Adonis Juvenile Hurdle Runners Guide: Six Take Their Chance

A big British Triumph trial comes to us on Saturday from Kempton, live on ITV, with the Adonis Hurdle. Billy Grimshaw is siding with the favourite as most likely winner and could see no betting angle in given his short price, so has provided us a runners guide for the contest...

1. Sauvignon - Paul Nicholls & Harry Cobden

Sauvignon is a French recruit who came over with a serious reputation, however on debut for team Ditcheat he could hardly have run a worse race at Cheltenham and it was clear from jumping a few flights he was not on anything like a going day. The Paul Nicholls yard was under something of a cloud at that stage of the season, which continued for far longer than the team would've liked, however they seem to be in better form at this point and it is wise to forgive a horse a poor run given all the mitigating factors.

Being a French recruit one suspects the anticipated rain would be in his favour and while he has to take more than one step forward from that debut, the yard have won this race on multiple occasions with smart recruits similar to this lad who'd won or ran well at Auteuil.

2. St Pancras - Toby Lawes & Kevin Brogan

A shock 33/1 winner last time out in a Musselburgh Listed Hurdle, St Pancras has some smart flat form on his CV but after his hurdling debut when well beaten into fifth at Ascot it was a surprise to see his massive improvement on the trip north to Scotland. Despite his massive SP, there looked to be no fluke about his win and his jumping was markedly improved on his second start.

On the flat he was a consistent if unspectacular sort and so there must be hope his first hurdles run was a blip and what he showed last time out is going to become his baseline as a jumper. If he runs to that level again, he could well be the horse to back in the without markets behind favourite Mondo Man, who brings in better flat and hurdles form.

3. Bursinel - Cian Collins & James Bowen

Still a maiden in both disciplines, it'd be a massive surprise were he even to hit the frame here truth be told, for all that his latest showing was probably a career best. William Haggas couldn't get a tune out of him on the level and on his jumps debut it looked like Cian Collins had his work cut out given the flop he put in. However, Bursinel did show improvement last time out to come third at Catterick and although that race was much weaker than this, perhaps it'll have given him confidence to improve again.

You suspect anything other than last place would be seen as a decent return, however.

4. Mambonumberfive - Ben Pauling & Ben Jones

Mambonumberfive certainly didn't come cheap from France, fetching an eye-catching €450,000 at auction and being sent to Ben Pauling. His first run on British soil is best dismissed as he was pitched into the deep end in a race which included Triumph favourite East India Dock, and before things even got going he had pulled his chance away.

He certainly looks a long term project considering his greenness that day, but there is clearly talent there and receiving weight from Sauvignon and St Pancras will help his cause. Again, he is another that could be value in the without market and if there is sustained market support, that can speak volumes with this yard and will show they think they've made a breakthrough with him at home.

5. Mondo Man - Gary + Josh Moore & Coailin Quinn

The market leader and a worthy favourite, MONDO MAN is definitely the most likely winner and although he isn't really a betting proposition at around 8/13 I  do think this race is his for the taking. He was well beaten in the end on yard debut last time out behind the exciting Lulamba, but on reflection his run there must be marked up given he kept on going despite pulling like a steam train.

This horse has some very high class flat form from France and if the Moore operation have managed to calm him down a tad, I am hopeful he is allowed to serenely track the pace set by Opec before coming with a stylish late swoop to take this race in impressive fashion. He may be one to back unders if you are a distance punter but a smooth success should see him sent to the Triumph.

6. Opec - James Owen & Sam Twiston-Davies

The expected pace angle and clear second favourite, Opec has to bounce back in here to justify quotes of sub 4/1. She went on a run of three consecutive wins when switching from the flat to the jumps and looked one to follow, but bombed out in a Chepstow Grade 2 when well fancied over Christmas. Perhaps that was just a blip and it's always best to forgive these juveniles one poor run, however I would be reticent to side with her here win only or without as I think she has a job on her hands keeping in the race if she tries to stretch the field with Mondo Man's pace.

If she is given a classic STD ride from the front it will be a bit of all or nothing and at the current odds I'd be against her, however a return to better ground could see her run a much better race than she did at Chepstow and so long as she doesn't try to set unrealistic fractions she could stay in the contest for a long way.