Hildisvini

Hildisvini could still be underrated despite winning what looked like a fairly good two-mile-one-furlong novice hurdle in impressive style at Sandown on Friday. All the talk after the race was of the defeated favourite Kid Cassidy, who did hang to his right late on and may not have been at his best, but Hildisvini looked good in beating him and it was 12 lengths back to Shuil Royale in third, a horse who won two bumpers from two starts and jumped well here on his debut over hurdles.

Hildisvini was always travelling well, held up in fourth place as Kid Cassidy was allowed to dictate the pace. Charlie Longsdon’s horse made good ground up towards the favourite after the third last, the last flight down the back, and it was soon between this pair in the straight as Shuil Royale couldn’t pick up with them. It still looked as though the favourite was travelling better at the second last, but he wasn’t able to go with Hildisvini on the run in, and it’s also worth pointing out that Felix de Giles never really got serious on Hildisvini, pushing him out hands and heels to win a shade cosily in the end.

This was a good Sandown novice hurdle, run in good time. Kid Cassidy had shown a good level of form coming into this race and this was his prep run for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. While he might not have run his race, the front pair pulled clear of Shuil Royale, actually a half-brother Kid Cassidy, a progressive sort who had won his two bumpers. Hildisvini had been progressive himself in bumpers, in Ireland for Paddy Colville and also in winning on his debut for Charlie Longsdon at Warwick in January. Although that was an admittedly weak contest, there was a lot to like about the way he was able to win having pulled hard and having run fairly green through the race. He is progressive now, this was big step forward on his just his fourth ever run. He could be under-rated still, and he should improve again for stepping up in trip.

25th February 2011