2015 Aintree 4 Year old Hurdle

[mayo]

Donn has one ..l




Hargam

The quality of the performance that Hargam put up in finishing third behind his stable companions Peace And Co and Top Notch in the Triumph Hurdle, on ground that should have been softer than ideal, may have gone a little under the radar. JP McManus’ horse may be a little under-rated now.

Settled in second place behind the clear leader Dicosimo by AP McCoy, the Nicky Henderson-trained gelding’s jumping was very good for a juvenile, and he travelled really well down the hill to the second last flight. Once over that obstacle, he made nice progress on the bridle on the inside around the home turn, and just about hit the front on the run to the final flight. As soon as he did, he was joined by Top Notch and Peace And Co, and his two rivals raced closer to the favoured stands rail. The three stable companions were in the air together at the last and, while Peace And Co and Top Notch came away up the hill, Hargam still kept on all the way to the line to finish third, 10 lengths clear of the fourth horse Devilment.

This looks like a really strong Triumph Hurdle. The right horses came to the fore, and the winning time was good, the second fastest race run on the day, second only to a lightning-fast Gold Cup, and 1.3 seconds faster than the time that Wicklow Brave clocked in winning the County Hurdle over the Triumph course and distance 35 minutes later. Peace And Co and Top Notch are obviously top class juveniles, but their form in the lead up to Cheltenham was all on soft ground. Hargam is a son of Sinndar, and he put up the best performance of his career at Musselburgh on his last run before the Triumph, on the first occasion on which he encountered good ground. He will be of big interest now at Aintree or Punchestown on good ground, and he is a horse worth keeping in mind for Cheltenham next year, when it is likely that he will encounter better ground than the genuinely soft ground that they had on the last day this year.

13th March 2015

[Sefton]

2015 Aintree 4 Year old Hurdle

FORM	HORSE /LTO	AGE	WGT	TRAINER	JOCKEY	OR
2113	Hargam27	4	11-0	Nicky Henderson	A P McCoy	152
461132	Bristol De Mai40	4	11-0	Nigel Twiston-Davies	Daryl Jacob	149
2114	Devilment27	4	11-0	John Ferguson	Richard Johnson	142
921342	Bouvreuil29 ht	4	11-0	Paul Nicholls	Noel Fehily	139
2113	Intense Tango40	4	10-7	K R Burke	Brian Hughes	139
F125	All Yours29 ht	4	11-0	Paul Nicholls	Sam Twiston-Davies	138
1137	Stars Over The Sea27 ht	4	11-0	David Pipe	Tom Scudamore	136
11224	Starchitect29 b	4	11-0	Donald McCain	R Walsh	135
2210	Hostile Fire29 h1	4	11-0	Gordon Elliott	Davy Condon	131
501	Winner Massagot10	4	11-0	Alan King	Wayne Hutchinson	123

[Yeehaa]

In the absence of a filly - Petite Parisienne entered in Grade 1 on sunday at Fairyhouse has to be Hargam

Following Guitar Pete’s victory last season, 11 of the last 15 winners contested the Triumph Hurdle. No surprise that the Triumph should be the obvious starting point and especially since the Matalan Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices’ Hurdle was elevated to Grade 1 status in 2005 and, since that upgrade, nine of the ten winners arrived having either won or been placed at Prestbury Park, seven of which in the Triumph. The other pair to place at Cheltenham outside of the Triumph were Binocular, who finished second in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Orsippus who was third in the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle. This Grade 1 contest takes place over only half a furlong shorter distance than the Triumph so we don’t have to factor in any potential trip issues when trying to find the likely winner and the Triumph form has translated pretty well despite the different nature of the Cheltenham and Aintree tracks. Four horses have completed the double; Pollardstown in 1979, Detroit City in 2006, Katchit in 2007 and Zarkandar in 2011, whereas Faasel, Walkon, Grumeti and Guitar Pete gained ample compensation by winning here after finishing placed in the Triumph. So, Cheltenham Festival form looks a must then? Yes unless we are dealing with fillies as the last four successful female winners all missed the Festival. Four fillies going back to 1993 have won from fewer than 10% representation.

