2.5 mile specialists often win the National

gr g Turgeon (USA) - Cambaria (FR) (Nice Havrais (USA))

Turko is a Turgeon half-brother to the high-class French hurdler Aroldo. The grey gelding started his career as a two-year-old on the Flat with trainer Jehan Bertran De Balanda, finishing ninth in a provincial 10-furlong maiden at Lyon-Parilly on November 26, 2004. Two more unsuccessful efforts came the following May before the then three-year-old made his hurdling debut with a fourth place behind the smart Oh Calin at Clairefontaine on August 5. He returned to the course later that month for his first career triumph. Turko was subsequently sold to The Stewart Family and moved to Paul Nicholls' Dicheat Stables in Somerset and made a winning debut for his new connections in a juvenile hurdle at Newbury on November 25, 2005. The following month saw him finish second to Afsoun at Cheltenham and to Blue Shark in a Grade One at Chepstow. A win at Wincanton that February was followed by a fair sixth to Detroit City in the Grade One JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and a to the same rival fifth in the Grade One John Smith's Anniversary Four-Year-Old Hurdle at Aintree in April. He completed his juvenile hurdle campaign with a runner-up finish to Osactello in two mile, five furlong novice hurdle at Cheltenham later that month. Turko began his novice chase campaign at Aintree in October 2006, defeating Il Duce, Cloudy Lane and L'Antartique in the Digital Prints From Bonusprint.com Novices' Chase over two and a half miles. He followed up in a Grade Two at Wincanton before filling second behind My Way De Solzen in the Grade Two Dipper Novices' Chase at Cheltenham in January, 2007. Victory at Fontwell in February was followed by a respectable seventh to the mighty Denman in the Grade One Royal & SunAlliance Chase at Cheltenham in March, but he was pulled up behind Aces Four at Aintree in the Grade Two John Smith's Mildmay Novices' Chase next time. The 2007/2008 season began as the previous campaign ended as Turko was pulled up in the Grade Two Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby. He bounced back with victory in an extended three-mile chase at Sandown in November. He was second to The Listener in the Grade One Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown on February 10 and, on his most recent start at the Cheltenham Festival, Turko was a fine third to Our Vic in the Grade One Ryanair Chase over an extended two and a half miles.
Why not, at 50/1 ???

Posted By: Cannydc, Apr 3, 07:52:50