Artic Bresil Can Triumph in Sandown’s Tolworth Hurdle
Britain’s best novice hurdlers will be in action at Sandown Park on Saturday when eight quality horses contest the Unibet Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle. The race is a good form pointer to the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Authorised Speed blundered badly at the final flight when winning at Sandown last month but still scored by a wide margin. ©GettyImages
Last year’s Tolworth Hurdle was won by the Festival scorer, Constitution Hill. Now unbeaten in all five career starts, and never scoring by less than a dozen lengths, he is already being compared to some of the sport’s all-time greats.
If there is championship material in Saturday’s Tolworth Hurdle field, Tahmuras, Authorised Speed, and Artic Bresil are the likely stars. The trio are unbeaten in five career starts over hurdles, and all have scored with consummate ease.
Artic Can Bring Ireland in From the Cold
It is 14 years since Paul Nicholl’s last trained a winner of this contest. His hope this year, Tahmuras, is two-from-two and cannot be faulted. Neither can Gary Moore’s Authorised Speed, who achieved more than his rival as a five-year-old in National Hunt Flat races.
Claiming course and distance-winning form on his most recent start – and with the distinction of finishing fifth in last season’s Festival Bumper – Authorised Speed is narrowly favored ahead of the likely favorite.
However, the Irish-trained Artic Bresil is the value shout. 10/3 with the best horse racing betting sites, this six-year-old will be ridden by Rachael Blackmore for Henry De Bromhead. A five-length scorer at Cork ahead of 21 rivals – and a Willie Mullins-trained odds-on shot – this contender has an interesting family tree.
A taking performance by ARCTIC BRESIL (Blue Bresil) on his hurdle debut sees the £305,000 @tattscheltenham buy earn quotes of 12/1 for the Ballymore 🤩 An exciting prospect for @HenrydeBromhead, P Davies and breeder Goldford Stud @sallygoldford 🥂 pic.twitter.com/kag4jsmVUz
— Rathbarry & Glenview (@RathbarryStud) December 11, 2022
By the French stallion, Blue Bresil, Artic Bresil is out of a King’s Theatre mare. Those in awe of Constitution Hill will quickly point out their idol is also a son of Blue Bresil and his grandfather on his dam’s side is also King’s Theatre.
There has only been one Irish-trained winner of the Tolworth Hurdle, but just a handful of Irish-trained horses have contested the two-mile race. Incidentally, Artic Bresil was bred in Britain and sold at Tattersalls’ Cheltenham November 2021 sale for £305,000.
In Love With Fry’s Ambassador
Earlier on the Unibet-sponsored Sandown card Harry Fry’s Love Envoi can take her British record to seven-from-seven in the 12.40 pm, a listed mare’s hurdle contest. The Grade-2 Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle winner at last year’s Cheltenham Festival is clear best on official figures.
Even the best UK betting sites quote Love Envoi at 4/9. Already a two-time Sandown Park winner, the mare appears value at those odds. But the price dictates she is more of a banker selection for multiple bets than win-single material.
Our accompanying third and fourth selections for multiple bets are both trained by Venetia Williams. The Herefordshire trainer has six runners on the ITV-televised Sandown card. Her best chances of a winner come in the 1.15 pm with Gemirande and in the concluding 3.35 pm contest with Djelo.
Has the Handicapper Got His Sums Right?
Gemirande has yet to miss the frame in five chase starts and showed significant improvement when scoring at Southwell toward the end of November. The handicapper has had his say, but the horse he beat there has won since. It is therefore possible his new rating of 124 still underestimates Gemirande’s current ability.
His stablemate, Djelo, probably cost a pretty penny after landing his sole start in France. And he looked a fine prospect when winning in a common canter on his British debut at Exeter in November. But the five-year-old was turned out again quickly – something that could have played a part in his defeat at odds of 1/3 ten days later.
The most lightly raced horse in Saturday’s 11-runner contest, Djelo remains full of potential. And, dropped back three furlongs in trip, it is very possible that he can return to winning ways.
