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Saticon Bids to Give King a Juvenile Hurdle Hat-Trick
12/11/08

Alan King is hoping he has another hurdling star on his hands as he bids for a hat-trick of victories in the £30,000 Grade Two Ryman The Stationer Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle (12.50pm) over an extended two miles at The Open on Saturday, November 15.

Reigning Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdler Katchit took the prize for King in 2006 en route to victory in the JCB Triumph Hurdle at The Festival, while Franchoek triumphed last year before taking second in the four-year-old showpiece. Classy French import Saticon flies the flag for the Barbury Castle trainer this time around and the former Andre Fabre inmate could be joined by stable companion Tuanku.

Saticon made a winning debut over hurdles for the yard at Kempton on October 19, justifying 8/15 favouritism to defeat Maxwill by a workmanlike half-length. King believes the stiffer track at Cheltenham will suit the Act One gelding, who showed a smart level of form in winning his last two starts on the Flat in France prior to joining King in August.

He revealed: “Saticon definitely runs in the Ryman The Stationer Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle. Tuanku is in the Racing UK Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (3.45pm) on the same card but he might not get in that so he could possibly join Saticon.

“Lots of things were against Saticon at Kempton - no pace and a sharp track - but we got away with it and I think he’s improved quite considerably since the run. We’re looking forward to running him.

“He was a decent Flat horse for Andre Fabre in France. I hope he’ll be alright on soft ground, we don’t have much option, I suppose.”

Tuanku has won one of his three starts over hurdles. The Tagula gelding made a winning debut for the yard on the Flat at Salisbury in August and opened his account over hurdles at Plumpton the following month. Tuanku filled the runner-up berth to R De Rien Sivola, to whom he was conceding 14lb, on October 11 at Chepstow, and was only headed close home when second under a penalty to the smart Flat recruit Starluck at Huntingdon on October 29.

King said: “I think we bumped into quite a decent ex-Flat horse at Huntingdon. I’m happy with him and the plan is to go to Cheltenham but I’m not sure which race he runs in yet.”

The Ryman The Stationer Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle is the first major test for juvenile hurdlers and always attracts a competitive field.

This year’s entry also includes the Paul Nicholls-trained R De Rien De Sivola, the Richard Fahey-trained Resounding Glory who made it two from two over hurdles when winning the Listed Weatherbys Bank Wensleydale Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle at Wetherby last time and Starluck, who provided trainer Alan Fleming with his first career success.

Philip Hobbs could run recent Aintree winner Nampour, while Nicky Henderson may saddle Giorgio Quercus, a 10-length winner at Hereford on his British debut. Howard Johnson has entered Woody Waller, while Nigel Twiston-Davies could rely on Rory Boy and Irish handler David Marnane has the option of running Tramore winner Hampstead Heath.

The three days of The Open offer fantastic sport. Saturday’s thrilling feature is the £150,000 Grade Three Paddy Power Gold Cup (2.35pm) and the superb six-race card also includes the £60,000 Grade Three Servo Computer Services Trophy (2pm) over an extended three miles and three furlongs.

Sunday’s six-race card features the £100,000 Grade Three Greatwood Hurdle (2.20pm) over an extended two miles, while the sextet of classy races on Friday includes the popular £25,000 Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeple Chase (3pm) over three miles, seven furlongs.

CHANGE TO RUNNING ORDER ON SATURDAY

There is a change to the order of running on Saturday, November 15.

The Grade Two Novices’ Hurdle and the Novices’ Handicap Hurdle, both run over an extended two miles, switch places on the card.

Cheltenham's Communications Manager, Andy Clifton, explained: "To help ensure that the totescoop6 races on Saturday provide the most competitive puzzle, given the huge pools rolling over, we have changed the order of running. This also ensures that all four of our Channel 4 races will be included in the totescoop6, including the final leg of that bet.

“The Ryman The Stationer Juvenile Novices' Hurdle (Grade Two) will be the first race on the card at 12.50 and The Racing UK Novices’ Handicap Hurdle will now end the day at 3.45pm, the last of four races televised by Channel 4.

“We are very grateful to our existing sponsors for their understanding, not least Paddy Power, who are the major sponsors this weekend."

GOING NOW GOOD TO SOFT, SOFT IN PLACES

The going at Cheltenham has changed to good to soft, soft in places (from soft, good to soft in places) on both the Chase & Hurdle Course and the Cross Country Course.

The GoingStick reading is 6.7 on the Chase & Hurdle Course and 6.2 on the Cross Country Course.

Simon Claisse, Cheltenham’s Clerk of the Course and Director of Racing, said: “We have not had any rain since around midnight on Monday, while the forecast tomorrow is for between two and three millimetres of rain.

“The weather is predicted to be mild for the three days of The Open and we are forecast to receive around one millimetre of rain on each day.”