The Tolworth Hurdle is a Grade One National Hunt race in the United Kingdom for horses aged four years or older. The race takes place at Sandown Park in Esher, Surrey, and is run over a distance of 2 miles and 110 yards. The race has been held annually since 1971, and it is a key preparatory race for the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
This year’s Tolworth Hurdle will see the return of Gary Moore, a trainer who has had great success in the race in the past. Moore won the Tolworth Hurdle in 2015 with Heathfield and again in 2016 with My Tent Or Yours, and he will be hoping to add another victory to his tally with Authorised Speed.
Authorised Speed is a five-year-old gelding who has shown plenty of potential in his short career so far. He won his first three starts over hurdles, including a Grade Two race at Ascot in November, and he was a close second in the Grade One Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Moore has high hopes for Authorised Speed, and he is hoping to repay owner Pat Gallagher for the faith he has shown in the horse. Gallagher has been a loyal supporter of Moore’s yard, and Moore is keen to repay him with a big win in the Tolworth Hurdle.
Moore said, “Pat has been a fantastic owner for us over the years, and it would be great to get a big win for him with Authorised Speed. The Tolworth Hurdle is a race we have had a lot of success in, and we are hoping Authorised Speed can continue that trend.”
Authorised Speed will face some stiff competition in the Tolworth Hurdle, with the likes of Alan King’s Claimantakinforgan and Nicky Henderson’s Verdana Blue among the leading contenders. However, Moore is confident that Authorised Speed has the talent and the temperament to succeed at the highest level, and he is looking forward to seeing him in action at Sandown.
“Authorised Speed has all the attributes you look for in a top-class hurdler,” Moore said. “He has a great attitude, he’s very tough, and he has a lot of natural ability. We think he has a bright future ahead of him, and we are hoping he can make a big impression in the Tolworth Hurdle.”
The Tolworth Hurdle is always a hotly contested race, and this year’s renewal promises to be no different. With Gary Moore and Authorised Speed among the leading contenders, it is sure to be a race not to be missed. The action gets underway at Sandown Park on Saturday, January 9, and it is sure to be a thrilling day of racing. So, all eyes will be on Authorised Speed as Gary Moore looks to repay Pat Gallagher with another victory in the Tolworth Hurdle.