Supreme Novices Update: My Tent Or Yours

Normal service was resumed this weekend, as Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson dominated the jumping scene on both sides of the Irish Sea. The most visually impressive performance of the weekend was Silviniaco Conti’s rout in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby. He may have beaten overrated and unfit rivals but the style of this performance along with his rock solid novices’ chase form marks him out as a key player in all the major staying chases this season for Paul Nicholls. At Ascot, we saw a performance significantly less impressive but from a horse with arguably just as much potential in his division, the Nicky Henderson trained, My Tent Or Yours.

If pressed for my 2013 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner, at the start of this jumps season, I would probably have said My Tent Or Yours. Now, having witnessed his first run over hurdles, I am reluctant to switch allegiances just yet.

As a bumper horse he was always highly regarded, he even started odds-on for his first two starts and second favourite for the Aintree Champion Bumper. In the run-up to Aintree Nicky Henderson made it clear that he felt this son of Desert Prince was his best in that sphere.

For his first start under rules, Henderson sent My Tent Or Yours to Ludlow, a venue where he often likes to test his talented youngsters. Over 1m6f he settled well, surprisingly well considering how keen he has been in all his subsequent starts. This was quite a well run bumper and that surely aided his cause, as did the trip as it put the emphasis far more on speed. As a result, he ran out a supremely comfortable nine length winner displaying his undoubted class (with, the since unbeaten in four, Vegas Cash back in fourth). After a performance worthy of a step up in class, My Tent Or Yours was set the considerably stiffer task of the DBS Sales Bumper at Newbury. On this occasion Nicky Henderson’s charge pulled hard almost throughout and his rider, Barry Geraghty, said “he didn’t drop the bit until we were turning in for home”. It was, therefore, extremely creditable to finish second to Up To Something (a winner on his hurdling debut this season), beaten barely more than a length. Already a dual bumper winner, Up To Something had the run of the race up front and his trainer Charlie Longsdon sees him as novice hurdler for races over 2m4f+, consequently it was no disgrace for My Tent Or Yours to just be outstayed over an extended two miles. Inexperience also looked to play a part in this defeat as it was only his second ever race and his first ‘battle’.

Connections of My Tent Or Yours, understandably, felt he was unlucky at Newbury and headed to Aintree full of confidence. His abundance of speed, shown at Ludlow and Newbury, suggested Aintree would suit. Again, he pulled hard through early stages, although not to the same extent as at Newbury, but this time Geraghty managed to settle him. Due to his strikingly high cruising speed My Tent Or Yours inevitably took himself to the front earlier than ideal and although the rest of the field were under pressure and he was seemingly tanking along, he just couldn’t find enough off the bridle to repel the late charge of The New One. Ostensibly a stayer, The New One was always a possible danger if stamina was brought into play. The Aintree race was also over 2m1f and at the moment it looks as if two miles is My Tent Or Yours’ limit. As such, he did well to finish where he did, ahead of many useful performers and the form of the race has worked out exceptionally well. The New One has already won impressively twice over hurdles, while My Tent Or Yours in second, Court Minstrel (fourth), Ifyousayso (fifth) and Kaysersberg (14th) have all won on their hurdling debuts this season. This, coupled with the way he moved through race, left the impression that My Tent Or Yours would be an exciting prospect for novice hurdles.

J P McManus evidently agreed and he purchased Barry Geraghty’s usual mount thereby leaving the responsibility of guiding this promising novice through his first season over hurdles to A P McCoy. McCoy had in fact ridden My Tent Or Yours on his racecourse debut so he wasn’t unfamiliar with the strong travelling bay gelding.

At Ascot, My Tent Or Yours was sent off a heavily fancied 4/7 favourite. He had plainly been showing the right signs at home and his bumper form entitled him to be where he was in the market. There were however murmurings of support for the opposition he faced, primarily the French import Taquin Du Seuil, a winner at Uttoxeter on his hurdling debut (for McCoy), and the listed class flat performer Chiberta King.

It was clear from the outset that McCoy was in for a battle with My Tent Or Yours as his free going, hard pulling tendencies resurfaced and appeared worse than ever. He was anchored in last place but the race was run at an extremely slow pace which was never likely to suit and after jumping the first well he was by no means foot perfect over his obstacles, making a hash of the fourth, knocking the hurdle flat, and the last, where he was particularly slow. The pace remained steady until My Tent Or Yours, in effect, pulled his way into second just alongside Taquin Du Seuil rounding the final bend. Together they quickly managed to put distance between them and the field. While there were two horses left in with a chance there seemed little doubt that McCoy would come out on top as he approached the last yet to move on My Tent Or Yours while Geraghty, coincidentally replacing McCoy on Taquin Du Seuil, was all out in an attempt to remain alongside. With the mistake at the last and his history of failing to find as much as expected off the bridle, there was a moment’s worry and My Tent Or Yours had to be pushed out until he found the extra gear which he seems to posses. One crack of the whip was all but unnecessary and while he was in receipt of 5lbs from the runner-up and the winning distance was only a length-and-three-quarters, there was no hiding his superiority.

