This race was as much about those absent as it was about the winner. As I suggested in my Supreme Novices post, Fingal Bay is the horse by which all middle distance novices hurdle form will likely be measured. Since then he has won the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle and Barbatos had finished closer to the exciting Hobbs Hurdler than any other in this field and as result had the strongest form in the race. He was sent off 9/2 second favourite but ran like the short priced favourite he deserved to be. Never in trouble, he travelled strongly throughout and jumped soundly. Hitting the front just before the last, he pulled clear and won with considerable ease, what looked a competitive race on paper turned into a rout. Ian Williams’ imposing grey has never looked a flashy type but is solid and looks to have improved with experience, he has already had one novice season over hurdles and he finished 5th in this race in 2011. This was a classy performance by Barbatos but his festival prospects will likely be hampered if Fingal Bay sticks to the 2 ½ mile trip. However, on the back of this performance he is a serious player for the places in March and if Fingal Bay goes for the Albert Bartlett then he has every chance of fighting out the finish.
In second was Batonnier who sat out the back off the pace and stormed up the Cheltenham hill. He seems to run a solid race every time but the strong pace and his race position probably means he was flattered by the result and I would not be confident of him winning at a short price dropped in class.
The horse to take out of the race was Forgotten Gold who, carrying 11st 12lbs (minus the rider’s claim), finished third. His previous runs over hurdles had been marked by impressive jumping and this performance was no different. Gaining ground at every obstacle he ran from the front and of those who finished in the frame Forgotten Gold was the only horse not to come from off the pace. He looked like being the only serious challenger to the winner approaching the last but his early exertions setting the pace told and he tired, losing out to those sitting off the fast gallop. Not the biggest or the best looking horse in the field this was a promising performance in, what looked like, a strong field. He is young enough to grow though and with his jumping prowess and pedigree there is every chance he will make up into a smart chaser.
Other horses to note were the fourth and fifth. Hard To Swallow was a good fourth only 1½ lengths behind Forgotten Gold. He looked outpaced early and put in a number of slow jumps. It is possible he still remembered his heavy fall at Chepstow when booked for a place behind Fingal Bay, but it seemed as the race went on he warmed to his task and gained confidence. Between the last two he looked one of a number in with a chance but he is probably not good enough to win a race of this sort and he lacked the finishing kick of the winner. I can see Hard To Swallow improving with racing and is very much one to look out for over further. In fifth was Judge Davis who looked the pick of the paddock, a big well made gelding he is sure to be a staying chaser in time so this performance over a trip too short must give connections significant hope for the future.
As much as Barbatos was impressive the majority of his main rivals were extremely disappointing. Imperial Circus had beaten the well regarded Rolling Aces last time over 3 miles so the way he dropped out so early and quickly suggests there may have been something amiss. Jimbill, who was impressive on his first start over hurdles, travelled strongly for a long way but he was another who stopped quickly, albeit with a soft ride, and probably paid for his proximity to the pace. The form of One Term’s first run over hurdles had been franked the day before with his ½ length conqueror Ballyrock running Fingal Bay close at Newbury the day before. However, his usual front running tactics failed this time because of his somewhat sloppy jumping and crucially, he was too keen. He is surely capable of better than this and not one to give up on. It could be that a drop to 2 miles sees him in the best light. Finally, the well backed favourite Master Of The Game looked to be challenging the leader following two out, having come from off the pace, but he weakened out of it and may have needed the experience.
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