Ratings Update: Reaction from Fairyhouse and Newbury

A week after reigning holder State Man's defeat in the Morgiana Hurdle, there were further changes in the Champion Hurdle market following the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle and Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

The Fighting Fifth had been the intended starting point for Constitution Hill (Timeform rating 177), the brilliant winner of the 2023 Champion Hurdle who was ruled out of a defence of his title last season and raced only once during the entire campaign. However, lameness prevented Constitution Hill from making his eagerly anticipated return and instead Sir Gino (remains 155p) was left to fly the flag for Nicky Henderson's Seven Barrows stable.

Sir Gino proved an able deputy as he registered a comfortable success on his return, extending his unbeaten record to five with an eight-length defeat of Lump Sum (142 from 137). A rare poor effort from market rival Mystical Power meant that Sir Gino didn't need to improve much on the form he had shown when winning the Grade 1 juvenile hurdle at Aintree last season, but the style of success, and his profile, suggests that he should have more to offer (he retains the Timeform 'small p' to denote he's likely to do better.

Lossiemouth (158p from 154p) already headed the Champion Hurdle betting prior to her return in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle and she strengthened her position with an emphatic defeat of Teahupoo (remains 163) who was seeking a hat-trick in that two-and-a-half mile Grade 1. Lossiemouth, who has plenty of form at two miles, was well suited by a contest that developed into a test of speed but it was still impressive how readily she assumed command. Teahupoo wasn't at his very best so Lossiemouth didn't strictly need to improve on the pick of her efforts, but such was the authority of the display that we've taken the view she will uphold the form should the pair meet again on the same terms, and she's been rated accordingly.

Also at Fairyhouse

The other Grade 1 on the Fairyhouse card, the Drinmore Novice Chase, was an unsatisfactory affair due to a steady pace and Croke Park (147p from 132p), who benefited from dictating that gallop, was seen to maximum effect under Sam Ewing as he held on by a neck. He's clearly a better chaser than hurdler and deserves credit for the good round of jumping he produced, but he had the run of the race here. Heart Wood (remains 155), on his final start in novice company, ran respectably in second but would have been suited by a stiffer test, while short-price favourite Firefox (147p from 142P), a close-up third, would also have benefited from having more use made of him and he remains the best chasing prospect in the line-up.

There was also a turn up in the Royal Bond (which has lost its Grade 1 status, incidentally) as Romeo Coolio (138p from 135P), one of the ante-post favourites for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, had to settle for second behind Tounsivator (141 from 137+). Champion Bumper runner-up Romeo Coolio, an easy winner on his hurdling debut at Down Royal, travelled strongly and held every chance at the final flight, but the more experienced Tounsivator picked up well to assert up the run-in and score by two and a half lengths. This was his best effort but no more than an average performance for a Royal Bond winner in the last ten years.

The biggest shock on the card, however, came in the Grade 3 juvenile hurdle with Willy de Houelle (remains 134), the early Triumph Hurdle favourite, beaten at 1/4 on his first start for Willie Mullins. Willy de Houelle impressed with how he moved through the race and all looked to be going to plan when he was produced to lead two out, but he was unable to fend off Naturally Nimble (130p from 85p), a useful sort on the Flat who took a big step forward on the form he had shown when down the field on his hurdling debut last week. Naturally Nimble, who pounced late for a length-and-a-half success, ran to a lower level than a typical winner of this race which tends to be a key pointer to some of the major juvenile contests, but he remains open to further improvement.

There were also some notable performances at Fairyhouse on Saturday, starting with Impaire et Passe (148p) in the beginners' chase. Impaire et Passe, a three-time Grade 1 winner over hurdles, was unsurprisingly a short price on his first start over fences and he completed the task without much fuss, setting himself up nicely for tougher tasks ahead. He ran to quite a high level for a chasing debutant, posting a performance rating 3 lb higher than Corbetts Cross in this race last season and only 1 lb lower than Monkfish who took this in 2020.

Perhaps there wasn't a horse of Firefox or Ballyburn's quality in the maiden hurdle this year but there were some promising sorts among the big field and Ballygunner Castle (128p) did well to overcome two serious bits of interference. He established himself as an exciting prospect for Willie Mullins, as did Anzadam (146p from 128p) who bolted up in the Grade 3 four-year-old hurdle on his first start for the yard. Anzadam, a dual winner in France for Arnaud Chaille-Chaille, travelled powerfully towards the rear, made good headway on the bridle in the straight and quickly put his stamp on the race, easily drawing six and a half lengths clear. He retains the 'p' to show he's likely to do better for this yard and he will be well worth his place in an even higher grade.

Notes from Newbury

Only 13 went to post in the highlight at Newbury, the Coral Gold Cup, and the topweight was running off the lowest BHA mark since 2006, which suggests it wasn't a vintage edition. It was still competitive, though, and the finish was fought out between two second-season chasers, with Kandoo Kid (149 from 144) producing his best effort yet to beat Broadway Boy (151 from 150), seeing things out strongly on only his second start at three miles-plus. He ran well to finish third in the Topham at Aintree last season and will have the Grand National on his agenda this time around having looked a stayer here.

The novice hurdle on the card has a notable roll of honour having been won by the likes of Bravemansgame, Stage Star and Stay Away Fay, and the latest winner, The New Lion (133p from 125P) also possesses plenty of potential. He took his record under Rules to three from three with a decisive three-length success and has earned his place in the Grade 1 Challow Novices' Hurdle.

The previous day Regent's Stroll (128p), a record-breaking £660,000 purchase, made a successful start over hurdles, landing a maiden that was also used as a stepping stone by Buveur d'Air, Lostintranslation and Jonbon. Regent's Stroll, a winner on both starts in bumpers, jumped well in the main and the way he recovered from a shocking error at the second-last to draw away was encouraging. He's a chaser on looks but can make an impact in graded hurdles first.

The Jukebox Man (147p) had the run of the race in the Grade 2 novice chase over two and a half miles, but there was still a lot to like about his performance on his first start over fences, establishing himself as one of the best prospects in the division in Britain. The Jukebox Man was runner-up in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle last season so connections will have options over different trips.