Key questions and top views for the Grade 1 Coral Finale Juvenile Hurdle

Coral Finale Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m | 3yo | ITV4/SSR

Will a future star emerge?

With the likes of Defi Du Seuil and Bristol De Mai triumphing in recent years, there will be plenty of focus on whether another jump racing star will emerge from the Coral Finale Juvenile Hurdle.

Those two big names are not alone in being standout winners with We Have A Dream and Walkon both capturing this race before landing the Grade 1 Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle at the Grand National meeting at Aintree in the spring.

The leading contenders to follow on from those illustrious names are Allmankind, Cerberus and Tavus, if the betting is accurate, and all three have shown significant potential up to now.

Chief among them is the free-going Allmankind, who has run his rivals ragged on two starts to date despite showing a determination not to settle for jockey Harry Skelton.

Dan Skelton, who trains the three-year-old for owner/breeders Bill and Tim Gredley, said: “We’re very happy with him and the track certainly shouldn’t be a problem. He’s won on bad ground before, so we’re not concerned about that, and there’s every reason to think he should have a very good chance in this race.”

Cerberus: purchased by JP McManus following his most recent startCredit: Patrick McCann

Are the dogs barking for Cerberus?

This has not been a race beloved by the Irish with only one horse making the journey to Wales to compete during the last decade.

That runner, Famous Milly, was a faller and horses from France have a better record than those from Ireland with Guillaume Macaire (twice) and Thierry Doumen capturing the race this century when making the trip across the Channel.

However, that could be set to change with Cerberus among the most promising juvenile hurdlers to have appeared this season with two wins and a second from three starts.

His latest success came in a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse and prompted JP McManus to purchase him from his previous owners the Good Counsellors Syndicate prior to this contest.

What they say

David Easterby, assistant to Mick Easterby, trainer of Elysian Flame and Art Of Diplomacy
We’re hoping Elysian Flame’s jumping will improve from Cheltenham as we think it has at home. We think he should handle conditions and he’s in good form. Art Of Diplomacy is there to give him a bit of company on the way down and it’ll be interesting to see what handicap mark he gets after this as he’s run in a lot of good races.

Neil King, trainer of Nordano
He’s in really good form and we’ve had this race planned for him for a while. He’s a course winner, he loves soft ground and I think he should run a really good race.

Jedd O’Keeffe, trainer of Tavus
Navajo Pass winning the Grade 2 at Doncaster has given us some extra encouragement to go for this race. The track and the ground should suit him and we feel he’s thrived since Newcastle. He’s working great and his schooling has been good, so we’re really looking forward to seeing him run.

Stuart Edmunds, trainer of Maskada
It's a big step up but I was looking at entering her at Taunton next week and there are already 28 entered for that race and I thought why not have a go at this? I wouldn't be expecting to win it but if we could sneak into a place, Grade 1 black-type for a mare is very valuable.

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