two and a half miles around Wetherby would be on the sharp side for him. He's in good form though and you never know. He's an honest old horse who always does his best."

Wetherby Racecourse's bet365 Charlie Hall Meeting takes place on Friday, October 27, and Saturday, October 28. Day one has a competitive seven-race card sponsored exclusively by bet365, which commences at 1.20pm with the bet365.com Beginners' Chase, and features the £13,000 bet365 Call 08000 322 365 White Rose Handicap Chase over two miles (3.35pm).

The feature race of a high-class seven-race card on day two is the prestigious £90,000 Grade Two bet365 Charlie Hall Chase (3.25pm) over three miles, one furlong, which should see several Cheltenham Gold Cup aspirants go to post, including last year's bet365 Charlie Hall Chase winner Ollie Magern, 2005 Betfair Chase victor Kingscliff, last season's top-class novice Star de Mohaison, Our Vic, Monkerhostin, Iris's Gift, Take The Stand and Irish raider Church Island.

Charlie Hall Chase Day commences at 1.45pm with the Listed Constant Security Wensleydale Juvenile Novices' Hurdle over two miles.

GOING

James Sanderson, Clerk Of The Course at Wetherby, reported this afternoon: "The ground is good to soft at present. The forecast is a for a good drop of rain tonight."

Admission prices for Friday, October 27: Premier Enclosure £19; Paddock Enclosure £12; Course £4; Pick of the Paddock (advanced only) £16; Cars to Course (incl. four adults) £14; OAPs to Course £2; Children under 16 (accompanied by an adult) are admitted free; Coach and car parking is free.

Admission prices for bet365 Charlie Hall Chase day, Saturday, October 28: Premier Enclosure £26; Paddock Enclosure £15; Course £5; Pick of the Paddock (advanced only) £19; Cars to Course (incl. four adults) £17; OAPs to Course £2.50; Children under 16 (accompanied by an adult) are admitted free; Coach and car parking is free.