The two UK Grade 1’s run over the weekend provided racegoers and analysts with greater insight into this season’s novices’ hurdle division.
It looked like a competitive renewal of the Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown on Saturday, with half of the eight-runner field unbeaten over timber.
Harry Cobden rides a third Gr1 winner in 13 days as Tahmuras returns after the Tolworth (Pic – Dan Abraham / focusonracing.com)
Harry Cobden rode a patient race behind the leaders on Tahmuras, before running out a ready winner by two and a half lengths from 16/1 shot L’Astroboy.
Tahmuras had to overcame inexperience and some untidy jumping in the straight so the victory was that more impressive.
A highly progressive sort, he will however need improve further to figure in races like the Supreme Novices’ against what the best in Ireland have achieved so far.
Last year’s 12-length winner Constitution Hill landed the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on his next start, and bookmakers cut Tahmuras to 8-1 to complete the double at Cheltenham.
“He travelled so well there,” said trainer Paul Nicholls. “We can sharpen his jumping and he’s all but certain to run in the Supreme. It’s the type of race, if the ground goes soft, that should suit him.”
Both hurdles in the straight were omitted in the Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle on Sunday, leading to a run-in of more than half a mile, though the two horses with the strongest form fought out the finish.
Irish Point had finished a couple of places in front of Champ Kiely when the pair were second and fourth in the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse last month. On Sunday, Champ Kiely was given a canny front-running ride by Danny Mullins over this half-mile longer trip and was able to reverse the placings.
Champ Kiely had failed to settle properly under a patient ride in the Royal Bond, but showed marked improvement being allowed to lead on Sunday.
That two-and-a-quarter-length success by the Willie Mullins runner also highlighted the form of the Royal Bond winner Marine Nationale.
Marine Nationale deserved plenty of credit for winning the Royal Bond as he conceded first run to Irish Point, and he did really well to cut him back close home to take his unbeaten record to four.
However, the best performance in the novice hurdle division this season based on ratings looks to have been posted by Facile Vega in the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle.
Last season’s dominant bumper performer created an excellent impression when winning a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse and he stepped up on that form in Grade 1 company at Leopardstown over Christmas winning easily by four lengths.
