MOUSE Morris has his horse in tremendous form these days. A double at Thurles two weeks ago – French Dynamite in a rated novice hurdle and Whatsnotoknow in a maiden hurdle – was followed up by Foxy Jacks’ win in a maiden hurdle at Punchestown on Wednesday.

That’s three winners from just nine runners that the trainer has had in February, and others have run well. Baily Thunder belied big odds in finishing second in a handicap hurdle at Gowran Park last Saturday and, while French Dynamite was a beaten favourite in the Michael Purcell Hurdle at Thurles on Thursday, he still ran well, he was only beaten a neck and the same for second.

The return of Sams Profile is eagerly awaited, hopefully we will see him at Punchestown or beforehand, but, in the meantime, anything that Mouse Morris runs is worth a second glance.

Unclear juvenile form makes for fascinating Triumph

IT is still difficult to figure out whether or not the Irish juvenile hurdlers are better than the British.

We do have a line at the top. Cerberus was well-beaten by Allmankind in the Finale Hurdle at Chepstow in December, and Cerberus beat A Wave Of The Sea at Fairyhouse in December, and finished a close-up third behind his stable companion in the Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Also, Nordano, who finished third behind Allmankind and Cerberus in the Finale Hurdle, and who was also well-beaten by Allmankind at Cheltenham in November, and by Goshen at Ascot in January, came out and won a big handicap hurdle at Ascot on Saturday. All of that suggests that the top British juveniles are strong.

However, Nordano loved the soft ground at Ascot on Saturday, and he seemed to appreciate the step up to two and a half miles. Neil King’s horse probably put up the best performance of his career by some way.

Also, it is probable that Cerberus was not at his best on the heavy ground at Chepstow at Christmas. Heavy ground at Chepstow is a specialist’s discipline. The relative strengths of the juveniles from each jurisdiction are still not definitive.

This year’s Triumph Hurdle will be fascinating.