Ratings Update: Plenty of life left in Faugheen yet

One of the key talking points of the jumps season has been the lack of quality in the two-mile hurdle division and, consequently, the wide-open look to the Champion Hurdle.

However, a strong Cheltenham clue was offered in the Christmas Hurdle as Epatante (155p from 144p) deservedly leapt to the head of the Champion Hurdle betting with an authoritative five-length success at Kempton.

The fact Epatante was sent off at just 15/8 for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last season suggests she has always been held in the highest regard. She may have failed to meet expectations at Cheltenham but she was a comfortable winner of the Gerry Feilden on her return and was strongly supported to make a Grade 1 breakthrough at Kempton.

Her backers would have had few anxious moments as she cruised into contention and quickened sharply to take control between the final two flights. Her rating of 155p is 1 lb lower than that of Champion Hurdle second favourite Klassical Dream, but it’s worth remembering she will receive 7 lb, so she has to be considered a leading contender.

How impressed were you by Epatante in the Christmas Hurdle? She had the bookies running for cover and is now the new favourite for the Champion Hurdle >>> https://t.co/bXR8HrEjNX pic.twitter.com/Wj7ALjhdMu

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 27, 2019

The Christmas Hurdle attracted a double-figure field for the first time in its 50-year history. In contrast, there was the joint smallest field this century in the King George, with only five going to post.

Clan des Obeaux (170 from 165) was visually impressive, scoring by 21 lengths to join an illustrious list of dual winners of racing’s mid-season highlight. It’s difficult to assess exactly what he achieved as Cyrname and Lostintranslation patently failed to give their running, but there’s little doubt Clan des Obeaux is a top-class chaser, and there was loads to like about the performance even if the race did rather fall apart. He was only fifth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last season when appearing not to stay, but he is another year older – and could be an improved performer – so is well worth another crack at it.

Stablemate Cyrname had outstanding claims on his beating of Altior at Ascot but he failed to travel with his usual zest and seemingly failed to see out the trip on his first attempt at three miles. He remains on 176 and the Betfair Ascot Chase – which he won so well last season – looks an obvious target. Lostintranslation (166 from 168p) also failed to travel with his usual verve and his jumping – which had been so assured previously – let him down in the back straight as he clouted the fourth-last and folded tamely soon afterwards. Trainer Colin Tizzard suggested the Betfair Chase winner may undergo wind surgery.

🗣 "I've always said he's a better horse this year, as he's a year older and stronger. If he keeps going forward it could put him in the Gold Cup picture."

Full King George replay and report >>> https://t.co/o3ms42SolE pic.twitter.com/1YNqtqBSIH

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 26, 2019

There was better luck for Tizzard in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase as Slate House (151p from 151) confirmed himself one of the best novice chasers around. His task was made easier by the departure of Master Tommytucker at the fourth-last – who also hampered stablemate Danny Whizzbang – but it was still a taking performance from Slate House, who has won all three starts when completing this season. He was value for more than the winning margin of a length and a quarter – he lost ground on the approach to the final fence having been asked for a safety-first leap – and a quote of 16/1 for the RSA Chase seems to underestimate his chance.

Slate House isn’t your conventional novice chaser having disappointed four times in a winless campaign last season. And it’s fair to say Faugheen (161p from 147p) is also different from your typical novice. The 2015 Champion Hurdle winner is rising 12 but he has made an excellent start to his belated chasing career and he claimed the notable scalp of Samcro (154 from 157p) at Limerick when registering an eleventh Grade 1 success.

Faugheen's G1 victories - a special talent

🏆 Matchbook Novice Chase
🏆 Morgiana Hurdle
🏆 Champion Stayers Hurdle
🏆 Irish Champion Hurdle
🏆 Christmas Hurdle X2
🏆 Champion Hurdle
🏆 Punchestown Champion Hurdle
🏆 Champion Novice Hurdle
🏆 Ballymore Hurdle pic.twitter.com/W2oBULVk08

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 26, 2019

Samcro – four years the junior of Faugheen – was sent off at odds-on and held every chance, but he had no answer as his illustrious rival maintained the gallop and pulled clear to win by ten lengths. That was the best performance from a novice chaser this season and he will take plenty of beating in the Flogas Novice Chase on his next outing. Samcro, on the other hand, now has a lot to prove. That was not the first time Samcro has found less than looked likely.

Notebook (155p from 148p) now looks like Gigginstown’s best novice chaser following a bold-jumping Grade 1 success at Leopardstown that propelled him to the head of the Arkle market. Like many from Henry de Bromhead’s yard, Notebook has developed into a much better chaser than hurdler and his excellent jumping will continue to stand him in good stead. He gave 7 lb to the four-year-old Fakir d’Oudairies – he would meet him on level terms in the Arkle at Cheltenham – and has marked himself down as the one to beat in the division.

De Bromhead was also on the mark with Aspire Tower (145p from 130), who made it two from two over hurdles with a wide-margin win in a Grade 2 juvenile. What he beat is open to debate as his main market rival failed to give his running, but it’s difficult to argue with the style of the success and he was cut to favourite for the Triumph Hurdle. He sets the standard for that division (Goshen is on 142p).

Past winners of the G2 Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle @LeopardstownRC:

🏆 Carlito Brigante
🏆 Sailors Warn
🏆 Apple's Jade
🏆 Bapaume
🏆 Espoir D'Allen

Triumph Hurdle prospect Aspire Tower records a clinical victory in the €50,000 contest for @HenrydeBromhead & @rachaelblackmor pic.twitter.com/QTSYy6ymWj

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 26, 2019

It’s also worth highlighting performances from the novice Easywork (144p from 129), who is well worth a crack at graded level after bolting up at Limerick, and Top Ville Ben (160 from 155), who proved better than ever to win the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby. Top Ville Ben won with a bit in hand and proved less headstrong than previously, so it would be no surprise to see him do better.

It’s also worth touching on some of the high-class action at Ascot last week. Riders On the Storm (162p from 154p) was forced to miss the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham due to an administrative error but he gained a degree of compensation for connections with an impressive success in the graduation chase. Some of his rivals failed to give their running, and there may have been an element of style over substance to the success, but he is clearly on a sharp upward curve and could develop into a contender for top honours (he has won both starts for Twiston-Davies). He fell when fancied for the novices’ handicap chase at the Cheltenham Festival last year but his jumping looked assured at Ascot and the Ryanair Chase, for which he is a top price of 14/1, looks an obvious target.

Easy! Riders Onthe Storm bolts up in the @BetfairExchange Graduation Chase at @Ascot, giving @samtwiston and @NigelTwistonDav compensation following their Caspian Caviar agony… pic.twitter.com/n4hMJ5SHEA

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 21, 2019

The valuable Betfair Exchange Trophy looked competitive on paper, but Not So Sleepy took a huge step forward (139p from 124), drawing right away from his rivals to win by nine lengths. He made all the running, but there’s no suggestion he had an easy time of things on the front end, and he is clearly a useful hurdler in excellent heart. A 17 lb hike in the weights will make life more difficult in future, however.

Master Debonair’s comfortable victory in a Grade 2 novice hurdle the previous day is also worth highlighting. There were only four runners but the race featured some promising types and Master Debonair (145p from 127p) put up one the best performance from a British-trained novice hurdler this season to win by eight lengths. He clearly has plenty of pace and the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle looks an obvious target.