'We like him a lot' - can British juveniles thwart French challenger Nietzsche Has in Chepstow's Grade 2 Finale Hurdle?

This race revolves around the continental raider, Nietzsche Has, and how his French juvenile form stacks up with his British counterparts. If you believe the experts then the race is cut-and-dried because he is 19b clear on official ratings and 12lb ahead on adjusted Racing Post Ratings.

The Marcel Rolland-trained colt won three in a row in the spring, including when beating Willy De Houelle at Auteuil in April, but has been undone by racing too keenly at times since.

That was certainly the case when he was only fourth after going off 4-5 favourite in a Grade 3 at Auteuil in September, while he would probably have finished closer then he did when third in a Grade 2 at that track in October, but for running his race the wrong way around yet again.

However, he settled better after switching to more patient tactics in a Grade 1 at Auteuil last month, when he was beaten only a length and a quarter into second and came clear of the rest.

The key to his chance here will again rest on rider Ludovic Philipperon getting his mount to settle through the early part of the race and, provided he does, Nietzsche Has will probably have too much of a finishing kick for British juveniles who have yet to compete at his level.

Static, Torrent and My Noble Lord finished second, third and fifth in this Grade 2 class at Cheltenham last month, but all were beaten miles by winner East India Dock, whose trainer James Owen runs Opec here. Owen has a line on the best juveniles in Britain because he has some of them at home and, if the French raider is to be beaten, Owen may be the man to do it.
Analysis by Graeme Rodway

What they say

Marcel Rolland, trainer of Nietzsche Has
He's very well and I think he has a good chance. He has some good form and he likes the soft ground.

Tom Dascombe, trainer of Hot Fuss
He was beaten narrowly in the Chesham and Acomb Stakes, so on easy ground he has Group form and he wasn’t a bad Flat horse, but we couldn’t get the consistent ground for him. That is why he went jumping. He's in great shape.

Hot Fuss: bids to back up Sandown successCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Jamie Snowden, trainer of Marche D'Aligre
It does look like a very good race. Nietzsche Has is coming over from France and he's rated 148 and Opec has already won well, but I couldn't be happier with our chap. He was pretty impressive on his hurdling debut and he's come on from that – and we like him a lot.

Josh Guerriero, joint-trainer of Melon and My Noble Lord
We think Melon will improve for the softer ground. We'll see if he's up to this level – it's hard to know – but he's tough, he stays well and has plenty of ability, so I'm sure he'll be thereabouts. The ground at Cheltenham was too quick for My Noble Lord and I'm hoping it'll be soft enough that we'll see the best of him. He stays very well and the more the test of stamina, the better.

James Owen, trainer of Opec
She's trained great and she has done little wrong in her races since falling on her hurdling debut at Market Rasen. She should be four from four. This is a tough ask, but she gets the allowance as the French horse [Nietzsche Has] has a very high rating. It's a very competitive race, but for a Grade 2 it should be and it's great we can run horses in these races and be competitive.
Reporting by Andrew Dietz