Persian War Novices' Hurdle Guide 2021

A recruit from flat racing for Paul Nicholls and the team at Ditcheat, Paso Doble achieved a very respectable rating of 84 on the level.

Mainly campaigned over intermediate trips he last scored over 10 furlongs at Fairyhouse.

Moved over to this side of the Irish Sea, Paso Doble was clearly showing plenty at home as his new stable saw fit to debut him in the Adonis Hurdle at Kempton. Running a very creditable race to be 3rd behind Tritonic and Case Loupi, he was no match for the winner but was well clear of 4th.

He dropped into a low class novice race thereafter and notched his first success in this sphere despite novice-like tendencies at his obstacles.

Not seen since, the 4 year old gets a small weight for age allowance and has already dipped his toe into graded company.
Going up in trip could unlock some more improvement and the Adonis form is some of the best in the field.

One for Nicky Henderson in the shape of 4 year old First Street. Debuting in bumpers at the back end of last season he finished 2nd on debut and followed that up with another 2nd place finish back in July.

Sent jumping in mid August, he also moved up in trip and managed to oblige at the first time of asking as a hurdler.

Another outing over timber last month showed how much he had come on for experience as he easily defied his penalty to score at Warwick over 21 furlongs.

A professional jump at the last and a nice turn of foot put things to bed at Warwick and he ran away a ready winner.
With race fitness on his side and a nice display in the books he looks like a serious contender.

Trained by Jonjo O’Neill, Coeur Serein has gone from strength to strength recently having made the switch from novice company to handicaps.

The 7 year old was unable to land a blow in novice events but a short break and a switch to handicap company changed his fortunes.

Winning at Warwick over 2 miles and 5 furlongs. The handicapper took a swipe to the tune of 7lbs but he scored again over 3 miles at Newbury.

Last seen scoring over 3 miles and 1 furlong in a class 3 handicap at Huntingdon back in May. Not seen for 143 days, he drops massively back in trip and goes up significantly up in grade.

He’s gained an official rating of 136 for his exploits as a handicapper but could be out of his depth in this sort of company.

Wearing the green and gold of J P McManus is a 5 year old Camprond. A French flat recruit, he took to jumping well for Phillip Hobbs, breaking his maiden at the 3rd attempt back in March.

He took a major step forward when coming 2nd in a deep handicap hurdle at Aintree before an impressive 3rd in the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock.

He’s been kept busy over the summer and dropped back markedly in grade. Winning a novice event with ease saw him then go off favourite for the Summer Hurdle at Market Rasen but he couldn’t defy a mark of 134 and had to settle for 4th.

He’s since been beaten at Stratford by an unexposed type and looks ready to step up in trip.

He’s got a wealth of experience and might just find more potential unlocked by going over further.

Another one for Phillip Hobbs is 5 year old Luttrell Lad. A winner of a bumper back in the early part of last season. Given a break he came back and won another bumper despite his penalty.

He rounded out last season with an impressive 4th in the graded bumper at the Grand National Meeting at Aintree.

Put away until the start of the season he came back last month with a debut over hurdles.

He took to jumps immediately and obliged at a very short price of 1/4 to score at Worcester over 2 miles.

The form doesn’t look the strongest but he won with plenty in hand and showed his class with a good run in a graded event at the tail end of last season.

Moving up in trip will likely suit but he’s got to prove he can concede experience to his rivals.

Jamie Snowden brings point to point recruit Up For Parol here, who despite pulling up on his first run between the flags, won with plenty in hand on his second attempt.

Debuting under rules over hurdles in January, he was well fancied in the market but finished well beaten back in 4th. Given a few weeks off he built on his experience and won with ease over 2 miles at Wetherby.

He then followed that up under a penalty at Ffos Las back in April, again over 2 miles. The form has failed to stack up from that but he scored with plenty in hand.

He struggled when first trying this longer trip but could have been desperately needing the experience. His form leaves plenty to be desired however.

An interesting sort for the Skelton brothers, Hidden Heroics is a 4 year old gelding who’s not been seen under rules yet but will be making his racing debut in a graded event.

Only seen racing once, he won a 3 mile point to point over in Ireland when ridden by Jamie Codd. Bouncing off quick ground in late April, he won by 2.5 lengths.

It gives us very little to go on, he’s won between the flags on debut and must be showing plenty at home for him to be debuting here.

His form in the point to point hasn’t been tested so he really could be anything.

Currently at the foot of the betting is 7 year old Tile Tapper for trainer Chris Honour. Winning a bumper for Jimmy Frost, he came back to Chris Honour for a 3rd behind My Drogo and I Am Maximus at Cheltenham in a bumper before going jumping.

Coming 2nd to Metier in a class 2 hurdle, he was then 3rd in the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown. Although beaten a mammoth 21 lengths.

He since went up in trip and ran well over 19 furlongs at Taunton but could only manage 3rd despite being a short priced favourite.

Rounding out last season with a 8th placed finish in a graded handicap at Sandown, he looked out of his depth in deeper waters.

He’s been given a break and could come beck in better fettle but his hurdle form leaves something to be desired.