The way he has shaped on each of his four starts, particularly his most recent, suggests he will be at his best when faced with a strong pace in a big field. One cannot fail to be impressed by the way My Tent Or Yours travels so menacingly through a race, very few horses can match his ability to catch the eye, and for a hurdler he looks to be all about speed. Once he gets the strong pace he needs over two miles, he will be a major force to be reckoned with and I will not entertain any doubts over his class.

                                                                                                                                    

While his speed will get him so far, he will need to show that he finds for pressure once he comes off the bridle. I am sure that in previews to his future races people will be desperate to suggest laying him short in running as he has travelled strongly without delivering the anticipated finishing kick on three occasions. Excuses can be found however, and I believe he will have to come across something really smart to be beaten in the near future. At Newbury, the clearest case of him not finding off the bridle, My Tent Or Yours came up against a horse who had controlled the race from the front while Nicky Henderson’s charge showed signs of inexperience. At Aintree, he came across a top class horse in The New One who stays well and it was over a trip that just stretched his stamina to. Whilst, this weekend he came up against a small field with no pace and had to fight out the finish with, a not to be underestimated opponent in Taquin Du Seuil. Having previously shown a decent level of form on the flat in France, Taquin Du Seuil could not have been more impressive at Uttoxeter on his hurdling debut, beating the odds on favourite by fifteen lengths eased down. He has jumped well on both runs over hurdles and is surely one to look out for in future, while it is possible that he lacks the class to challenge in a Supreme Novices’.

It is also possible that he just came across a seriously talented horse in My Tent Or Yours, potentially the best two-mile novice hurdler in the country. Were this to be the case, the 20/1 available now for the Supreme would look very generous but it is so early that I would have to see the whole package to get involved now. He has the speed, the class and there are no doubts over him stepping up in trip. But, the fact remains My Tent Or Yours has had only one run over hurdles and he jumped poorly. If on his next start he jumps well and shows that he has learned from this experience, then the prospect of a double figure price, even months in advance, may become too tempting to resist.

Weekend Review - Triumph Hurdle Trials

This weekend saw a number of different Triumph Hurdle hopefuls testing their credentials. While there were some notable disappointments, Paul Nicholls, Alan King and Willie Mullins will be extremely satisfied with their horses and will look to March full of confidence.

On Cheltenham’s ‘Trials Day’, Grumeti and Pearl Swan laid down their festival markers in the JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial. In a desperate finish Pearl Swan came out on top by a short head but after a lengthy stewards’ enquiry the result was amended, the placings were reversed and Grumeti was given the race.  This was the right decision as there had been discernible interference on the run-in and Ruby Walsh was given a controversial three day ban for careless riding. Before the race he was largely unconsidered for the Triumph Hurdle, available at 33/1 with Skybet for example, yet afterwards many felt that Pearl Swan was the horse who ran the best trial and with him being at a best price of 10/1 (as short as 5/1 with one firm) the layers are not taking any chances with him.

Pearl Swan at Taunton

Pearl Swan had first come to the attention of jump racing followers after an authoritative display on his debut for Paul Nicholls at Taunton, just 9 days before his run at Cheltenham on Saturday. He had been a fair flat performer for John Hammond in France and, with his new connections, was sent off a relatively well backed 3/1 second favourite. At Taunton he jumped well, on the whole, and moved through the race like a good horse before quickening powerfully to beat the consistent Ifyouletmefinish four lengths. He evidently had plenty in hand that day and Nicholls wanted to see whether he had a Triumph or Fred Winter horse on his hands by running him on Saturday. Sitting well off the pace throughout, Ruby Walsh, on Pearl Swan, made his move after two out and then at the last he was upsides the leaders before battling with Grumeti all the way up the Cheltenham hill. This run proved to his trainer that he is a Triumph Hurdle horse and he will now head straight for that race without another run. Paul Nicholls is convinced he can improve this son of Gentlewave with his jumping the priority, which looked deliberate at times. He may well find significant improvement in Pearl Swan, in which case he would be a formidable opponent come March but I am still keener on the horse who was awarded the Triumph Hurdle trial, Grumeti.

Grumeti was a useful on the flat for Michael Bell and was seen as a good jumping prospect by his current connections. At the Newmarket sales current connections went to £100,000 to buy this son of Sakhee and on the face of it, this looks good business.

Much like Pearl Swan, Grumeti won his hurdling debut at Taunton. He was even more impressive, pulling fourteen lengths clear of, another formerly talented flat horse and subsequent clear-cut handicap hurdle winner, Ted Spread. In third, a further length back, was Ifyouletmefinish who Pearl Swan had only beaten by six lengths. Grumeti jumped smoothly at Taunton and did much the same at Newbury on his next start where he was all set to demolish his field on the bridle. Unfortunately, at the second last he stumbled on landing and came down. This scuppered, his trainer, Alan King's plan to win comfortably at Newbury before a tilt at the Adonis Hurdle at Kempton. With a worry over the weather turning and a cold snap forcing Grumeti to head straight to festival, after a fall, it was decided a quick run back at Cheltenham was the best course of action. For me, his performance in the trial enhanced his claims for the Triumph Hurdle itself. This run was almost certainly too soon after his fall at Newbury and he started the race like he had fallen recently, jumping slowly at the first few flights. He failed to show the burst of acceleration he displayed at Taunton as a result of him probably not having enough time to recover from his last run. Grumeti was also hindered by the slightly sticky, tacky ground and by the fact that he chased the pace from an early stage unlike his adversary Pearl Swan who had been dropped out. This combined with the interference suffered all the way up the run-in makes his victory all the more meritorious and I am convinced there is significantly more to come.

