Grade Two Relkeel Hurdle Guide

McFabulous for Paul Nicholls has promised so much in the last few seasons but this year stepping up in trip should see him flourish and having landed the Grade Two Persian War Novices' Hurdle on debut, he proved how good he can be

The six year old was a superstar in bumpers, landing three of his four outings, including the Grade Two contest at the Grand National meeting at Aintree.

He stepped up to hurdles last term and took some time to fully get warm to jumping the obstacles, but on his third start got off the mark over timber at Market Rasen, he then backed that up at Kempton next time out to land an 18 runner Grade Three Handicap Hurdle.

The gelding made his seasonal debut at Chepstow in the Grade Two Persian War Novices' Hurdle and blew a decent field away by three lengths.

He then stepped out of novice company in the Grade Two Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury and he finished a good third behind Paisley Park and Thyme Hill.

Those two runners have since gone on to frank the form in Grade One company and that leaves McFabulous the right favourite for this event and the one to beat.

Kim Bailey and David Bass have had a terrific season to date and they will be looking to extend their good fortune with Younevercall in this race.

However, it would be a big turn up for the books if this gelding landed this event looking like more like a horse for handicaps then Grade One events.

Having been smart two seasons ago winning on his only start over hurdles after a long break, he went over the flat next time out and finished last of 11 runner at Royal Ascot.

After another lengthy lay off he made his seasonal return in November at Kempton in a Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle and finished a nose second to Storm Goddess.

He was then plunged into the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot and he finished a fair fourth behind Paisley Park, Thyme Hill and Roksana.

This is fair form heading into the event but taking on McFabulous, who is a similar level to those horses, makes him vulnerable again.

Summerville Boy has been a superb yardstick for Tom George landing the Supreme Novices' Hurdle in 2018 and since then going to be a smart hurdler out of novice company.

The eight year old was kept over hurdles after that win at the festival and he had a below par season, being outclassed in Grade One company.

This saw George send him over fences and although winning his first event he was not a natural over the bigger obstacles and he was sent over a staying trip back over hurdles.

This was a superb move for his career as he went to Cheltenham in January and won the Grade Two Relkeel Hurdle and then later in the month finished second behind Paisley Park in the Cleeve Hurdle.

This set him up perfectly for the Stayers' Hurdle and although only finishing fifth on the day it was still a fair performance for the amount of runs he had in quick succession.

Staying over timber this term he showed his star quality again on his seasonal debut when taking the a strong event at Aintree over 2m4f.

He stepped up to three miles again for the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury and was a decent fourth behind Paisley Park, Thyme Hill and McFabulous, with him needing to reverse the form with the latter.

He was dropped in trip for his last run when sent to Cheltenham for the International Hurdle and again he ran a fair race, doing his best work late to grab a closely bunched fifth.

This longer trip is what he needs and is a live each way player.

The seven year old old has been a consistent horse for the Seven Barrows yard since joining from from France a few years ago and last term was magnificent in the early part of the season.

He started his campaign off in this race in November 2019 finishing second to If The Cap Fits who went on to land the race for two consecutive years.

He then headed to Cheltenham for his second start in the Grade Two International Hurdle and he stayed on best of the rest up the hill to take the race.

The gelding, after a superb win went to Sandown as a final run before the Champion Hurdle at the festival and finished second behind Grade One winner Quel Destin.

The Champion Hurdle was just too much for the gelding, being outclassed in a race that did not suit him and it saw him finish near the back of the field.

He made his seasonal debut this term in the three runner Ascot Hurdle and could only finish second to the likeable Song For Someone.

He tried to reverse the form last time out but struggled when finishing seventh in the Grade Two International Hurdle which he won in 2019, and his connections will be hoping the extra trip will be bring him on.

Thomas Darby has been a hit and miss horse for Olly Murphy showing so much potential as a novice when finishing second behind Klassical Dream in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the 2019 Cheltenham festival.

He was then sent over fences with his handler very bullish about where his career was heading, however he suffered two really short priced defeats over the bigger obstacles and was moved straight back over hurdles.

In January 2020 he went back over hurdles and won a Grade Three Handicap Hurdle round Ascot, but since then has been outclassed in better company at Fontwell and Aintree.

He will need a career best performance to land this, but was entered in a Group One in Ireland before this so the trainer must have him in good spirits at home.

The only mare in the field is the Paul Webber trained Indefatigable and although being a Cheltenham festival winner looks out of place in this field.

At the back end of last term she put a string of wins together winning a Listed Hurdle at Warwick and then backing that up in the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle at the festival.

After having a tame run on the flat at Lingfield she kickstarted her season over hurdles where she could only finish third of eight runners in a Listed event at Kempton.

She steps back in trip for this event and the mares allowance will help her chances, but looks opposable.

The final runner in the race comes from Seven Barrows with Nicky Henderson's second runner in the race looking more like a handicapper than a graded competitor.

Having tried over fences, hurdles and on the flat last season Henderson is sticking with flights this term and he has made a bright start to the campaign.

He went to Cheltenham on seasonal debut in November for the Listed Handicap Hurdle and beat a decent field of runners over three miles.

He then headed back over the same course and distance last time out and the extra weight told being beat into second by the well handicapped Come On Teddy.

Dropping in trip is a negative for this horse who is an out and out stayer and stepping up to this quality makes it very tough for him.