Kempton 14 October 2006
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The penny had clearly dropped with MOON OVER MIAMI as he followed up his opening hurdle victory with ease over 2m before his summer break. Further progress is expected and he is taken to complete the hat-trick, although Forest Green could be a serious threat. Following a racecourse debut victory in France, he failed to land the odds on his debut for Paul Nicholls in May but should be more dangerous now he has fully acclamatised. Gringo is a useful handicapper on the level and must be respected as he takes to hurdling for his powerful connections.
Albarino is the only one to have raced over fences but he has hardly set the world alight, so SENORITA RUMBALITA and Pirate Flagship look like the ones to concentrate on here. Both have shown plenty of ability whilst hurdling and the latter was successful at Cheltenham when last seen in April, but Alan King's charge sets the standard with her Grade 2 success in February and she has shown superior speed over the 2m trip.
Having already scored in Grade 1 and 2 company, NAPOLITAIN ended his novice chasing campaign with a victory in April - with Yardbird well back in third. Big things are expected from him this term and he gets the nod for an in-form yard. Yardbird is 19lb better off with the selection for that 14 length defeat so should give him more to think about this time around, while four-time chase winner Key Phil also looks a threat after advertising his current good order with an easy hurdle victory last month.
With only two of these having competed over hurdles before, close attention should be given to the market. UK debutant Herald Angel and Howard Johnson's Abbondanza, who cost 260,000 euros as a yearling, are of interest but the pick of the hurdling debutants is URBAN TIGER. In fine form on the level this summer and a winner when last seen in August, Alan King's charge looks sure to go well for a yard that know how to get them ready over timber. Katies Tuitor went close in a similar event on his hurdling bow and could put that experience to good use.
All eyes will be on SELF DEFENSE here and he should be hard to beat. Fit from some encouraging outings in hot company on the level, Emma Lavelle's charge is used to racing at a higher level than this and was runner-up in a Grade 1 hurdle last December. Freeloader could have a bright future over timber following an impressive win on his debut over obstacles but this looks too much, too soon and the biggest danger may be Kawagino, who was fourth, albeit well beaten, in a Grade 1 when last seen in April.
TIGHE CASTER relished the drop to this grade when scoring over 2m4f by 5 lengths on his debut for Peter Bowen last month, he will strip-fitter for that first run for seven months and, with the drop in trip no concern, is taken to defy a 9lb rise. Coat Of Honour showed plenty of ability in novice events and should go well if fully wound up on his return, as should Show Me The River who was last seen winning a beginners chase at Sedgefield in April. Crossbow Creek is no forlorn hope back over larger obstacles.
