Yanworth battles to Kingwell success
It wasn’t impressive but the Alan King-trained Yanworth kept his Champion Hurdle hopes alive with a gutsy victory in the Grade Two Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton.
Over two-miles, the seven-year-old son of Norse Dancer was always prominent in the Grade Two contest.
Turning for home however, Yanworth was being stoked along by Barry Geraghty and travelled to the final hurdle in sync with Dan Skelton’s Ch’Tibello.
However, King’s charge showed his stamina-laden qualities by staying on resolutely for Geraghty’s urgings to gamely fend off Skelton’s gelding.
It was from impressive however. Geraghty had to be serious with Yanworth and his jumping despite the addition of cheek-pieces remains a work in progress.
This win book’s Yanworth’s ticket for the Champion Hurdle in March with bookmakers reacting indifferently to the news highlighted by Yanworth’s price starting at 3/1 joint-favourite with bet365 but 9/2 with William Hill.
King commented of his charge:
Job done really. Everyone knows we have not had an easy preparation with Yanworth as he had a little problem with a pulled muscle when he was meant to go to Sandwon two weeks ago.
Considering his interrupted build up he’ll definitely come on a lot for this run as he was only 90% this afternoon, and this course will not be for him as it’s very sharp and he needs a proper gallop – which is why he wanted to go to Sandown.
Regarding the addition of cheekpieces for this race, King commented:
We fitted him with cheekpieces to sharpen up his jumping and it seems to have had the desired effect as he was more fluent.
I admit he was not hugely impressive, but he has won the race and he’s now in the mix for the Champion Hurdle. I couldn’t be more pleased with him after the niggle he had.
Analysis by Danny Archer
This was not an impressive performance from Yanworth. Despite the addition of cheekpieces he still jumped pretty poorly and big in the main at his hurdles, which is far from ideal for a Champion Hurdle contender. Geraghty was keen to get to the front as late as possible but in effect it was only really Yanworth’s abundance of stamina which got him through. Wincanton is not an ideal track for him because – like Kempton – it is sharp and he is sure to be suited by a wider more open track like Cheltenham with all its undulations. However, Geraghty must surely be thinking Buveur D’Air looks the one to ride in the Champion, particularly following Tombstone’s defeat of Jezki, who was behind him in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
Yanworth will seriously have to improve his jumping if he is to have any chance in the Champion. A stamina test will suit but I would be wary of backing him.