[Old Vic]

In the absence of a filly - Petite Parisienne entered in Grade 1 on sunday at Fairyhouse has to be Hargam

Intense Tango runs so there is one filly in there.

http://www.fatjockey.com/festivals/racing_festivals.php?Aintree-4-Year-Old-Hurdle-Stats-190

Previous Race: 10 of the last 12 winners ran at Cheltenham (8 in the Triumph, 1 in Fred Winter and 1 in the Supreme).

Form: The last 11 winners finished in the first 3 last time out.

Starting Price: The favourite has won 7 of the last 10 renewals finishing 0 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 5 3 over the last decade. The winners market position over the same period was 0 1 1 1 1 1 9 1 1 5 4.

Trainers: Alan King has trained 4 winners since 2007. Paul Nicholls has also sent out two winners in the last 11 years. There have also been two Irish trained winners in the last decade and they provided the 1-2 in 2014. Irish winners have been returned at good prices. Guitar Pete was 13-2, Orsippus was returned at 40/1 in 2010 and Al Eile at 25/1 in 2004.

Hargam and Intense tango the two on trends.

[Old Vic]

barry G

HARGAM (2.15) is going to be desperately hard to beat in the Betfred Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1) because he’s another that is sure to appreciate the better ground.

It was a very good effort to be third in the Triumph Hurdle and while the form can sometimes be turned around at this meeting I will be surprised if that’s the case because there has been an extra week in between Cheltenham and Aintree this year.

When I rode Hargam at Cheltenham in November it was soft and although he coped with it as he reached his peak I’m sure that his pace will come through on this surface.

[mayo]

Hargam most likely winner but dont like 4yos at short prices.

Have done Hargam - Hostile Fire Forecast for an interest and put latter in my acca.

[Faugheen_Machine]

Ladbrokes are going 5/4 on Hargam this morning for those who are interested.

[Old Vic]

Ladbrokes are going 5/4 on Hargam this morning for those who are interested.

thanks

[fjadmin]

Aintree
Thu, 9th Apr 2015
14:15
Betfred Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1), 2m 1f
<< Previous Race | Next Race >>
10 Runners (4YO only) (Class 1) Total Prize Fund - £100000
View All Meetings

No/Draw/Horse (days since last run)
Age colour sex, Sire - Dam (Damsire)
Form/Owner(s)
Wearing Details

Weight/Penalty
Offical Rating

Forecast Price*
Jockey/
Trainer

1 All Yours (FR) (348F, 29J)
4 ch g Halling (USA) - Fontaine Riant (FR) (Josr Algarhoud (FR))
F125 Potensis Bloodstock Limited
Hood, Tongue strap

11-0
138

12/1
Sam Twiston-Davies
P F Nicholls

A winner of a hurdle race at 2m 1f on soft ground. Finished 5l behind Qualando when fifth of 22 at 11-1 on his latest outing in a Grade 3 hurdle race in the Group 3 Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham over 2m (good) last month.

2 Bouvreuil (FR) (29J)
4 b g Saddler Maker (IRE) - Madame Lys (FR) (Sheyrann (IRE))
921342 Potensis Bloodstock Ltd & Chris Giles
Hood, Tongue strap

11-0
139

10/1
N D Fehily
P F Nicholls

A winner of a hurdle race at 2m 1f on soft ground. Beaten 1 1/2l by Qualando when second of 22 at 14-1 on his latest outing in a Grade 3 hurdle race in the Group 3 Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham over 2m (good) last month.

