Finale Juvenile Hurdle

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Also at Chepstow the Finale Juvenile Hurdle looks a competitive contest and should give us some more clues for the Triumph Hurdle.

Caid Du Berlais will be popular has he makes his debut for Paul Nicholls. The horse was formerly trained in France by Robert Collet for whom he won a three-year-olds' hurdle on heavy ground last August. He has good form at Auteuil too and must have strong claims.

John Ferguson saddles Ruacana who won on hurdles debut at Catterick. This ground would have to be of concern and although he ran well on heavy on the flat, this will be harder work.

Swnymor represents Tim Vaughan and is another who is one from one over hurdles having won at Newbury on his debut for the stable. I think this could be a good opportunity for Paul Nicholls to add this race to his CV and I'm with Caid Du Berlais.

Before I take a look at the racing from Sandown, another horse I fancy on Saturday is Cedre Bleu in the 2.10, the two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase. He will suit going left-handed and looks capable of winning a decent prize. This is ground he enjoys and he has been helped by the application of cheekpieces.

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Al
Ex Hammond ^

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Denis O'Regan has endured mixed fortunes as a freelance in the last couple of seasons, but his ongoing association with John Ferguson should give the talented rider extra stability in the weeks ahead.

Indeed rumour has it that Ferguson has arranged for the provision of some permanent accomodation near to his yard to mean the jockey doesn't have to travel so far to ride work for the trainer, which should cement the association even more closely in the weeks and months ahead.

The stable's exciting hurdler Cotton Mill, a late absentee from Ascot's Ladbroke Hurdle before Christmas when the going was deemed too soft, will be kept back for next month's Totesport Trophy at Newbury.

But nearer to hand, it is Ruacana whom the pair have high hopes for in the Finale Hurdle at Chepstow. Yes, Chepstow ground tends to prove too much for even the toughest ex-Flat performers but this horse really does seem to thrive in the mud.

There is plenty of talent within Ferguson's yard through which to get a decent measurement as to Ruacana's talent and all the signs suggest that he is very smart. Caid du Berlais, making his debut for Paul Nicholls, is the obvious danger, although in truth this decent contest for once looks like it is almost living up to its Grade One billing.

[Sprinter]

Nicholls has gash record but wouldn't like to oppose his ...

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The first Grade One of the season for juveniles looked sure to be won by Swnymor who had just taken up the running approaching the last.

Tim Vaughan's charge took a crashing fall at that flight, however, with Richard Johnson thrown into the path of the chasing Megalypos.

Tony McCoy's mount was hampered as he avoided the stricken jockey allowing Denis O'Regan and Ruacana to come through and land the prestigious prize from Caid Du Berlais.

The market principals were all held up in rear in a slowly run contest as Vasco D'Ycy, Zandy Man and Dalmo all raced a little too freely at the head of affairs.

Despite the lack of pace, Ruby Walsh was niggling at Caid Du Berlais from a long way out and never looked happy aboard the French import who was sent off as favourite to provide Paul Nicholls with a first winner in this race.

It appeared as though fourth might be the best that he could hope for halfway down the home straight but he was only beaten a length and a quarter after the drama at the last.

It was a second win from as many starts for Ruacana, a useful handicapper on the Flat for Michael Bell, following his debut success at Catterick and a first Grade One winner for his trainer who is better known as Sheikh Mohammed's long-standing bloodstock advisor.

Ferguson said: "He was consistent for Michael Bell and it was very kind of his owner to lease him to Bloomfields (Stud, in whose colours the winner ran).

"On his Flat form I had a strong feeling he would go in the ground and I thought Denis gave him a smashing ride - although we did have a bit of luck on our side.

"We'll get him home and then decide what we do next. Obviously everyone wants to have runners at Cheltenham, but there's no point just going there for the sake of it and we'll see how things pan out."

Coral make the winner 16/1 for the JCB Triumph Hurdle with the unlucky Swnymor 12-1 but the Sky Bet make the Cape Cross gelding a 25/1 chance with the Leeds based firm also longer about Swnymor (16s) with Caid Du Berlais also quoted at 25s.