Supreme Novices Update: Vaniteux, Vautour and Rathvinden

It is possible this week had little bearing on the Supreme Novices’ in March. Unlike with last week’s Grade 1 Royal Bond there were no ‘trials’ to speak of for the two milers while the Neptune was well catered for. Faugheen looks to be heading that way after his saunter round Navan, but were he to drop back to two miles the Supreme would be a realistic target given the impression he has made despite his inexperience.

In England, Vaniteux’s display at Sandown was perhaps the most meaningful in Supreme terms. He readily saw off second season novice Vibrato Valtat, who had shaped well in a fiercely competitive novice handicap at Cheltenham on his seasonal reappearance, and the pair came clear of the third Champagne At Tara, Jonjo O’Neill’s well-regarded prospect who had finished fourth in a hot Cheltenham bumper on his previous start. Vaniteux, now in the care of Nicky Henderson having acquitted himself adequately in two point-to-points, hurdled fluently throughout the contest until the second last where a not insignificant error knocked him back on his heels as he was about to join the lead. He had to be vigorously ridden to assert late on but once he did the victory appeared almost emphatic, as Vibrato Valtat had no response to his rival’s superior stamina and ability. Without the mishap at the penultimate flight Vaniteux would have run out an even more taking winner. His jumping, on the evidence of one run of course, is accomplished, albeit clearly not infallible, and he is blessed with more speed than one might expect from a gelding with his background. This son of eminent, but sadly departed, stallion Voix Du Nord possesses the right mix of attributes to make a talented two mile novice hurdler though probably not at the level required for a Supreme contender. Even accounting for the late blunder, Vaniteux should have dispatched the formerly disappointing juvenile Vibrato Valtat if he has graded Festival aspirations. The distance back to Champagne At Tara may be cause for encouragement, he has shown the potential to make it at a higher grade, but he was never really put into the race on Saturday with future targets over further almost certainly in mind.  At this stage Nicky Henderson also has other, more viable candidates for the Supreme, a factor which could see this four-year-old targeted elsewhere.

Another trainer with no shortage of viable candidates, some would say a plethora, is Willie Mullins. He gets stronger in the novice hurdling department by the week and the depth of his squad is such that arguably his best novice hurdlers, like the aforementioned Faugheen and Champion Bumper winner Briar Hill, could avoid the Supreme. This weekend Mullins unleashed two more exciting types over hurdles and it is difficult to decide who was more impressive, Vautour or Rathvinden. Of the two, Vautour is the only one quoted for the Supreme and his smooth success in the four-year-olds only contest at Navan on Saturday marks him out as one to take seriously. His hurdling experience in France stood him in good stead here as his jumping was quick and accurate and he settled immediately. His experience gave him an advantage over many but even so he still had far too much for this field as, with the most minimal of urgings, he cruised clear from the last. Often maiden hurdles of this type are big on numbers but low on quality outside of one standout, however on this occasion Vautour may have beaten some reasonable novices. The second and fourth had both won Punchestown bumpers while the third had won his only other race in France. The first four in this field have potential in this realm; it is unlikely to be a case of Willie Mullins’ charge beating ‘nothing’.

Willie Mullins has done particularly well with the progeny of Robin Des Champs and Vautour is another. He has always been held in high esteem and plenty was expected of him despite being beaten on his two starts in France. Both those defeats came on heavy and it is likely he improved for better ground faced at Navan, as offspring of this sire often do. We will inevitably learn more about his ability as he rises in class but it is hard to imagine he won’t be able to cope against the more established Irish novices and it will be interesting to see what his conqueror on his final French start, Black River, achieves once given another opportunity by Paul Nicholls, having fallen at Newbury. There are very few things to hold against Vautour, his hurdling is sound and effective, he settles nicely, has the speed for two miles and handles any ground with preference for a quicker surface, akin to one he would probably face at Cheltenham. Like nearly everything at the Mullins base in Closutton he is one to be positive about, as for a Supreme bid? We will just have to wait for Willie’s plans.  

It would be nice to think Rathvinden will be among those plans as he races in the colours of Ronnie Bartlett, colours that would have already been carried to victory in the Supreme had connections made the right decision with Simonsig (although saying the Neptune was the wrong decision would be ridiculous). The five-year-old son of Heron Island came from the same source as Simonsig, Northern Irish trainer Ian Ferguson. Bartlett bought the horse following a resounding success at Downpatrick in June. The race was only a lady riders’ bumper but one can imagine Ferguson recommending the gelding to his new owner and Rathvinden was soon in the care of Willie Mullins. The plan had been to go straight over hurdles yet his work had been so good they went for a bumper under a penalty at Cork. Settled in second for most of the way he travelled strongly until two out where he was shaken up and a sharp turn-of-foot saw he burst clear. That was a striking twelve length win for his new trainer and he was sent back over course and distance on Sunday to do the same again, this time over obstacles. His jumping was more than sufficient if not, understandably, as confident as Vautour’s and, having hugged the inside in behind the leaders for the rest of the contest, he was switched out as he approached the third last at which a brave jump saw him hit the front. The race was as good as over at that point as his rider Paul Townend, the only one not hard at work, looked round for non-existent dangers. His notable acceleration reappeared as he put distance between him and those toiling in behind.

Rathvinden was barely shaken up here over two miles and produced no shortage of speed. Whether this will prove his optimal trip this season is debatable. I feel he looks at home over two miles but then the opposition he has taken on has been rather lacking. His acceleration might be too easy to overplay given the limitations of those in behind and he is seeing out his races well enough not to have any concerns about an increase in distance. In fact, the Downpatrick Ladies race was over two-and-a-quarter miles, whilst he fell at the last when with every chance over three miles in his only point. Rathvinden is just quoted for the Neptune at the Festival and a step up in trip might be inescapable but, much like Simonsig, I would be keen to see him tested against better rivals over the minimum trip.