River Wylde
River Wylde put up a good performance to win the Dovecote Hurdle at Kempton last Saturday.
He travelled well through his race for Nico de Boinville, his jumping was good, and he travelled well into the home straight up on the outside. He had to cover more ground around the turn than his three remaining rivals, but he still made nice ground from the top of the home straight towards the stands side. He jumped the second last flight in front, and he stayed on well from there. He and Elgin came away from their rivals, but it always looked like River Wylde had the upper hand. He jumped the last well and he kept on willingly up the run-in to beat Elgin by three and a half lengths, with Peter The Mayo Man another three lengths back in third.
This was River Wylde's third win on the spin, his third win from three attempts over hurdles, and it was his most impressive yet. He travelled and jumped well, and he was strong from the home turn, staying on powerfully and showing a really nice willing attitude. He came nicely away from Elgin, who had finished second to Neon Wolf at Haydock on his previous start, and he clocked a good time. He seemed to bounce of this good ground.
Nicky Henderson's horse should continue to progress now. He shaped like a useful bumper horse last season, but he is progressing significantly now over hurdles. He would be an obvious contender for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle if connections went down that road, but they also have Lough Derg Spirit, and it was interesting that Nicky Henderson said after this run that River Wylde might need minding a little. Aintree would probably suit him better anyway, his three wins over hurdles have been at Ludlow and Kempton, both flat tracks, and he was well beaten in a bumper on his debut this season on his only previous run at Cheltenham. He will be of interest if he skips Cheltenham and takes his chance in the Top Novices' Hurdle at Aintree.
25th February 2017
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