Friday 11th November 2010

Cheltenham Collection Sharp Novices Hurdle (Grade Two)

Cheltenham Collection Sharp Novices Hurdle is a grade two race run over two miles and 5yo’s seem to have had the upper hand over the last ten years. Looking at the betting market for this race may not help you that much with the jolly old favourite having a poor record.

There are no real stand out trainers although P J Hobbs has won it twice in the last ten years and P F Nicholls has had a few placed horses. With very few of these having run against one another before there is not a lot of collateral form but hopefully by the end of this you will have a much better idea of the race and potential winners.

Ballyadam Brook is a 6yo gelding trained by Terence O’Brien and is a winner of four of his nine races in Ireland this year. Finished third on his second start at Thurles in a race that has produced a number of winners and then went on to win good races at both Galway and Listowel. Interesting point is the trainer is not know for his runners in this country and with a jockey who does well this could be a tip in itself.

Dunraven Storm is out of the sire Presenting who general do better over three mile plus, although it does not seem to have stopped this gelding winning over two. Has won four out of his five races but those races were not the same class as this here today and was beaten a long way here last March by paper fav Cue Card.

Owen Glendower is a 5yo gelding who has won three out of five races and although won well last time out at Stratford may have more on his plate here today.

Far Away So Close is a 5yo gelding trained by Paul Nolan and has not raced against any of these before. Raced here in the Supreme Novices Hurdle back in March but was quite a bit short of that type of form but did get his head in front at Punchestown a few weeks ago in a nice race.

Maska Pony is a grey 5yo and a winner of four races, all of them have come this year so going in the right direction. Winning range is from two mile up to two miles four furlongs on good going but there may be better options in this race.

Valid Point is a 4yo who ran up a winning sequence of five on the flat last year but not produced anything like that since switching to hurdles and looks a long shot to say the least.

King Of The Night is a 6yo with three wins from five races and looks a much better proposition having finished second beaten by the shortest of distances in a NHF at Ascot in February. Raced here at Cheltenham in October when winning easily by nine lengths and looks to be improving.

Cue Card is the paper fav and has won three out of three including at the last Cheltenham Festival when winning the Weatherbys Champion Bumper by eight lengths. Returned to action after the summer break to win as he liked at Aintree last month over two mile four furlongs.