Who Will Take This Season`s Fred Winter?

We have joint favourites for this season`s Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle with Arabian Revolution and Hostile Fire both 10/1 shots for the 2m Grade Three title. The two favourites will be joined by 20 other entrants, however, and such big priced market leaders suggests that there will be more than just this pair vying for the prize this afternoon.

The first of these favourites is trained by John Ferguson and owned by Bloomfields. The four-year-old grey will be accompanied by Barry Geraghty for the first time. This lack of a long term partnership between horse and jockey shouldn`t be too concerning, Geraghty is experienced enough to be able to get the best out of any horse and Arabian Revolution has already picked up three wins with three different riders. The charge has failed to finish outside of the top two on any of his three rides over hurdles (2m), two victories bookending an unlikely runners-up place at Ludlow when the favourite. Both of the charge`s wins have been comprehensive and whilst this shows his class, whether or not he`ll be able to compete should he be challenged in the closing stages remains to be seen.

Hostile Fire was an experienced flat horse before making the move to hurdles this season. George Elliott`s fancy was a four-time winner on the flat for Ed de Giles before being transferred to his now trainer. Another with three outings over 2m hurdles, the Pat Sloan mount picked up an unlikely second on his debut but finished 12 lengths behind Officieux at Fairyhouse when the favourite. The four-year-old scooped his first victory at the same course and distance last time out and this could be an example of his progressiveness in action, turning over market favourite Zafayan by three lengths. The horse has flat form on everything from good-to-firm to good-to-soft and with that hurdles win over soft-heavy, he really does have no excuses in this regard.

All Yours and Zarib are the next two in the betting, both being available at 12/1 at a number of bookmakers. The former is the mount of Paul Nicholls and stable jockey Sam Twiston-Davies whilst the latter will be ridden by Harry Skelton for his brother Dan.

Nicholls` Potensis owned charge picked up a division two win at Taunton at 17f before being second in a highly competitive Grade One at Kempton. He was beaten here by Beltor, who had previously got the better of Arabian Revolution at Ludlow. The former was taken down by a distance of five lengths whilst Arabian Revolution was defeated by just over two suggesting that the 137 rated hurdler will have to have improved on his last outing. Zarib has an advantage in that whilst he has also scooped two wins (both in class four two-milers), he also has Cheltenham experience after being brought down by the duo of Peace And Co and Karezak in the 17f Grade Two Triumph Hurdle Trial back in January. Both these horses are fancied for the Grade One Triumph Hurdle on Friday and his experience against them should stand Zarib in good stead. It might just be, however, that the ground might not be soft enough for this lively contender but may still be one to consider regardless.

Each-way chances in the field include 20/1 shot (Numerous) Golden Doyen though he will be looking to overcome top weight, Starchitecht who shares form with a number of high quality runners and is available at 22/1 with bet365, Betvictor, Coral and Stan James and Henry Oliver`s Beatabout The Bush (25/1).

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11/03/2015     © Frixo 2026