Nietzsche Has what it takes to be Finale hero for France

French raider Nietzsche Has justified favouritism to claim the Coral Finale Juvenile Hurdle in emphatic fashion at Chepstow.

Trained by Marcel Rolland – who tasted success on British soil with Original in Kempton’s Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase in 2008 – the three-year-old arrived in Wales on the back of finishing runner-up in an Auteuil Grade One last month.

With visibility limited due to fog, it was Jamie Snowden’s Marche d’Aligre who led the runners into the straight, but it was not long until the 11-10 favourite was asserting his dominance in the hands of Ludovic Philipperon, scorching clear to score by eight lengths.

Winning owner Edward James of Highbourne Stud said: “He’s a good horse and was narrowly beaten last time in a Grade One. He had been on a summer break and took a bit more work to come back and we never got the Grade Two.

“I knew he was more than capable and had beaten some good horses (previously). The only thing I was nervous about was the fog. We had a French jockey who perhaps didn’t know his way round here, but it was all OK.

“I didn’t want to change anything and Ludovic has done a fantastic job with this horse all the way through. He was confident enough he could come and run his race here so I wasn’t going to deprive him of that final victory.

“He’s a fantastic animal and what he has shown in his short career is early speed, soundness throughout and he has still got it. He has been better today than he was in his last race and unfortunately it has come a little bit too late. It rained a day too late for us in France, if it had rained a day earlier I think there would have been a different result (in the Grade One).”

The fourth French winner of this race, Nietzsche Has was shortened to 12-1 from 33-1 for the Triumph Hurdle by Betfair.

However, a Cheltenham Festival bid is unlikely with Nietzsche Has set to head off for stallion duties.

“He’s going off to stud in France and will stand at Haras de Montaigu,” James told Sky Sports Racing.

“I’ve got broodmares there because I’m a French breeder and I think he’s going to be really good. He’s got the sort of temperament where if you have a mare that is a little bit fizzy, I think this fella could put the other bits there and I think there will be some good offspring.

“I would have to speak to a few people (regarding a Triumph Hurdle bid) but after that race you never know. He couldn’t do the two but he would be capable of running in the race.

“It is a difficult decision as there is a lot of stuff to take on board. This horse has got a future and sometimes you have to do the sensible thing and let him do what he’s going to do. I think he has done his work and that could be it.”

Prior to Nietzsche Has’ taking performance, Chepstow regular Lowry’s Bar notched his third win at the track to continue his rich vein of form in the Coral ”We’re Here For It” Handicap Chase.

Philip Hobbs and Johnson White’s six-year-old has taken well to fences and was quickly adding to a game Exeter success earlier this month in good style as the 11-10 favourite.

“I was hopeful of a performance like that being hopeful and actually putting it into practise are two different things,” White said.

“We’ve always loved him and is owned by some great friends and he has just been a joy to train. He’s the gift who keeps on giving.

“When horses rise up the handicap there is fewer options for them. I have two horses who are very similar at the moment, him and Imperial Saint and there was a race for Imperial Saint that he won at Aintree yesterday and a race for Lowry’s Bar here today at Chepstow and it fitted really nicely.

“We were pleasantly surprised when he won over two miles last year because he will stay further. I think two-miles-three is probably his minimum trip but he’s got gears to travel at that pace as well, he’s a joy to train.”

Jamie Snowden’s Julius Des Pictons enhanced his reputation when following up a recent Plumpton victory to claim the opening Play Coral ‘Racing-Super-Series’ For Free Novices’ Hurdle as the evens favourite, while Jane Williams’ Castelfort (12-1) was in the winner’s enclosure after the Coral Racing Club Join For Free Handicap Hurdle.