Cromwell hoping lightning can strike twice with progressive Wolf Prince

Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle | Grade 2 | 2m | 3yo | RTV & RTE2

This is the race Espoir D'Allen took in 2017 before he went on to great things and Gavin Cromwell, who managed the short but electric career of the record-breaking Champion Hurdle winner, is hoping lightning can strike twice with Wolf Prince.

Just like the widest-margin winner of the Cheltenham Festival's day one feature, Wolf Prince scored in emphatic fashion at Fairyhouse on just his second start over hurdles to earn a shot at this Grade 2, which was also won by star mare Apple's Jade in 2015.

Cromwell said: "He was very good at Fairyhouse but I suppose he was entitled to do it as well as he did. I know he made a little mistake at the last but I was very happy with him. He's entitled to take his chance and we'll know a lot more about where we stand with him afterwards."

Gavin Cromwell: won the Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle with Espoir D'Allen in 2017Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

There is every chance one of the seven stables represented in this year's race houses a future top-notcher, but if Wolf Prince is to come good he will need to avenge a near 14-length defeat by Punchestown conqueror Aspire Tower on his hurdles debut.

The good news for Cromwell – and the bad news for punters – is this is a race that invariably throws up a surprise or two. Last year's winner Rocky Blue returned at 14-1, while Fiscal Focus scored at
33-1 in 2014 and Carlito Brigante came home at 20-1 in 2009.

For all that this can be an informative affair with a view towards the Triumph Hurdle in March, only three favourites have managed to win the race in the last decade.

Watch: Wolf Prince runs away with a juvenile hurdle at Fairyhouse

What they say

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of A Wave Of The Sea
There are a couple of new challengers in the race so we'll see what happens.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Aramax
He won well in France during the summer and is a nice horse. We're still learning about him.

Aspire Tower: impressed on his first start over hurdles at PunchestownCredit: Alain Barr (racingpost.com/photos)

Henry de Bromhead, trainer of Aspire Tower and Zarkareva
Aspire Tower was very good on his hurdles debut and has seemed well since. Zarkareva is a good mare who ran nicely first time up for us at Punchestown. She should come on a lot for that.

Brendan Duke, trainer of Clemencia
I think the horse is a really smart athlete and he showed that last time at Cork where he beat a rock-solid horse by 15 lengths going away. I truly believe he's improved from that and he's been shouting out at me from his box telling me he's improved.

Sacchoandvanzetti pictured with connections after winning at PunchestownCredit: Caroline Norris

John Queally, trainer of Sacchoandvanzetti
The original plan was to go to Doncaster but he got a small setback so we’ve ended up at Leopardstown, but he’s very well, in fact I couldn’t be happier with him. Jumping hurdles seems to have transformed him. He was a good horse on the Flat – he even ran Japan close one day – and he’s taken to jumping well. He’s improving all the time.

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