Mark Howard's 2009 Race Guide

Mark Howard, regular pundit on Racing UK and author of the popular ‘One Jump Ahead’ series, casts his eye over the nine entries after the supplementary stage of the 2009 WBX.COM Fighting Fifth Hurdle.

AL EILE (IRE) 9 b g Alzao (USA) – Kilcsem Eile (IRE)
Trainer: John Queally
A four times Grade 1 winning hurdler, he will be contesting his second WBX.COM Fighting Fifth Hurdle having chased home Harchibald a couple of years ago. Lightly raced since winning his third Aintree Hurdle in 2008, he was beaten six and a quarter lengths by Solwhit when attempting to win the prestigious two and a half miles event for a fourth time in April. He warmed up for this on the Flat in the Leopardstown November Handicap which is likely to have put him spot on. However, it is nearly two years since he won at this level over the minimum trip and is vulnerable to the young pretenders.

BINOCULAR (FR) 5 b g Enrique – Bleu Ciel Et Blanc (FR)
Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Attempts to give Nicky Henderson his third victory in the race this century following the successes of Landing Light and Punjabi. The French bred made a smooth transition from top novice company into the highest bracket with an explosive performance in the re-scheduled Boylesports International Hurdle at Ascot in December leaving Celestial Halo, Katchit and Crack Away Jack trailing in his wake. An interrupted preparation due to the inclement weather meant he arrived at Cheltenham in March below his best. However, he still ran a terrific race for a five year old failing by half a length behind stablemate Punjabi and Celestial Halo. Reported to have done well during the summer at his owner’s Irish base, there is every chance we still haven’t see the very best of him. The WBX £1m bonus looks in grave danger.

BLUE BAJAN (IRE) 7 b g Montjeu (IRE) – Gentle Thoughts
Trainer: Andy Turnell
The Montjeu gelding has been a real money spinner for his connections winning 11 of his 50 races under both codes. However, his official rating of 159 leaves him ten pounds behind Binocular and he hasn’t visited the winners’ enclosure since his win in the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock in May 2008. Three and three quarters of a length behind Punjabi in last year’s renewal, his overall record in Grade 1 hurdles is 0 from 5. Beaten thirty lengths in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton this month, he prefers good ground.

CAPE TRIBULATION 5 b g Hernando (FR) – Gay Fantastic
Trainer: Malcolm Jefferson
A smart bumper performer, he looked to have a bright future over obstacles when winning the Grade 2 River Don Novice Hurdle at Doncaster by seventeen lengths. Fifth in the Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last spring, things have gone awry since. Well beaten in two starts on the Flat including at Doncaster last month, he drops back in trip here and, while he possesses the pace to cope with two miles, he has something to prove at present off his official rating of 145. The stable won the race with Dato Star ten years ago.

GO NATIVE (IRE) 6 br g Double Eclipse (IRE)
Trainer: Noel Meade
A winner of half of his 12 career starts, he was given a typically confident ride by Paul Carberry to win the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March from Medermit. A ready winner on his return to action in the Grade 2 Tipperary Hurdle last month, he may have found the ground too slow when no match for the improving Voler La Vedette at Down Royal last time. Harchibald provided the Meade stable with a dual success in the race but the six year old will need a career best to win here. A decent surface would enhance his claims.

MUIRHEAD (IRE) 6 b g Flemensfirth (IRE) – Silaoce (FR)
Trainer: Noel Meade
Stablemate of Go Native, eight of his nine races over hurdles have been in Grade 1 company including when a close second in last season’s Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown behind Brave Inca. The six-year-old made a pleasing start to the current campaign when two and a half lengths second behind Solwhit in the Punchestown Hurdle this month. At his best when the mud is flying, he hasn’t managed to get his head in front since December 2007 and needs to step up if he is reverse form with either Binocular or Solwhit.

SOLWHIT (FR) 5 b g Solon (GER) – Toowhit Towhee (USA)
Trainer: Charles Byrnes
A dual winner on the Flat and officially rated 96, he has developed into a formidable hurdler winning seven of his nine outings and is unbeaten in three Grade 1 events. Charles Byrne’s five-year-old burst on to the top hurdling scene when claiming the notable scalp of Fiveforthree in the Aintree Hurdle in April over two and a half miles. Equally effective over the minimum trip, he just got the better of Champion Hurdle winner Punjabi at Punchestown in a pulsating finish. He has started the new season in a similar vein with another polished performance in the Punchestown Hurdle this month having too many guns for Hurricane Fly and Muirhead. A top-class hurdler, he will make the best of the British work this season and must go close on Saturday.

SUBLIMITY (FR) 9 b g Selkirk (USA) – Fig Tree Drive (USA)
Trainer: Robbie Hennessy
Ran a cracking race in last year’s renewal at Wetherby when only being collared in the shadows of the post by Punjabi. The former Champion Hurdle winner gained compensation in the Grade 1 December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas before finding the ground against him in the Irish and English Champion Hurdles. Still relatively lightly raced over timber considering he is a nine-year-old, ran well on the Flat in Listed Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstown in May behind subsequent Irish St Leger and Prix du Cadran winner Alandi proving he retains plenty of ability. Granted suitable ground he certainly shouldn’t be discounted from going one better than twelve months ago.

WON IN THE DARK 5 b g Montjeu (IRE) – Meseta
Trainer: Sabrina Harty
Dual Grade 1 winning juvenile hurdler, he ran his best race last season at Leopardstown behind Sublimity over Christmas. Well held in the Champion Hurdle in March, he has plenty to find with Solwhit on their latest meeting at Punchestown the following month. Sabrina Harty has campaigned him on the Flat since without success. Good ground suits but he needs to return better than ever to turn the table on the market principals.

For more information on Mark please contact via mark.howard@mhpublications.co.uk