Historic Heart looks a cut above
Historic Heart brings much the best form to the table as he tackles the Chatteris Fen Juvenile Hurdle at Huntingdon tomorrow.
His current rating of 131 reflects his fine run at Cheltenham last time, when he finished four and three-quarter lengths behind subsequent Grade One hero Adagio, keeping on well without really looking like getting near the convincing winner.
Historic Heart had previously finished over 12 lengths behind Adagio at Prestbury Park, when the pair ran fifth and second respectively behind Duffle Coat in a Triumph Hurdle trial. That run admirably demonstrates the kind of level Nigel Hawke has been pitching at – and although Historic Heart falls a bit below that class, he is nevertheless smart enough.
He beat a subsequent winner at Wetherby in October – and Talking About You, whom he edged out at Sedgefield last August, has become a prolific winner, triumphing four times and twice at Listed level.
Historic Heart must shoulder an 8lb penalty for those victories here – but while the opposition is hard to weigh up, it could pay to side with a proven performer.
Birchdale carried plenty of confidence on his seasonal bow. He let down his supporters, but those who keep the faith can be rewarded in the Racing TV Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.
He had a bit of a false start to his chasing career last term when finishing third on his only outing in that sphere, but he certainly still made plenty of appeal on his return at Catterick – having finished a creditable eighth back over hurdles in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham last March.
Birchdale looked to be doing everything right as the 30-100 favourite in Yorkshire, but he hit the 12th fence and gave Aidan Coleman no chance of maintaining what appeared to be a promising partnership.
Nicky Henderson is sure to have been putting in the work on the schooling ground since – and given Birchdale was a winning point-to-pointer before racing under rules, he is clearly not a forlorn hope to rise through the ranks.
Graces Order should feel the benefit of her recent return when she lines up in the Racing TV Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.
A bumper winner for Olly Murphy last term, she went for a Wincanton maiden hurdle before Christmas and was far from disgraced in third, beaten eight lengths after looking thoroughly in need of the outing. She should strip fitter for that comeback after 281 days off. Donald McCain has started the year in excellent form, and Esme Shelby can keep up the momentum in Sedgefield’s Download The At The Races App Mares’ Handicap Hurdle.