Millar's Method: Who will come out top in a competitive SBK Gold Trophy Handicap Hurdle

This is a really competitive looking hurdle, with plenty holding chances, we’ve already seen this week that the winter form book can get turned on its head now spring ground has arrived and of course for some horses this will be one run too many for the season, while others, namely Mystical Power seem to thrive on racing and are still improving.

I’ll talk you through my short list of six, and then I’ll endeavour to narrow it down to the first three home.

Encanto Bruno (Gavin Cromwell)

He missed a recent engagement at Cheltenham when a bruised foot meant he was a last minute withdrawal, so he does arrive here relatively fresh.

His form tells a very clear story. On soft ground he’s only able to find a moderate level of ability but when getting on to a sound surface he’s potentially a smart individual.

He holds a strong piece of bumper form beating Strong Leader, now a grade one winner, at Cheltenham and the form of his maiden hurdle win reads well. That win came at Bellewstown where on good ground he ran out a 13-length winner from Dutch Shultz now rated 120, without coming off the bridle.

He followed that up with another facile win over this trip at Cheltenham, again with the minimum of fuss. Two runs since then have been poor but I’m convinced winter ground is to blame. His mark of 139 is lofty enough for what he’s achieved but I believe he’s a graded performer in a handicap, which makes him of huge interest.

Jigoro (Gordon Elliott)

It could be that we’ve not seen the best of this son of Free Port Lux just yet. However on the pick of his best form – a 7-length second to Mystical Power in the grade two Moscow Flyer Hurdle – he does look nicely handicapped off just 137.

His third next time behind Tullyhill also looked like another solid run at the time though he’s since run poorly twice.

Relatively well supported in the market for the competitive Coral Cup, he disappointed when pulling-up approaching the final hurdle, with Jack Kennedy reporting that he was never travelling.

One poor run should always be forgiven and it might be that this better ground see’s him in a better light.

One concern would be the form of Gordon Elliot this week at Punchestown, at the time of writing he’s 1/28 for the week with only a further three making the frame, it could be his string are feeling the effects of chasing Willie Mullins in vain for the majority of a long winter.

Waterford Whispers (Henry De Bromhead)

A son of Westerner he was well touted in Cheltenham preview nights before the festival, he ultimately failed to land the money when only second in the Martin Pipe Hurdle, but emerged with his reputation bolstered, and featured in many “Cheltenham Eye-catcher’ pieces in the following week. He probably over-raced at Cheltenham and maybe given his time again Mike O’Connor would have been a bit more patient, but nevertheless the form stands up well. 

The winner Better Day’s Ahead ran creditably in the grade one earlier this week to be beaten five-lengths whilst Quai De Bourbon sluiced up at Ayr in a novice hurdle at the Scottish National meeting.

A 2lb rise is of no concern but I have a niggling doubt about better ground with his only disappointing run coming on yielding ground when he could only manage seventh on his hurdling debut. 

Monbeg Park (Sean Thomas Doyle)

He holds some very nice hurdle form from last season, including winning a competitive novice hurdle over two-miles at this meeting with grade one winner Spillane’s Tower 2½ - lengths back in second and Uncle Phil (now a 149 rated chaser) a further 11-lengths back in third. He’s past the post first on three occasions in his career (demoted once) and on every occasion the ground has been yielding, his form on softer surfaces is just that bit inferior.

He was switched to chasing this season and it hasn’t worked out, he’s lacked fluency at his fences though in fairness to him he hasn’t yet been afforded a chance to run over fences on better ground.

Rated 137 after his novice win here last year he lines up here off 135, a switch back to hurdles looks a smart move and he could be missed in the market.

Ocastle Des Mottes (Wilie Mullins)

Everyone needs a cliff horse (or two) and he’s most certainly been one of mine this season. Strongly backed for the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury where he lined up off what looked like a lenient adaption of his French mark, he lost his race before the start when getting agitated while being re-shod at the start, he also looked a touch one paced in the finish. I felt he’d fare better over the 2m4f of the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham, and he did finish fifth, but ultimately beaten 14-lengths having pulled too hard on heavy ground.

I again retained the faith when tipping him at Aintree in a first time hood but while he settled better he still over-raced and he again faded tamely. He is now thought down to a mark of 130 and there can be no doubt that if the penny drops he’s significantly better than his mark, but can I keep the faith one last time?.... Paul Townend doesn’t jump ship to Olympic Man.

Olympic Man (Willie Mullins) 

I’m sure Paul Townend puts a huge amount of consideration into his choice of ride when boss Willie Mullins has multiple runners, but I’m also sure this week he’s given it just that bit more thought as he tries to chase down Jack Kennedy in the Irish jockeys Championship.

It’s easy to see why he’s sided with this son of Martaline, he ran well in two-maiden hurdles at Galway over two-miles before showing a marked turn of form when bolting up at Naas when clearly appreciating the step up in trip to 2m3f winning by a very commanding 15-lengths and staying powerfully.

The strength of this performance meant he was sent off a well-backed favourite for his handicap debut at Fairyhouse in a listed contest over three-miles. He tanked through the race and although looking fully in command approaching the last he weakened rapidly and was headed in the shadow’s of the post.

It was still though a huge performance and the 6lb rise in the handicap he received might still leave him lightly handicapped. He’s unproven on this ground but is sure to appreciate this drop back in trip.

My final three:

1. Encanto Bruno
2. Olympic Man
3. Monbeg Park