3 Bristol De Mai (FR) (40J)
4 gr g Saddler Maker (IRE) - La Bole Night (FR) (April Night (FR))
461132 Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede

11-0
149

5/1
D A Jacob
N A Twiston-Davies

Successful in two hurdle races at 2m and 2m 2f on heavy ground. Beaten 3 1/2l by Glingerburn when second of 7 at 6-4fav on his latest outing in a Grade 2 hurdle race in the Group 2 totescoop6 Premier Kelso Hurdle at Kelso over 2m 2f (good to soft) in February. Has won at Chepstow and Auteuil this season.

4 Devilment (GB) (187F, 27J)
4 b g Cape Cross (IRE) - Mischief Making (USA) (Lemon Drop Kid (USA))
2114 Bloomfields

11-0
142

13/2
R Johnson
J P Ferguson

Successful in two hurdle races at 2m on good and soft ground. Finished 14l behind Peace And Co when fourth of 16 at 16-1 on his latest outing in a Grade 1 hurdle race in the Group 1 JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham over 2m 1f (soft) last month. Has won at Doncaster and Wetherby this season.

5 Hargam (FR) (309F, 27J)
4 gr g Sinndar (IRE) - Horasana (FR) (Galileo (IRE))
2113 Mr John P McManus

11-0
152

11/8
A P McCoy
N J Henderson

Successful in two hurdle races at 2m and 2m 1f on good and good to soft ground. Third of 16 behind Peace And Co beaten 4 1/2l at 8-1 on his latest outing in a Grade 1 hurdle race in the Group 1 JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham over 2m 1f (soft) last month. Has won at Musselburgh and Cheltenham this season.

6 Hostile Fire (IRE) (167F, 29J)
4 b g Iffraaj - Royal Esteem (Mark Of Esteem (IRE))
2210 Mrs Pat Sloan
Hood

11-0
125

20/1
D J Condon
G Elliott

A winner of a hurdle race at 2m on soft - heavy ground. Well beaten at 9-1 behind Qualando when 19th of 22 on his latest outing in a Grade 3 hurdle race in the Group 3 Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham over 2m (good) last month.

7 Starchitect (IRE) (319F, 29J)
4 b g Sea The Stars (IRE) - Humilis (IRE) (Sadler's Wells (USA))
11224 Paul & Clare Rooney
Blinkers

11-0
135

14/1
R Walsh
D McCain Jnr

Successful in two hurdle races at 2m 1f on good ground. Finished 4 1/2l behind Qualando when fourth of 22 at 16-1 on his latest outing in a Grade 3 hurdle race in the Group 3 Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham over 2m (good) last month. Has won at Aintree and Bangor this season.

8 Stars Over The Sea (USA) (294F, 27J)
4 b g Sea The Stars (IRE) - Exciting Times (FR) (Jeune Homme (USA))
1137 Mr R S Brookhouse
Hood, Tongue strap

11-0
136

12/1
T Scudamore
D Pipe

Successful in two hurdle races at 2m on good to soft ground. Well beaten at 50-1 behind Peace And Co when seventh of 16 on his latest outing in a Grade 1 hurdle race in the Group 1 JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham over 2m 1f (soft) last month. Has won at Ludlow and Kempton this season.

9 Winner Massagot (FR) (225F, 10J)
4 ch g Muhaymin (USA) - Winnor (FR) (Lesotho (USA))
501 Masterson Holdings Limited

11-0
123

25/1
W Hutchinson
A King

A winner at 9-2 in a maiden hurdle race at Kempton over 2m (good) on his latest outing last month, beating Argot by 4l.

