Analysis and trainer quotes as in-form Tom Symonds tries for another Grade 2 win

Sky Bet Supreme Trial Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) | 1m7½f | 4yo+ | ITV4/Sky

Although described as a trial for the Cheltenham Festival opener, this Grade 2 prize has proved nothing of the sort in recent years. Indeed, instead of producing superstars, winners of this race have had trouble entering the winner's enclosure in subsequent hurdles starts.

Barring 2015 winner Yanworth, the last nine winners of this contest have recorded just three wins from 21 starts over hurdles during the rest of their respective campaigns after landing this event, although several have done well in later seasons.

This year's race features a mixture of experienced and lightly raced sorts and the best place to start is with recent Listed winner Llandinabo Lad, who represents the shrewd Tom Symonds stable.

Symonds has turned a corner with his stock this year and boasts an excellent 26 per cent strike-rate. More impressively, he is 2-2 with his runners at Graded level this term.

In Llandinabo Lad, the young trainer has a strong-staying, gutsy novice who will relish the testing ground. He battled on powerfully during a horrific rainstorm for his Haydock success last time and rider Richard Johnson should ensure they don't go a crawl in the early stages.

What he gains in determination, he may lack in speed in comparison with Newbury winner My Drogo and dual bumper scorer Soaring Glory. If any of these go on to run in the Supreme, those two are the most likely to play a hand in the finish.

My Drogo has to improve plenty on figures (RPR of 119 for last-time-out score compared with 141 for Llandinabo Lad) but has untapped potential and looks the paciest in the field, while Soaring Glory is a course winner who deserves better luck after falling with the race at his mercy last time.

Throw in hurdling debutant No Ordinary Joe for trainer Nicky Henderson, who has won this Grade 2 four times in the last ten years, and we have a potential thriller on our hands. But it might be wise to assess the race with an eye to next season rather than the festival.
Race analysis by Tom Collins

Symonds on a roll

Tom Symonds will equal his best seasonal tally of winners with more than four months of the jumps campaign still to go if Llandinabo Lad defies a penalty in the Grade 2 contest.

The Herefordshire trainer has his team packing a high strike-rate over the past few weeks and had a big win at Cheltenham on Saturday with Song For Someone in the Grade 2 International Hurdle.

A decent bumper performer, Llandinabo Lad has shown the benefit of wind surgery over the summer in winning both starts over hurdles, most recently a Listed success at Haydock.

The five-year-old carries a 5lb penalty for that gutsy win, which his trainer thinks could be a stiff ask in this company.

Llandinabo Lad: won at Haydock in NovemberCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Symonds said: "It's going to be tough for Llandinabo Lad as he has to give away a penalty, so he has to step up again. We've been very happy with him at home since Haydock and we're running here rather than waiting for the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown next month as you never know what's going to happen with the weather.

"He should handle the slow ground at Ascot as it was very soft when he won at Haydock and Bangor before that."

As to his upturn in fortunes, which will see him soon surpass his best score of 22 in the 2013-14 season, Symonds added: "Having fit and healthy horses has helped and many of ours are now coming of age. We've been patient with them and it's paying off.

"I was particularly pleased to get Broken Quest to win at Ludlow on Wednesday as he was returning from more than two years off the track and it had been a long road back."

What they say

Dan Skelton, trainer of My Drogo
He's a lovely sort who deserves this step up the ladder after scoring on his debut over hurdles at Newbury. He's short on experience but should handle the ground and goes there with a good shout.

Chris Gordon, trainer of Press Your Luck
I was hoping the rain would stay away as I don't think he wants very testing ground but we'll probably take our chance anyway. He won well at Uttoxeter last time and if he goes on the ground he won't be disgraced.

Kim Bailey, trainer of Shantou Express
It comes soon enough after his win at Sedgefield a fortnight ago but he seems to have come out of that in good shape. He's up in grade but should handle the ground, as he did last year when he had very good bumper form.

Jonjo O'Neill, trainer of Soaring Glory
Hopefully he can put in a clear round after falling at Wetherby last time, although this is a much tougher race.
Reporting by David Milnes

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