Baradari latest to advertise Calipto’s Triumph Hurdle claims

It was hard not to be impressed with the manner of Calipto’s victory in just his second career start at Newbury and Coral make him 10/1 favourite in their Triumph Hurdle betting, with Bandari the latest winner to come out of the contest.

Second in a listed Auteil hurdle on his one previous outing over timber, the four-year-old son of Group 2-winning flat sire Califet had only to be shaken up after hitting the last to beat Harry Fry’s Activial by three-and-a-quarter lengths.

The third Chocala finished more than eight lengths behind the Paul Nicholls charge, whilst fourth-placed Dawalan was in excess of 13l in arrears at the line.

That gave the first two a useful look and it’s one that has improved since with the race producing two subsequent winners from four to have had another run.

Dawalan was first to frank the form, when showing a handy turn of foot to dispose of Jonjo O’Neill’s Rayak by 8l at the same track before Christmas.

More recently Venetia Williams’ Baradari stepped up to compliment Calipto’s victory further when scoring by 5l, once again at Newbury.

Nine of the last 11 Triumph winners had previously won a race at either Newbury, Kempton or Market Rasen, so such a conglomeration of form at the Berkshire track is a pleasing omen.

Meanwhile Nicholls had said prior to the race that defeat for his charge would be far from disastrous, intimating “I like to let my juveniles progress on the track, rather than really getting stuck into them at home.”

The Ditcheat maestro also described the November race as the best juvenile contest of the season so far, so to see the form boosted since makes a compelling case for syphoning off some of his 10/1 Triumph Hurdle odds before he runs again.

Hailing from a yard that has taken the race twice in the last six runnings, as well as saddling Far West to take second last term, Calipto looks one to keep on side.