Cinders And Ashes - The Verdict

What does the upcoming season hold for last years champion novice hurdler?

Can the resident of Donald McCain's stable cement the position as the best of the second season hurdler this year?

Will that iconic white blaze on the geldings head be seen romping up the Cheltenham finishing hill to claim the Champion Hurdle in March?

All questions I would imagine you are eager to find out the answer to!

As some of you readers may be aware after reading my previous posts, I don't consider last years crop of novice hurdlers to be all that special in comparison to previous years. There were 3 stand-out novices: Simonsig, Fingal Bay and Boston Bob. My opinion is that these horses are top-class and will hopefully be competing at the sharp end in the upcoming years championship races. Putting that trio to one side, I think the difference between the other novice hurdlers was minimal, Cinders And Ashes included. I think the strength in depth of the 2 mile novice hurdle division to be particularly thin on the ground. The distance between Cinders And Ashes, Trifolium, Darlan and Montbazon was just under 2 lengths. Potential unknown quantities such as Oscara Dara and Alderwood add some spice to the mix. Although, I find it questionable that they are a class above the rest which would place them on a similar level to the trio named above. Therefore, my opinion is the horses that progress into Champion Hurdle contenders this year are more likely to emerge from last years Triumph Hurdle than the Supreme Novice Hurdle.

Cinders And Ashes on route to victory at the Cheltenham Festival 2012

However on reflection, Cinders And Ashes win at the Cheltenham Festival last year was more impressive than I first gave it credit. His victory over Darlan by 1 1/4 lengths included two dreadful errors in the jumping department, at the 4th and more memorably at the last. If he hadn't made that mistake at the last, when the race was at boiling point, he could of won by 3 lengths or maybe more. Of the two lengths between the himself and the 4th placed horse Montbazon, he was over a length clear of Darlan in 2nd. Suggesting he is a notch above the 3 horses who were behind. I know Donald McCain understandably holds this horse in very high regard, but I question whether he holds him as high as his other Champion Hurdle contender Peddlers Cross? He surely can't. Peddlers Cross is out of the very top draw when you look at what he has achieved over hurdles. I know Cinders And Ashes is unproven in that regard and he may improve this year to be as good as his stable mate. If he does I think he will stand high in the pecking order of 2 mile hurdlers this season and I see no reason why he wouldn't be a live Champion Hurdle contender, particularly when the form from last years race looks to be slightly misleading.

The verdict. He appears to save his best effort of the season at the business end of the season. Could be a Champion Hurdle horse, his first couple of runs of the season against the big boys will be very revealing.