Big-Race Perspective: The International Hurdle at Cheltenham

Timeform Features
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Timeform /
14 December 2010 /
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Menorah clears the last in isolation in the International. Will he be doing the same in the Champion?

“MENORAH put himself firmly on course for the Champion Hurdle and deserves to be favourite on the strength of his two efforts this season.”

The International Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday was just one of a number of races to cause a shake-up in the betting for the Festival. Timeform share their Perspective entries…

MENORAH put himself firmly on course for the Champion Hurdle and deserves to be favourite on the strength of his two efforts this season, showing a marked advance on his novice form, and although he probably ran no better than in the Greatwood he showed once again how effective he is on this track (this on the New Course rather than the Old, obviously), briefly niggled after three out but responding well and winning the race with a good turn of foot before the last, three lengths up there and ridden to extend his lead on the run-in.

CUE CARD, thrown in at the deep end on just his third start over hurdles, lost his unbeaten record but emerged with plenty of credit, fully confirming the form he showed last time, this still not the limit of his potential as a hurdler, and he will be a serious contender if sent to the Champion Hurdle, alternatively holding an outstanding chance in either the Supreme or the Baring Bingham should connections choose the novice route. He travelled strongly close to the head of the main group and looked to be going best turning in but he couldn’t quicken as Menorah swept past before the last, ridden out to hold second in the end. He remains open to improvement granted a stronger gallop and is set to be at least as effective back over further.

SILVINIACO CONTI, conceding weight to all but one of his rivals, ran respectably but didn’t seem in quite the same form as at Ascot, this an afterthought in terms of his campaign and perhaps one race too many for the moment, due a break now andcertainly no forlorn hope so far as the Champion Hurdle is concerned, where a truer pace would see him to better advantage as well. He hit the first but recovered from that (jumped soundly thereafter) and raced at the head of the main group, tapped for foot after two out and flat out into the straight but sticking to his task well.

CLERK’S CHOICE clearly hadn’t given his running at Haydock and went a long way to confirming the much-improved effort on his win here in race 1860, again travelling strongly and going as well as any two out but unable to pick up so well as the principals in the straight.

CRISTAL BONUS made a very promising British debut, conceding weight to all but one of his rivals, and can build on this effort, looking the part beforehand and travelling well held up, keeping on in taking fashion after two out, never a factor but not unduly knocked about, confirming himself at least a smart hurdler. Effective at up to 19f, he was bought out of Christophe Aubert’s stable privately for
€285,000 at the Saint-Cloud November Sale.

ASTRACAD appeared to run a bit above his handicap form but that wasn’t a total surprise, given he’d been on the up before his run on soft ground last time, and he’s been credited with the effort for now despite the muddling nature of this race, just one paced after two out.

NICENE CREED, on his toes, faced a stiff task and was essentially used as a pacemaker, though not to any purpose, ignored by the field as he raced well clear to the third, left behind only after two out and appearing to run well in form terms but likely to be flattered.