10 Intense Tango (GB) (167F, 40J)
4 b f Mastercraftsman (IRE) - Cover Look (SAF) (Fort Wood (USA))
2113 Cosy Seal Racing Limited

10-7
139

10/1
B Hughes
K R Burke

Successful in two hurdle races at 2m on good to soft ground. Third of 7 behind Glingerburn beaten 8l at 5-2 on her latest outing in a Grade 2 hurdle race in the Group 2 totescoop6 Premier Kelso Hurdle at Kelso over 2m 2f (good to soft) in February. Has won at Doncaster and Catterick this season.
Race Verdict

HARGAM rates a rock-solid favourite for Nicky Henderson and Tony McCoy. The grey son of Sinndar oozes class, travels supremely well and jumps with sufficient ease, and he finished a cracking third in the Triumph Hurdle despite the ground coming up a lot softer than ideal. This quicker surface and flatter track should play to his strengths, and he could blow these away. Devilment has 10 lengths to find with him on that Triumph form, but he will almost certainly be a lot better suited by the demands of Aintree and warrants plenty of respect under Richard Johnson. Bouvreuil, Starchitect and All Yours are closely matched on their Fred Winter clash, while Bristol De Mai has had a quieter season than most and side-stepping Cheltenham might work in his favour.
Selection: Hargam Danger: Devilment Alternative: Bouvreuil

[Old Vic]

Second race quotes

Betfred Anniversary 4-Y-O Hurdle

ALL YOURS PROVES ALL RIGHT FOR NICHOLLS

All Yours put champion trainer Paul Nicholls on the winner's podium following the Betfred Anniversary 4-Y-O Hurdle.
The gelding had finished fifth in the Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last month, but Nicholls felt the track and ground today were more to his horse's liking, and predicted he will make up into a smart hurdler next season.

All Yours, a 16/1 shot who was ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies, won by three-quarters of a length and half a length from Devilment and Bristol De Mai. Nicholls said: "He got in more trouble in running than you could ever imagine at Cheltenham, but he stayed on up the hill and made up an enormous amount of ground. He has improved from that and Sam gave him a great ride today - he has shown us what we have always seen at home.

"A flat track and good ground really suited him - I was worried we were trying to give him one race too many in a short time, but he was fine. I might have made a pig's ear of it by running him at Cheltenham and not coming straight from Kempton to here because we were always adamant he wanted good ground and a flat track.

"Sam said if he had got a clear run in the Fred Winter he would have gone very close to winning but it all went wrong. He gained valuable experience there but he had three quick runs and he is quite a light horse so I was a bit nervous about it. He is what we hoped he would be.

"I think he'll keep improving and with a summer of grass inside there should be plenty more to come. Next year he will be a smart hurdler. He's not a chaser, but we'll see where we go with him. Today was the day and we've no big plans."

"From the start of the season until now, it's like Sam is two different people. He has grown up so much - any team takes a bit of bedding in and he knows the horses now so I can leave it entirely to him. I have always told him not to stick to one plan and, if he wants to do something different, do it. Sam is riding with so much confidence and has done so, so well this season.

"There is a lot of pressure. I am always under a lot of pressure from everybody and that probably feeds down to the jockeys. If you can't cope with that pressure, it is a hard job. Sam has done very, very well - he's a great character, everybody likes him and that's a big plus. He is only going forwards from here."

YOURS TRULY THE YOUNG STAR
Paul Nicholls has won the Grade One Betfred Anniverary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle on two previous occasions and his retained jockey Sam Twiston-Davies signalled his relief of scoring early in the meeting for the stable after winning aboard 16/1 shot All Yours.

He said: "It's nice to get one on the board early, especially without The New One being here. Coming here I was determined to enjoy it. For some reason I felt under a lot of pressure at Cheltenham so to win there was great."

Referring to the winner's performance at Cheltenham, where he finished fifth in the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle, the jockey added: "He got stopped halfway down the hill at Cheltenham and the one thing you worry about is Cheltenham taking a lot out of them but it hasn't happened with this fella.

"I had saved a little bit but I had to use what I had left to get there. I hadn't hit him before the last so I knew that over the last furlong and a half of running I still had eight [cracks of the whip] to show my hand. They went a nice even sort of gallop but the front ones fell away and then Dickie [Johnson, on runner-up Devilment] made his move and I was trying to catch him and get by, which luckily worked out okay."

