A weekend packed full of trials, especially Newbury on Saturday with their Super Saturday meeting. Across the Irish Sea, it was Sir Des Champs versus Flemenstar Round 3 at Leopardstown in the Hennessy before a great card at Exeter on Sunday.
Friday gave us Jumps cards from Kempton, Bangor and Newcastle. At Kempton, Champion Court ran in the three runner Graduation Chase but was beaten by the consistent mare Alasi, who will now revert to hurdles for a fourth crack at Quevega in the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle at the Festival. I have a couple of horses that caught the eye on Friday though, headed by Neltara for Claire Dyson. This lightly raced nine year old finished a good second to Ericht in the Novices Hurdle at Kempton, and looks sure to be getting his head in front soon as he now gets a handicap mark. Over at Bangor, O'Faolains Boy won really impressively in a strong novice hurdle for Rebecca Curtis. He is entered in both the Neptune and Albert Bartlett at the Festival, and he would have a small each way chance in the latter.
Saturday, and we start at Leopardstown where Our Conor won the Spring Juvenile Hurdle under Bryan Cooper. He is among the favourites for the Triumph Hurdle, and from what we have seen to date, he would have a very decent chance. Champagne Fever came back off the ropes to score in the Deloitte Novice Hurdle, making all from Bright New Dawn. The third Wingtips is a horse I'm very interested in on either better ground and/or in the County Hurdle at the Festival, but I'm not sure how likely that is.
Sir Des Champs beat Flemenstar in the Hennessy Gold Cup, and now all roads lead to Cheltenham as he goes for a win at his third consectutive Festival after wins in the Martin Pipe and the Jewson. This time it's the big one, the Gold Cup. He stays all day, jumps better on better ground and most certainly goes up the hill. With Flemenstar now 95% likely not to run at Cheltenham, he will be aimed at the Melling Chase at Aintree instead.
The biggest eyecatcher at Leopardstown though was Boston Bob, who is my idea of the RSA Chase winner. He jumped very well on Saturday, and despite hitting a flat spot, he came with a renewed challenge to win by a nose from Texas Jack. He stays forever and looks a stronger horse physically than Dynaste.
Newbury had a very high class meeting as well, where My Tent Or Yours put in a scintilating display to win the Betfair Hurdle with lots in hand by five lengths. He is now a short price for the Supreme, but rumour is floating around that he could be supplemented for the Champion Hurdle, something I can't see happening. Cotton Mill ran well enough in second with Swing Bowler and Dark Lover filling the frame.
Silviniaco Conti won decisively in the Denman Chase, and now he heads to the Gold Cup with every chance. His best attribute is his jumping, but with only one previous run at Cheltenham, which was a defeat and not at the Festival, a question mark remains.
The only real eyecatcher there was Captain Sunshine, who could go well in the Coral Cup or Pertemps if he's qualified.
Uttoxeter gave me a couple of eyecatchers, especially Lowparklad in the opening maiden hurdle. He travelled very well on return from a big layoff, and looks as though he still retains plenty of ability despite fading up the straight. He wasn't given anything like a hard time and should be going close soon. The winner Fourovakind is the other one to follow too, going away close home after taking a little while to get going and looks a horse with a future.
Warwick held the Kingmaker Novice Chase, where Fago looked the winner before falling at the second last, which left Majala to score, only narrowly from His Excellency. The latter is a handicap proposition for me at the Festival providing the handicapper isn't too harsh.
Ma Fillelule won the Graded Mares event under AP McCoy in good style.
All eyes were on Exeter on Sunday as Puffin Billy took on Melodic Rendezvous. It was Melodic Rendezvous who came out on top comfortably by nine lengths. He is a very smart horse and his Cheltenham aim will become clearer the closer we get to the Festival in March. As for Puffin Billy, he pulled up lame with a foot problem which will explain the below par run.
I was really impressed by Harry Topper in the Graduation Chase, and he has a huge future. He stays very well and jumps very cleanly too. Vieux Lion Rouge made it three from three in Division 1 of the Bumper in good style, and Pipe and Scudamore also won Division 2 with The Liquidator, both nice horses.
The two eyecatchers were Tolkeins Tango and Hawkes Point. Tolkeins Tango will now get a handicap mark, and shaped with a lot of promise in the opening Novice Hurdle, finishing close to Kilmurvy. Hawkes Point bumped into Harry Topper, but there was a lot to like about his performance too. He was the first off the bridle and stayed on dourly to finish second. He has Welsh National written all over him.
I hope you have enjoyed this review, and let's hope some of them come out and win soon.
Will (@willbowler2k12 on Twitter)
