QUEL DESTIN
Triumph Hurdle Friday (1.30)
TOUGH front-runner has won five of his six races since his purchase from France.
Second on British debut at Chepstow, then followed a victory at Kempton in October with success in Grade 2 Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham in November, defying penalty at the same level at Doncaster four weeks later.
Fought on tenaciously to deny Adjali by a neck in top-tier Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow over Christmas before six-length score at Haydock last time.
Could be joined by fellow French import Pic D’Orhy, runner-up in a Grade 1 juvenile hurdle at Auteuil at the beginning of November.
NICHOLLS SAYS: This lad has it all and is a proper jumping horse.
He was a bit green when he got beat at Chepstow, but hasn’t been defeated since.
He won a Grade 1 at Chepstow, he’s won a couple of Grade 2s, won at Cheltenham, then came back the other day and won at Haydock.
I was surprised how well he won there, he was big and well but I thought he’d need the run, which he did and he still managed to win.
I know Sir Erec is a very short price but he’ll have to be tough to go past this lad.
He jumps well and keeps galloping, so he is one of our leading Festival chances.
Pic D’Orhy is a very interesting juvenile from France. We took him to Wincanton for a racecourse gallop — and we were thrilled with what we saw. NEWSBOY’S VERDICT:
Loves a fight and keeps on winning, including a victory at the highest level.
Has plenty of experience but might just be vulnerable to a horse with more scope for progress and, on a BHA perch of 146, is still 9lb shy of the rating Defi Du Seuil had before his Triumph Hurdle success two years ago.
Pic D’Orhy is useful, but hard to assess. ODDS: 7-1