Chance for Charli Parcs to fulfil untapped talent

Ladbrokes Intermediate Hurdle (Listed) | 2m69y | 4yo+ | ITV/RUK

Charli Parcs promised to be one of the most exciting juvenile hurdlers of last season until a mishap when he fell in Kempton's Adonis Hurdle.

He made it to Cheltenham where he finished sixth behind Defi Du Seuil in the Triumph, but remains an unfulfilled talent.

Nicky Henderson has chosen a race he has won three times in the last ten years, including with L'Ami Serge, as his first start, a race that could determine how much further he can go over hurdles this term.

Henderson said: "He worked very well with Buveur D’Air in a racecourse gallop at Newbury ten days ago and goes there in good form. He’s still got a bit to learn – he was babyish in his races last year – but is a talented individual."

Ground worry

If fitness comes into play Amour De Nuit has an advantage over the rest of the field.

Very consistent for Paul Nicholls, the five-year-old has finished first or second in his last seven starts and continued a steady rise up the handicap with a win at Kempton last month, his fourth run of the season.

Nicholls said: "He's been running well over two miles. He has been running tidy but I hope the ground is not too soft for him."

The two years older Poppy Kay has a similar form profile but also has the benefit of being a course and distance winner.

Trainer Philip Hobbs said: "Poppy Kay won well at Newbury last time and she's hopefully on the up."

Second start

Cosmeapolitan is the same age as Charli Parcs but is far less exposed having had only one start over hurdles, over course and distance a year ago.

He has run 15 times on the Flat, including during the summer, so should not lack for fitness.

Trainer Alan King said: "He lacks experience having had just the one start over hurdles so far, which he won here at Newbury last December and then missed the rest of the season with a stress fracture.

"He’s run okay on the Flat since so it will be good to get him back over jumps."

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