Alan King has stated that his Triumph hopeful will likely go to the Adonis next for one last bit of crucial experience before the big one. Unless another Zarkandar appears I fully expect him to win that as well as the juvenile hurdlers likely to turn up there have not impressed me to the same extent as Grumeti, and that includes current antepost favourite for the Triumph Saddlers Risk. At this stage Grumeti is right at the top of my Triumph Hurdle list with six weeks still to go and is certainly one to consider antepost.

In third behind Pearl Swan and Grumeti was Hollow Tree who ran his usual good race. He seems to lack the necessary ability for the Triumph Hurdle even though he won the Grade 1 Finale at Chepstow. That is a race that tends to have little bearing on the Triumph itself and it seems clear that Hollow Tree is at his best on soft ground. He may have chance off a big weight in the Fred Winter but I would be quite happy to leave him out of any Triumph Hurdle calculations. Further down the field at Cheltenham was the major disappointment of the race, Baby Mix. The Tom George trained grey finished last of six but he was sent off a 7/4 joint-favourite and was clearly expected to do far better. On his first start for Tom George, also at Cheltenham, Baby Mix ran out an impressive seven length winner and defeated the highly regarded, heavily odds on, Hinterland in the process. On that occasion he travelled strongly and jumped noticeably well before pulling away from Nicholls’ charge. More of the same was expected this weekend but while he travelled strongly for much of the way Baby Mix’s jumping failed to stand up to the test and he made a number of errors. In terms of his Triumph prospects I’m not willing to forgive Baby Mix this run. I’m not convinced his defeat of Hinterland was all that it looked at the time. Hinterland had to force the pace from the front, was keen throughout and, most importantly, was giving the Al Namix Gelding 7lbs. Also, Baby Mix appeared to have a strange head carriage and looked like he was thinking about it on the run-in. He does not look the most straightforward and I cannot envisage circumstances where I would back him for the Triumph.

One further negative for Baby Mix was the run of Hinterland in the handicap hurdle on the same card as the Triumph trial. Hinterland was still in the mix for the Triumph Hurdle going into his run on Saturday and as a result was a well backed favourite. He could only manage third under an interesting ride from Ruby Walsh. While it was not bad run by any means, it looked more of a trial for the Fred Winter than for the Triumph especially as Paul Nicholls has at least two other strong candidates for the race.

Over in Ireland there was hugely eye-catching Triumph Hurdle trial run by the Willie Mullins trained Darroun. He was an expensive purchase for connections at the July Arqana sales in France, costing the princely sum of €140,000. Trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre on the level he managed to win once from three starts and was seen as the perfect type for juvenile hurdling.

It was inexperience that cost him first time up over hurdles at Punchestown where he finished a close second to Shadow Catcher. At Leopardstown on Saturday better was expected and he was sent out in front by Paul Townend, often a sign of confidence behind a Mullins novice hurdler. This grey son of Dalakhani jumped impeccably and he held off the favourite, Hisaabaat, by one and a quarter lengths. Hisaabaat had previously finished second to two Irish hopes for the Triumph, Sportsmaster and, Darroun’s stablemate, Ut De Sivola. Dermot Weld’s juvenile is a good yardstick in these Irish events and he looked the winner approaching the last as he was still on the bridle, but Willie Mullin’s charge outbattled him and in the end the margin of victory failed to do his superiority justice. It is worth noting that rounding the home turn Darroun appeared to lose his action and his jockey had to stop riding for a few strides giving significant ground to the second and third in the process. He is a strapping gelding and still showed signs of greenness at Leopardstown but in overcoming this and his loss of action, Darroun showed that is a talented horse with tremendous scope for improvement.

As a Triumph Hurdle prospect, Darroun could not have come from a better source with the Aga Khan Studs producing recent winners Zaynar and Zarkandar. He looks to be improving fast and with further progression expected on the quicker festival ground he is surely value at 20/1. There is always the problem with Willie Mullins trained horses that he has another prospect for the same race and this is the case here as he trains Ut De Sivola who is appreciably shorter in the market. He beat Hisaabaat further than Darroun last time but Hisaabaat made a dreadful mistake at the last when travelling strongly and there is every chance he was flattered. I was not overly impressed by this son of Robins Des Champs and I would be confident that in six weeks time Darroun will be Mullins’ first string for the Triumph. This being the case he will be much shorter than the 20/1 available at this stage and I suggest taking that price for the Triumph now. Of course, the last two years have shown there is always the possibility that the best juvenile has yet to be unleashed over hurdles; hence backing Darroun each way is advisable.