Grade One Tolworth Hurdle Guide 2022

Constitution Hill looks to be a serious animal for Nicky Henderson and owner Michael Buckley, with the £120,000 purchase making an extremely taking rules debut at Sandown in December.

The four year old gelding had been seen once in a point to point before his rules debut, when finishing a head second in what might turn out to be a smart P2P.

Heading to Sandown in a Novices' Hurdle, he cruised next to the favourite Might I for Harry Fry, who is a good horse in his own right, and having jumped the last impeccably he went on to take the event by 14 lengths.

This saw Constitution Hill go from a 40/1 outsider for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle to now the general 4/1 second favourite and he could get shorter if going well in this.

He will need to improve again now in Grade One company but from his first run, he looks a much better animal than these runners.

Paul Nicholls best chance of a winner in the race is the six year old Mr Glass who was a very smart bumper horse that has turned into an even better animal over hurdles.

The £100,000 purchase started his career in November 2020 when finishing a good third on debut at Newbury in a bumper and off the back of that he learnt a lot.

He was seen twice more last term in NHF races, winning both in taking style at Wetherby and Haydock, with the best yet to come when going over obstacles.

Sent straight over hurdles this term the scopey gelding made a nice debut at Chepstow when taking a 2m3f Maiden hurdle by four lengths.

Last time out he was upped in trip to 2m6f in a better race at Newcastle and battled well to keep his unbeaten record.

Dropping down to two miles is a bit of a worry, but does look a progressive horse that might be the each way play.

Another progressive type this season is the Ryan Potter trained Jetoile who is seeking a hat-trick in his first Grade One event.

The son of Jeremy was seen frequently in 2019/2020 in point to points looking to learn a lot for his experiences over fences.

Bought for €72,000 he was given his rules debut at Cheltenham in October of this season when a good third in a two mile maiden hurdle behind Top Bandit and Brorson, who have both since franked the form on two occasions.

Stepped up in trip, Jetoile also got off the mark for the term when landing a 2m3f maiden at Chepstow by close to 10 lengths.

Sent to Leicester last time out over a further furlong he made it back to back wins, pulling away from the field by close to six lengths.

He is a horse going places but might have to settle for second behind Nicky Henderson's star.

Datsalrightgino has been a revelation for the Jamie Snowden yard this term, being a decent bumper horse without getting off the mark, but sent over hurdles this term and has won some valuable races.

The six year old this term made his debut at Fontwell over 2m2f and went on to bolt up by close to eight lengths, with the third placed horse since going on to win.

The gelding was last seen making it 2/2 at Cheltenham in a hot Novices' Hurdle, seeing off the smart Jpr One for Colin Tizzard and Washington for Olly Murphy.

Both of those runs are good form and he could be the each way value in the field at 10/1.

A very strange entry in the race for Dr Richard Newland is the French exploit Whizz Kid who makes his British/hurdles debut.

Having been running on the flat since 2019, he has been seen winning four times from 12 outings between nine and 15.5f.

Making his debut for the yard over hurdles in a Grade One event is a very taking move by the trainer and he could be an interesting runner to follow if going close.

Very much an unknown entity.

The final runner in the race is the Gary Moore trained Shallwehaveonemore and this Steven Packham owned gelding looks an improving type.

Only seen twice in his career he made his bumper debut in March 2020 when bolting up at Kempton and after that was put away for this term.

Given his hurdles debut when last seen, he went to Ascot in a good Novices' Hurdle where he was narrowly beaten by a smart type for Paul Nicholls in Kandoo Kid.

The third that day Peking Rose has since won a nice event and although in Grade One company he could be a player at a big price.