Elite Hurdle Wincanton

[mayo]

HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER RTF% JOCKEY OR TS RPR
15 1/15F- Zarkandar210 5 Paul Nicholls 163 159 164
8 302-11 Local Hero42 5 Steve Gollings Paul Bohan7 151 142 149
2 111FU- Balder Succes196 4 Alan King 147 102 138
5 2U5-F Escort´men167 6 Paul Nicholls 146 -1 —
10 14453- Prospect Wells211 7 Paul Nicholls 146 144 146
1 1619-3 Baby Mix21 4 Tom George 143 126 142
13 0P26- Topolski232 6 David Arbuthnot 140 102 140
6 121214 Hawkhill14 6 Tim Vaughan 138 110 133
3 123-63 Conquisto15 7 Steve Gollings 135 134 137
9 7-129 Meganisi14 5 Rebecca Curtis 130 102 129
11 305P-0 Robinson Collonges14 7 Harry Fry 130 103 104
12 9F9-55 Street Entertainer7 5 David Pipe 129 128 132
14 540-14 War Singer7 5 David Pipe 124 123 127
4 0U6F7P Dashing Ruby47 8 Paul Henderson 110 72 115
7 30-590 Hunting Tower35 8 Tim Vaughan — 101 135

[mayo]

Looks like Nicholls has this all wrapped up.

Limited Handicap

£57,500 guaranteed For 4yo+ Weights highest weight 11st 10lb Minimum weight 10-4 Penalties after November 3rd, a winner of a hurdle 4lb (no penalty to increase a horse's weight above 11st 10lb) Baby Mix's Handicap Mark 147 pay £ 175

[Old Vic]

Nicholls trained 4 of last 10

http://www.fatjockey.com/festivals/racing_festivals.php?Wincanton-Elite-Hurdle-Stats-98

[Statto]

SMART juvenile hurdler Balder Succes is on course to return in Saturday's Grade 2 totepool.com Elite Hurdle at Wincanton, according to trainer Alan King.

The four-year-old, who finished last season rated 147, fell in the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival before he unseated Robert Thornton in the Grade 1 AES Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle at Punchestown in April.

But King, writing in his exclusive Weekender column, said he is looking forward to running Balder Succes at Wincanton, when he could face the high-class Zarkandar as well as improving Local Hero and Andrea and Graham Wylie's Prospect Wells.

"I suppose the most exciting horse of the weekend for me is Balder Succes, who goes for the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton," said King. "As usual it looks a highly competitive contest but I am looking forward to running my fellow.

"He actually had a setback about six weeks ago and I didn't think he would be ready so soon, but he has come to hand quicker than expected provided he schools well again on Thursday then he will go to Wincanton.

"If I am not 100 per cent happy then we will wait for Haydock's Betfair meeting and the valuable four-year-old hurdle on that card."

[Yeehaa]

Positive report on Baby Mix.

Tom George hopes the return to a flatter track can help Baby Mix recapture his best form in the totepool.com Elite Hurdle at Wincanton on Saturday.

The French import won the Adonis Juvenile Hurdle at Kempton on Racing Plus Chase day, which was by far his best performance of last season as he had Sadler's Risk and subsequent Festival winner Une Artiste in behind.

He could manage only ninth in the Triumph Hurdle and was well beaten on his seasonal return at Prestbury Park last month.

George feels the undulations there do him no favours, despite a victory over Hinterland at the home of National Hunt racing on his British debut.

"He's on target to run. He did a nice bit of work on Tuesday morning. He did it nicely and easily," said George.

"We're going back to a Flat track again, which he seemed to like at Kempton, so it will give us a bit more of an idea as to where we are with him."

[mayo]

Daryl jocked up on zakandar ruby on prospect wells

[Yeehaa]

Daryl jocked up on zakandar ruby on prospect wells

That's the usual set up. Ruby has the hurricane ...

[Yeehaa]

Decs...


1 Zarkandar (IRE) 210 111-15F D1 5 11-10(163) Daryl Jacob Paul Nicholls
2 Local Hero (GER) 42 5-302-11 5 10-12(151) cp Paul Bohan (7) Steve Gollings
3 Balder Succes (FR) 196 1111FU D3 4 10-8(147) Robert Thornton Alan King
4 Prospect Wells (FR) 211 214453 7 10-7(146) t R. Walsh Paul Nicholls
5 Escort'men (FR) 167 16-2U5-F D1 6 10-7(146) Ryan Mahon (3) Paul Nicholls
6 Baby Mix (FR) 21 5-1619-3 D1 4 10-4(143) Paddy Brennan Tom George
7 Topolski (IRE) 232 11-0P26 6 10-4(143) Tom Cannon (3) David Arbuthnot

[johnno]

Horse by horse: I am with Babymix too. Is Prospect Wells was 7 ?