FERGUSON HAPPY WITH DEVILMENT

Trainer John Ferguson was delighted with the performance of 8/1 shot Devilment who finished the three quarter length runner-up behind All Yours in the Betfred Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree this afternoon.
The four-year-old travelled sweetly under Richard Johnson and was in front as the field jumped the final flight but he couldn't quite repel the challenge of the eventual winner, who swooped late to land the Grade One contest.

"We're pleased with him - he's almost done everything right," said Ferguson.

"We can't complain. He's run a blinder but he's just been caught. We're delighted with him. He's improving all the time and you can't ask for anything more.
"I would think he will stay hurdling next year. He doesn't have that much scope to jump a fence so we won't be rushing him into that.

"That'll be it for the season now - he'll have a nice holiday."

Bristol De Mai, who finished a further half a length back in third, ran a fine race and his trainer, Nigel Twiston-Davies, was also delighted with the way in which his juvenile ran.

"I'm delighted - he ran really well and wasn't beaten very far," said the trainer.

"It's a shame he didn't win but it was a good run. He won't run again this season."

Second race result

2.15pm Betfred Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1)

??100,000 total prize fund. For 4yo, 2m 1f. Weights 11st. Allowances: fillies 7lb. Penalty value 1st ??56,270.00 2nd ??21,200.00 3rd ??10,610.00 4th ??5,300.00 5th ??2,660.00 6th ??1,330.00

1) ALL YOURS (FR) (Potensis Bloodstock Ltd) Paul Nicholls ht4-11-00 Sam Twiston-Davies 16/1
2) DEVILMENT (Bloomfields) John Ferguson 4-11-00 Richard Johnson 8/1
3) BRISTOL DE MAI (FR) (Simon Munir & Isaac Souede) Nigel Twiston-Davies 4-11-00 Daryl Jacob 8/1
4) STARS OVER THE SEA (USA) (Roger Brookhouse) David Pipe ht4-11-00 Tom Scudamore
5) INTENSE TANGO (Cosy Seal Racing Limited) Karl Burke 4-10-07 Brian Hughes
6) HARGAM (FR) (J P McManus) Nicky Henderson 4-11-00 A P McCoy 4/6f
7) BOUVREUIL (FR) (Potensis Bloodstock Ltd & Chris Giles) Paul Nicholls ht4-11-00 Noel Fehily
8) HOSTILE FIRE (IRE) (Pat Sloan) Gordon Elliott IRE h4-11-00 Davy Condon
Fell last) WINNER MASSAGOT (FR) (Masterson Holdings Limited) Alan King 4-11-00 Wayne Hutchinson
Fell last) STARCHITECT (IRE) (Paul & Clare Rooney) Donald McCain b4-11-00 Ruby Walsh


10 ran

Distances: ??, ??, 3??, ??, sh, 2, 10

Breeder: Sca La Perrigne

Breeding: ch g Halling (USA) - Fontaine Riant (FR) (Josr Algarhoud (IRE))

