Grade One Finale Juvenile Hurdle Guide

Gary Moore seems to have acquired another superstar over hurdles this season with Nassalam and with the rescheduling of Chepstow's Welsh National meeting being put back to Saturday, it has allowed him to strengthen the juvenile and put him back into this event after being initially taken out back in December.

The gelding looks to be a very exciting recruit for the yard, being regarded as the next Goshen by many experts in the industry and on Saturday he can back those claims up when stepping up for his first taste of black type racing.

The gelding moved over to England during the Summer and was given to Gary Moore after being bought by John Stone after finishing second in a conditions hurdles event at Clairefontaine.

Since moving over to England, the son of Dream Well is unbeaten on both starts to date, having ran twice in two Juvenile Hurdle events and landing them by a combined 108 lengths, something similarly achieved by his stablemate.

Having landed his first event by 59 lengths, he stepped out at again over the same course and distance at Fontwell and managed to again be a long distanced winner.

He steps up for his first taste of black type racing in this event but looks the pick of the bunch on raw ability.

Paul Nicholls landed this event in 2018 and will be looking to do the same on Saturday with Houx Girls who looks to have a big chance for the Ditcheat yard.

The four year old is making his British debut having been given to Nicholls having raced four times in France to a good standard.

The four year old ran in two bumpers in the middle of 2020, winning on debut and then finishing second on his final start before being moved over hurdles.

He made his hurdles debut at Auteuil in September and finished a good third over 2m2f in soft conditions and then next time out over a similar trip he got off the mark.

He will enjoy the heavy conditions at Chepstow on Friday and could turn out to be a real superstar for the superb yard.

The three year old gelding has only been seen twice to date over hurdles having been a smart runner on the flat and on both occasions has been very impressive.

The youngster made his debut in November at Warwick when winning a decent event and then two starts ago stepped over two miles at Cheltenham and finished a good second behind the Gordon Elliott trained Duffle Coat.

He used that form next time out to drop back in class and easily land the Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle over the same course and distance.

The gelding took the race with ease, travelling well throughout the race and in this field he has the most experience at the top level and it could make all the difference.

Fergal O'Brien holds a key card in the Grade One with Elham Valley who looks a very nice prospect for the yard having been a fair horse on the flat, but taking to hurdles even better.

The gelding was previously with trainer John Gallagher and this term was given to O'Brien to be tried in the national hunt sphere.

On debut the three year old got over to a winning start at Sandown in a Juvenile Hurdle beating a decent field fairly easily and that form has since been franked.

The second has since come out and won a similar event and Elham Valley takes on the third placed horse again in this event on Saturday.

Each way player.

Yggdrasil for Nick Williams has form tying in with Elham Valley and although needing to improve for his first run of the season is not completely ruled out at 18/1

The four year old made his debut in December at Sandown finishing third behind Elham Valley at Sandown and the form of that race has worked out with the second since going on to win.

The gelding showed that he will handle heavy conditions which is predicted on Saturday and if coming on for the run could nick a place.

Bannister for Tom George is one of the bigger priced horses entering the event and although being the most experienced horse in the field has it all to do.

The four year old has been seen five times this season placing three times and winning one of those events, but he ahs also chucked in two below par efforts, including last time out.

He got off the mark three starts ago at Southwell winning a juvenile hurdle by 20 lengths and since then has raced twice over in France.

He was sent to Compiegne over 2m1f and finished a neck second in a conditions hurdle contest, but last time out in a similar race was outclassed and had to settle for fifth.

Off the back of that run he is a big price and stepping up to this company makes him vulnerable.

The penultimate runner on the day goes for trainer Stan Moore at 33/1 and looks to need a huge step up in performance to get involved.

The youngster has been seen twice to date over hurdles having been a fair horse on the flat in England and on debut he finished an average fourth of 11 at Ludlow.

He improved for that run last time out when second at Wetherby in November in a Juvenile Maiden and if going on to win this it would be a huge shock.

Prefers good ground.

The final runner of the race is the big priced Pyramid Place for trainer Milton Harris who may be a big price like 40/1 because the trainer is lesser known.

The four year old has shown good form on both his starts over hurdles to date, finishing second on debut at Lingfield and then backed that up last time out at Bangor to get off the mark for the season.

The 40/1 chance was tried on the flat early in his career, but since being stepped up in trip and sent over flights he has improved a fair bit and although he might be outclassed in this field, he looks a nice type for the future.