TROU CLASS CAN SHINE THROUGH

Jeremy Grayson shines light on top performances away from big-time fuss

- Jeremy Grayson

WORCESTER, June 11 (Good, good to soft in places)

2m (+102yds) Maiden Hurdle (class 4)

A 1m2f win at Chepstow and other placed Flat efforts around Leicester, Newbury and Doncaster advertised TROUVILLE’s credentials on galloping courses many times over ahead of this hurdling and stable debut. As such, it was likely not the nature of the long Worcester line which ultimately scuppered him, but either or both of the 345-day absence and the loss of a fore shoe. The son of Le Havre still had enough about him to sneak a podium place close home, and a 9l third to Owen and Skelton representatives with the benefit of match practice rates no bad opening effort in this discipline. Bred for precocity at trips of 1m and below as a 2yo, rather than for skipping over trolley hurdles in midsummer at five, Olly Murphy's, pictured right, former Crisford inmate has a bit more relative class about him than many Flat recruits to hurdling at this time of year, and that can surely be put to full use in a comparable contest to this when all is set fairer. A little more cut in the ground than encountered here is tolerable.

2m (+102yds) Maiden Hurdle (class 4)