'I hope he's got the wow factor' - Porticello out to cement Triumph claims

Saturday: 2.40 Doncaster
bet365 Summit Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) | 2m½f | 3yo | ITV4/Sky

Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson share the top trainer honours in the Summit, with three wins apiece, but they may have to wait to settle that particular dispute outright.

Gary Moore and Milton Harris are having strong seasons, boasting 20 per cent and 21 per cent strike-rates respectively, and their representatives are the key form runners.

This isn’t a venue that Moore frequents often, having sent just 11 runners to Doncaster in the last five seasons, but Porticello could make that 418-mile round trip worth it and cement his Triumph Hurdle credentials in the process.

Previously trained in France, he convincingly beat Magistrato, now trained by Nicholls, at Auteuil before moving to Britain and he maintained his unbeaten record in Listed company at Wetherby in the Wensleydale.

Doncaster tends to favour horses who travel kindly and race up with the pace, and Porticello fits that profile perfectly. He was still green when quickening away at Wetherby and exponential improvement could be on the cards.

Magistrato has been beaten by both Porticello and Harris’s Knight Salute and, although he will need to settle better to land a blow, his strong-travelling nature will suit the track if he can keep his enthusiasm under wraps early on.

Knight Salute also arrives blemish-free, having conquered Henderson’s Impulsive One at Kempton for the second of his wins, before defeating Magistrato in the Triumph Trial at Cheltenham.

His chance hinges on a sounder surface and the forecast rain has to be a big concern. He also meets Impulsive One, who has undergone wind surgery, on 12lb worse terms here, which could leave him vulnerable on this occasion.

Dan Skelton also enters a former Flat runner in the shape of Too Friendly, but the form of his wins don’t look overly strong and he’s perhaps been overbet in this contest.
Race analysis by Owen Goulding

Gredley busy on track and off it

Owner Tim Gredley will not make it to Town Moor to see his Too Friendly defend his unbeaten record and with good reason as he became a father for the second time on Thursday evening.

Gredley’s wife Rachel gave birth to Charlotte Grace, who weighed in at 8lb 1oz and a sister to Isabella.

Gredley was hoping to be on hand to watch the ex-Flat performer take the next step up the jumping ladder for Dan Skelton and also to see his stablemate Stepney Causeway in the 2m½f handicap chase (12.20).

As well as that, Gredley also has a share in Westwood Ryder, who is likely to be sent off towards the head of the market in the opening 2m3½f novice hurdle (11.50) for Henderson.

Too Friendly (near side) on his way to winning at Newcastle last timeCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

He said: “We’ve just had one big day of course with the arrival of Charlotte Grace, who is doing very well, and we’ve got a big day on it at Doncaster, with three runners we’re involved in looking to have good chances.

“It will be interesting to see how Too Friendly copes in a better grade. I think a better race with a bit more pace will probably suit him as he can be a bit keen and one big thing in his favour is that he handles soft ground. We’re under no illusions as he’s up against some really nice types and whoever wins will probably be one of the favourites for the Triumph Hurdle.”

Of his other runners, Gredley added: “There are positive vibes about Westwood Ryder, who’s form has worked out well. The team are really happy with Stepney Causeway and his form has been boosted of late as well.”

What they say

Milton Harris, trainer of Knight Salute
He won nicely at Cheltenham last time and he’s come on again at home since, so we go there with plenty of optimism. The ground is a bit of an unknown, but his family went on it and this will tell us whether we’re off to the Fred Winter, Triumph Hurdle or down the pub.

Gary Moore, trainer of Porticello
He's a nice horse and I'm looking forward to seeing him again, very much so. He's done nothing wrong and any more rain would be helpful. The Wetherby form is pretty average but I haven't seen a juvenile to have given me the wow factor yet. I hope he could be, he's nice but he doesn't do much at home. It's going to be a good race, there'll be no hiding place but I hope he comes to the fore.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Impulsive One
He's in decent nick and has a big turnaround at the weights with Knight Salute, who beat us at Kempton last time. We gave him 7lb and were beaten two lengths, but he gives us 5lb now, which is in our favour, although I'd want the ground to be closer to good than good to soft.

Nigel Hawke, trainer of New Reality
If he returned to the form of his Perth win, he'd have a chance. This will tell us a bit more about and I don't expect him to be disgraced.
Reporting by David Milnes

Read all of Saturday's previews:

12.40 Cheltenham: 'With a clear run, he'll win' - Skelton seeks to move on from shock Drogo defeat

1.50 Cheltenham: 'He's a player' - trainer insight on a quality Racing Post Gold Cup

2.25 Cheltenham: Is it wise to back Byrnes or should we look elsewhere for Albert Bartlett clues?

3.00 Cheltenham: 'She loves Cheltenham and so do we' - International Hurdle quotes and insight

3.35 Cheltenham: 'They all have chances' - King triple-handed in bid to improve Cheltenham record