Adonis Hurdle guide: Heross Du Seuil to strike

Close Brothers Adonis Juvenile Hurdle - 2.25 Kempton Saturday

Click here for FREE video form and full racecard

TRITONIC

Only beaten half-a-length in the Golden Gate Handicap at Royal Ascot last June, Alan King's promising juvenile was a good fourth in the Old Rowley Cup when last seen on the Flat.

Rated 99 on the level, the exciting son of Sea The Moon made a successful hurdling debut at Ascot last month and is open to significant improvement in this sphere.

The trainer has landed this prize four times previously including back-to-back victories in 2017 and 2018. Decent ground would be ideal for his representative this year.

HEROSS DU SEUIL

Made a successful hurdling/British debut over this course and distance in December and could easily take a giant leap forwards with that experience under his belt.

Nicky Henderson's charge was noticeably keen and lacked fluency in the jumping department on that occasion but travelled into the race powerfully and was arguably getting the better of his front-running rival who exited the race at the final flight.

The runner-up, beaten 10 lengths, was successful on her only subsequent start and Henderson has landed this race five times before so knows what it takes to win it.

PASO DOBLE

Paul Nicholls has plundered this race five times in the last 12 years and the eleven-time champion trainer could unleash hurdling debutant Paso Doble this weekend.

Rated 84 on the flat in France, connections parted with the princely sum of €125,000 to secure the son of Dawn Approach, who won two of his nine starts on the level.

His lack of experience is clearly a concern but both Zarkandar and Zubayr made successful hurdling/British debuts for the yard in this race. Don't underestimate their runner this time around.

CASA LOUPI

Looked to have Tritonic's measure when jumping the last in-front at Ascot and was only beaten a length at the line. All in all an encouraging start to his career over hurdles.

Gary Moore's Casamento gelding is entitled to improve for that experience and could easily make his presence felt once again this weekend.

HONNEUR D'AJONC

Still travelling well when crashing out at the final flight at Kempton in December, he has been the subject of positive comments from trainer Jane Williams.

That Kempton contest was still in the balance as the eventual winner Heross Du Seuil was coming to challenge at the time. That rival is held in high regard at home and the eventual runner-up, who was beaten 10 lengths, has won her only subsequent start.

Clearly that was an above-average contest and Honneur D'Ajonc was playing a major role before his unfortunate departure.

MARGARET'S LEGACY

French raider who is 2-2 over hurdles and rates a fascinating contender in this Grade 2 contest.

Hugo Merienne's juvenile has won his starts by a combined distance of 15 lengths and could be anything at this stage of his career. Decent ground would be an unknown but clearly he's held in some regard.

JOHN LOCKE

Dan Skelton has his string in fine form at present, as indicated by his hat-trick at Ascot last Saturday, and it's interesting that he has elected to hand John Locke his debut in this contest.

Rated 85 on the level when trained by Ralph Beckett, the son of Mastercraftsman was successful on good ground at Goodwood in September and has clearly been pleasing connections at home.

HERBIERS

Chased home Donald McCain's unbeaten juvenile hurdler Fiveandtwenty at Musselburgh in January before going one place better at Hereford last week.

Oliver Greenall's juvenile defeated fellow entrants Green Book and Table Mountain on his last start and looks well worth trying in this grade. However, his worst run to date came on his solitary start on decent ground which is a slight cause for concern.

SON OF RED

Made a successful hurdling debut at Newcastle in November before finishing third behind subsequent Grade 1 Finale Juvenile Hurdle scorer Adagio at Cheltenham in December.

The form of his debut success doesn't look strong but he was far from disgraced at Cheltenham and further progress is possible.

GREEN BOOK

0-13 on the Flat in France but did show a degree of promise when chasing home Herbiers on his hurdling/British debut at Hereford.

Clearly improvement will be required in order to land a contest of this nature but he's entitled to improve with that experience under his belt and connections clearly feel that he could be up to this level.

PYRAMID PLACE

3-5 over hurdles and deemed good enough to contest the Grade 1 Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow last month, where he was the last of the seven runners to complete.

The bay son of Authorized has won his two subsequent starts at Taunton and Catterick respectively and is clearly progressing well. However, all three of his previous victories have been achieved on soft ground and Saturday's surface is an unknown.

SOLDIER ON PARADE

Soldier On Parade is 3-5 over hurdles and could easily have more to offer in this sphere.

Rated 65 on the Flat, Amy Murphy's four-year-old could only place sixth behind Gordon Elliott's unbeaten juvenile Duffle Coat at Wetherby in October and will clearly have to improve greatly in order to feature in this grade. Good ground would be a positive.

MARTA DES MOTTES

She was 2-3 over hurdles in France, including a good ground contest at La Teste De Buch last July.

The Montmartre filly was undeniably disappointing when last of five, beaten 35 lengths, on her British debut in Listed company at Taunton, It was her first start for 165 days and she could easily come on for the run but needs to.

SEE THE EAGLE FLY

Landed a run-of-the-mill juvenile hurdle at Fontwell in October before placing sixth in Listed company at Aintree in December.

Harry Whittington's filly will need to improve significantly in order to feature on Saturday despite a handy 7lbs mares allowance.

TABLE MOUNTAIN

Failed to build on a respectable hurdling debut at Kempton when placing fourth behind Herbiers at Hereford.

This contest represents a sizeable rise in class and it's hard to see her making a impact judged on what we've seen so far.

MISTERSISTER

Won a claiming hurdle at Le Lion-D'Angers last August, but was pulled-up on his British debut in the Grade 2 Summit Juvenile Hurdle at Doncaster in December.

Both that entry and indeed this one suggest connections hold the grey son of Wootton Bassett in some regard. It may be the case but he was well beaten in a jumpers bumper at Lingfield earlier this month and will need to take a giant leap forwards.

VERDICT:

Tritonic could easily enhance his trainer's fine record in this race on Saturday, while Paul Nicholls' debutant Paso Doble is an intriguing contender and would certainly warrant a market check if taking up this engagement.

The same comment applies to the John Locke for the Skelton team while French raider Margaret's Legacy has already shown ability and is clearly held in some regard.

However, Honneur D'Ajonc and HEROSS DU SEUIL shaped with significant promise over this course and distance in December and could easily make their presence felt on Saturday. It's impossible to know what would have happened had the former stood up last time but preference is for the Henderson horse who was hitting top gear when left in front and whom is open to significant improvement.

He made-up ground in the manner of a smart horse that day and showed a good attitude when the penny finally dropped. He hit the line hard in spite of doing too much in the early stages and is entitled to improve both mentally and physically for that outing. The likely decent ground is also in his favour.