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Valgrand

Valgrand was seriously impressive in winning the Grade 2 two-mile Sharp Novices’ Hurdle over an extended two miles at Cheltenham on Friday. Sent to the front from flagfall by Harry Skelton, his rider was allowed to set his own fractions, but his jumping was fluent and accurate, and he had all his rivals in trouble when he picked up on the run to the home turn. He cleared away from his rivals as they straightened up for home, and he stayed on strongly over the last and up the hill to win by 17 lengths.

Second in the bumper at this meeting last year, and fourth in the Grade 2 bumper at Aintree in April, this was Valgrand’s third run over hurdles, and it was his third win. Progressing with each run, he was fastest in the race through each of the last three furlongs, going almost three seconds faster in total through the final three furlongs than the next fastest in the race, Dancing In Paris, who finished third. Dan Skelton has options now with the Bathyrhon gelding, he could step up in grade now in novice contests, or he could go down the handicap route. An initial mark of 140 is not obviously lenient, but he has the potential to be better than that. It is interesting that Lookaway, the winner of this race last year, finished second in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham’s November meeting on his next run, before reverting to novice company and finishing second in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury. Valgrand obviously goes well at Cheltenham, and interest in him will be heightened when he goes back there.

Cheltenham 25th October, 2024