Tote Win ??20.80 Place ??3.90 ??2.10 ??2.40 Exacta ??152.70


Winning Trainer: PAUL NICHOLLS Date of birth: 17/05/62 Based: Heighes House, Manor Farm Stables, Ditcheat, Shepton Mallet, Somerset Background: Paul Nicholls has been training at Manor Farm Stables in Ditcheat, Somerset, since taking out a licence on November 1, 1991. He started out as a jump jockey and twice rode the winner of the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury, in 1986 and 1987. He partnered 119 winners between 1980 and 1989. He was assistant trainer to former Devon-based David Barons, who sent out Seagram to win the 1991 Grand National at Aintree during that time. Having strongly challenged Martin Pipe for the jump trainers' championship for several years, most notably when pushing his great rival right to the last day of the 2004/05 campaign, he claimed his first of eight titles in the 2005/06 season. Aintree Festival Wins include: Aintree Hurdle (2013 Zarkandar). Crabbie's Grand National (2012 Neptune Collonges), Melling Chase (2001 Fadalko, 2011 Master Minded), Liverpool Hurdle (2012, 2011, 2010 & 2009 Big Buck's), Top Novices' Hurdle (2008 Pierrot Lunaire), Crabbie's Topham Chase (2008 Gwanako), Maghull Novices' Chase (1999 Flagship Uberalles, 2002 Armaturk, 2003 Le Roi Miguel, 2007 Twist Magic, 2010 Tataniano), Mildmay Novices' Chase (2006 Star De Mohaison, 2008 Big Buck's, 2012 Silviniaco Conti), Mersey Novices' Hurdle (2006 Natal, 2008 Elusive Dream, 2014 Lac Fontana), Crabbie's Fox Hunter Chase (2002 Torduff Express), Anniversary 4-y-o Novices' Hurdle (2003 Le Duc, 2011 Zarkandar, 2015 All Yours), Betfred Bowl (2000 See More Business, 2010 What A Friend, 2014 Silviniaco Conti) Cheltenham Festival Wins (37): Coral Cup (2015 Aux Ptits Soins), Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (2010 Sanctuaire, 2015 Qualando), Ladbrokes World Hurdle (2009, 2010, 2011 & 2012 Big Buck's), CHAPS Restaurants Barbados Novices' Handicap Chase (2009 Chapoturgeon), JCB Triumph Hurdle (2008 Celestial Halo, 2011 Zarkandar), Racing Post Arkle Novices' Chase (1999 Flagship Uberalles, 2003 Azertyuiop), Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (1999 Call Equiname, 2004 Azertyuiop, 2008 & 2009 Master Minded, 2015 Dodging Bullets), Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup (1999 See More Business, 2007 & 2009 Kauto Star, 2008 Denman), CGA Foxhunter Chase (2004 Earthmover, 2005 Sleeping Night), A P McCoy Grand Annual Chase (2004 St Pirran, 2007 Andreas), Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle (2004 Sporazene, 2006 Desert Quest, 2009 American Trilogy, 2014 Lac Fontana), Ryanair Chase (2005 Thisthatandtother, 2007 Taranis), Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (2006 Noland, 2011 Al Ferof), RSA Chase (2006 Star De Mohaison, 2007 Denman), Stan James Champion Hurdle (2012 Rock On Ruby), Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (2013 Salubrious) First Trainer to Saddle Six Winners on One Card: Saturday, January 21, 2006, at Wincanton Number of Winners (1992/03-2013/14): 20; 29; 28; 53; 56; 82; 110; 71; 83; 136; 152; 127; 152; 148*; 124*; 151* (first trainer to win more than ??4 million in prize money in a season);155*;115*, 134*, 138*, 131, 118**Champion Trainer Wins this Season: 116

Winning Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies Born: October 15, 1992 Background: son of Gold Cup and Grand National-winning trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies - turned professional on April 17, 2010. Appointed first jockey to Paul Nicholls in April, 2014. Cheltenham Festival Wins (4): Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (2015 Dodging Bullets), CGA Foxhunter Chase (2010 Baby Run), Coral Cup (2015 Aux Ptits Soins) Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (2013 The New One) Aintree Festival wins include: Aintree Hurdle (2014 The New One), Anniversary 4-Y-O Hurdle (2015 All Yours), Champion Bumper (2012 The New One, 2014 Ballybolley) Other big race wins include: December Gold Cup (2013 Double Ross), Paddy Power Gold Cup (2010 Little Josh, 2014 Caid Du Berlais), StanJames.com International Hurdle (2013 & 2014 The New One), Tingle Creek Chase (2014 Dodging Bullets) First Winner under Rules: Baby Run, Magnus All-croft Memorial Hunters' Chase, Ludlow, February 18, 2009 Wins (2008/09-2013/14): 2; 15; 59; 81; 87; 115 Wins This Season: 140