Z

arkandar

Made a late return to action last season, but made a fine impression when returning from 10 months off to win the Betfair Hurdle giving weight to all but one of his rivals. Fine fifth in the Champion Hurdle, where he was outpaced before running on, especially considering he had coughed after his Newbury win. Fell on his final start at Aintree which was probably a race too far but could be a stronger horse this year and, although he has to give a tonne of weight away, he could be classy enough to cope.

Local Hero

Very solid dual-performer who showed plenty of heart to record a nose victory at Market Rasen in September, his second such win at the track in succession. Seems to be progressing with each start over timber, and although he has 10 lengths to find with Zarkandar on their 2011 Triumph Hurdle run (more reliable form than when they later clashed at Aintree), he is 12lbs better off, not allowing for his jockey's claim.

Balder Succes

Failed to complete on his final two starts of last season, but had been on a firm upward curve prior to those mishaps, winning very professionally at Ascot (twice) and Plumpton. Like Zarkandar, he shapes as if this is a minimum trip really, but he does only have six races under his belt and whilst inexperience may count against him, he should still have plenty of improvement to come. An interesting contender.

Prospect Wells

Has some solid form to his name on the face of things, but didn't really threaten to win any of his races after his Newbury victory a year ago. It may be that he needs a step up in trip to be at his best, but more likely that he isn't giving his all late in the race due to his breathing if the tongue-tie (on the last twice) and prior breathing operations are any indication. Mind you, he has a great record fresh, and was classy on the flat in France, so this could be the best time to catch him.

Escort' Men

Very inconsistent profile, with more non-completions (three) than wins to his name (two) from 11 starts. Went chasing last season, which was disastrous, and no surprise to see him back over hurdles as he isn't the biggest. One positive for backers is that his best performances have come after a lengthy break, but it's grasping at straws somewhat.

Baby Mix

Mark of 143 looks attractive on some of his form, most notably his UK debut when he jumped like a buck and trounced Hinterland, who won very easily off a mark of 141 at Chepstow last month. Tom George's ace didn't show much on his reappearance at Cheltenham, but he was giving lots of weight away and, for all he was impressive at Prestbury Park on debut, his performances since suggest it might not be his ideal venue. Wincanton, like Kempton was in February, could play to his strengths, and he looks a huge danger to the top-weight.

Topolski

Comes here on the back of a really disappointing season, with a well-held second to Third Intention in the National Spirit at Fontwell the best he could manage from four starts over timber. Had previously looked very exciting when winning three novice events the season before, culminating in a Grade Two victory at Aintree, and he looks well-treated on a mark of 140 if he can recapture that sort of form.

Summary

A fascinating contest, with top-weight Zarkandar giving the race a lopsided, but thoroughly intriguing shape. Paul Nicholls has won four of the last ten renewals, three of which were won by horses carrying 11st 7lbs or more, and Zarkandar could easily make it five. He is classy, has lots of improvement to come, and has a good record fresh, however conceding 20lbs to the race-fit BABY MIX may be too tough.

Tom George's grey should relish the return to a flat track and will feel like he has lost his jockey having carried 11st 6lbs last time out. Balder Succes is still something of an unknown, especially against good horses, having departed early at Cheltenham and Aintree, but is hugely respected with his stable in good form. Prospect Wells could easily run his best of the season first time up so watch the betting closely, especially in regards to his stablemate Zarkandar.

[johnno]

No odds yet

[Rhinestone Cowboy]

VERDICT
OH Racing blog...




I think before I looked at the weather forecast for this race tomorrow I’d of sided fairly strong with Prospect Wells but with up to 12mm of rain due over the next 15hrs it could become very testing and the horse best coped and weighted to capitalize on this would be the classy BALDER SUCCESS who’s yard has had a brilliant start to the season and he bids to continue that success. He is reasonably priced in the market, is more than capable of winning off 147 and although historically 4yo’s haven’t got the best record in the race (Well Chief last 4yo to win in 2003) he is worth chancing on the hope that the heavens open.

[Hoof]

14:50 Wincanton - Zarkandar

A word of warning. He is not the sort to do a lot at home, so his fitness is pretty hard to gauge, but I'd be pretty sure he will need this and be all the better for the outing, win, lose or draw. Not least because I am training him with a view to the International at Cheltenham next month, and not this race. And I always like to see my horses get back into the swing of things on the track after a heavy fall, and his fall at Aintree was certainly a nasty one. But his record tells us he goes well when fresh, so he may surprise, I suppose. I trained him to win the Betfair Hurdle on his reappearance and his class was there for all to see when he stayed on strongly to finish 5th in the Champion Hurdle.


Prospect Wells

This is probably the one I would prefer of my three on this occasion, especially if there is plenty of cut in the ground and it rains overnight. His mark looks plenty high enough but it is probably justified on his fifth in the Supreme. Hopefully, there is more to come from him this season and I have him pretty straight for this.


Escort'men

He won first time out at Chepstow off this mark two seasons ago, so he is capable. But the main aim here is to restore his confidence after a fall chasing last time. Horses coming back to the smaller obstacles can sometimes run above themselves, but I would be surprised were he good enough to win this, in truth.

[Yeehaa]

Did that well.