Mark Howard's Christmas Hurdle Guide

Mark Howard’s Christmas Hurdle Guide

Mark Howard, regular pundit on Racing UK and author of the popular ‘One Jump Ahead’ series, casts his eye over the Christmas Hurdle.

BINOCULAR (FR) 5 b g Enrique – Bleu Ciel Et Blanc (FR)
Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Has failed to replicate the awesome performance he produced in last season’s rearranged Boylesports International Hurdle at Ascot just over a year ago. However, it is far too early to be writing him off. A close third in the Champion itself behind Punjabi and Celestial Halo, he failed to fire on his return to action at Newcastle in the Fighting Fifth producing a lacklustre effort behind Go Native. He has seven lengths to find with Noel Meade’s Grade 1 winner but with the assistance of a pacemaker in Straw Bear and the likelihood of easier ground, he could provide Nicky Henderson with his third win in the race in the last ten years. A winner over course and distance, there will be no excuses this time as he needs to start proving his Ascot win wasn’t a one-off.

CAPE TRIBULATION 5 b g Hernando (FR) – Gay Fantastic
Trainer: Malcolm Jefferson
Looked a horse with a big future when winning the Grade 2 River Don Novice Hurdle over three miles at Doncaster by 17 lengths in January. Things have gone awry since though only finishing fifth at Cheltenham in the Albert Bartlett Hurdle and filling the same position behind Bouggler at Aintree over half a mile less. However, Malcolm Jefferson expressed himself delighted with the former high-class bumper horse’s run at Cheltenham in the Relkeel Hurdle last time behind the unbeaten Zaynar. The drop back to the minimum trip shouldn’t be a major inconvenience as he possesses a high cruising speed but his official rating of 145 suggests he has it all to do.

CELESTIAL HALO (IRE) 5 b g Galileo (IRE) – Pay The Bank
Trainer: Paul Nicholls
Only beaten a neck in the Champion Hurdle in March, Paul Nicholls’ former Triumph Hurdle winner couldn’t have started the season in better form when trouncing Mamlook by ten lengths in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton last month. Conceding twenty pounds to David Pipe’s charge, he readily pulled clear from the third last. Sent off 4/7 favourite for the Boylesports International Hurdle at Cheltenham as a result, he ran another sound race before finding a rejuvenated Khyber Kim a couple of lengths too good. While many will feel the track will count against him, it is worth noting he handled Wincanton with aplomb albeit at a lower level and he will ensure, along with Straw Bear, a strong gallop, if lining up.

DONNAS PALM (IRE) 5 gr g Great Palm (USA) – Donna’s Tarquin (IRE)
Trainer: Noel Meade
The former champion Irish trainer has placed the Great Palm gelding well to win 6 of his 11 career outings under National Hunt rules, including three out of three this season. He overcame a sedate gallop at Navan last time to win the Grade 2 Tara Hurdle under Barry Geraghty. Yet to win either of his attempts in Grade 1 company, he is viewed as a most unlikely runner with Go Native expected to represent the Meade stable.

GO NATIVE (IRE) 6 br g Double Eclipse (IRE) – Native Idea (IRE)
Trainer: Noel Meade
Noel Meade will be seeking to win the event for the fourth time in the last six years following the successes of Harchibald twice and Jazz Messenger. Last season’s Supreme Novice Hurdle winner has won two of his three starts this term including an impressive two and a half lengths victory in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle last time. Held up off a steady early gallop, the six year old quickened up smartly under Davy Condon to win going away. This has been his target since as he attempts to win leg two of the WBX.COM £1 million bonus with the sharp track looking sure to suit. Soft ground would be the main concern but his trainer reports him in fine form at home and a big run is anticipated.

KING’S REVENGE 6 b g Wizard King – Retaliator
Trainer: Shaun Lycett
Bought out of Alan King’s yard for 18,000gns in May, he is on a losing run of 26 races which dates back to April 2007. A creditable effort behind Tasheba in a Listed handicap at Sandown last time, he was beaten around seven lengths in fourth. However, his official mark of 119 leaves him a mountain to climb. Rated 132 at his peak, he arguably produced a career best when third to Numide in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham over a year ago.

PEPE SIMO (IRE) 5 b g Victory Note (USA) – Vallee Doree (FR)
Trainer: Paul Nicholls
A four times winner from only seven career starts, he has developed into a high-class novice hurdler earning an official mark of 140. Confidently ridden by Ruby Walsh at both Wincanton and Haydock, he wasn’t hard pressed to dispose of Any Given Day at the latter venue in a Listed contest. The Victory Note gelding has a sharp turn of foot but he will be tackling a totally different calibre of opposition if asked to line up here.

STARLUCK (IRE) 4 b g Key of Luck (USA) – Sarifa (IRE)
Trainer: Alan Fleming
An impressive eleven lengths winner of a juvenile hurdle over course and distance this time last term, he found the Cheltenham hill too formidable in the Triumph Hurdle. Having started his second season in exemplary fashion with a facile win from inferior rivals at Prestbury Park in October, his stamina once again gave way at Haydock last time. Timmy Murphy’s mount looked a sure-fire winner halfway up the run-in only to be crawled back by the tough and progressive Mr Thriller. Rated 149, he has twenty pounds to find with Binocular and, while Kempton will bring out the best in him, is he good enough? His trainer had his first ever double this week so at the least the stable are in rude health.

STRAW BEAR (USA) 8 ch g Diesis – Highland Ceilidh (IRE)
Trainer: Nick Gifford
The eight year old will be making his fourth appearance in the race having won an epic duel with Harchibald a couple of years ago before finishing a remote fourth twelve months ago. Without a win in eleven races, his prime role this time is surely to ensure a strong early gallop for the same owner’s Binocular. Pulled up in the Ascot Hurdle last time, he had endured a fruitless spell over fences prior to that.

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