Hi all,
Did Cheltenham Trials Day deliver the answers we were looking for? Not even close. While there were moments of drama and some good performances, the meeting will be remembered for one thing alone: a shambles of an ending.
Inside today’s main piece you can read my thoughts on Cheltenham Trials Day.
Cheltenham Trials Day: A Hole Lot of Trouble
After the Cleeve Hurdle, a sizeable hole appeared in the home straight. What followed was an embarrassing delay as officials debated whether the Grade 2 AIS Novices’ Hurdle could be run with daylight draining away. Common sense suggested abandonment. Had this been a routine fixture, that’s exactly what would have happened.
Instead, the decision was taken to press on despite clear uncertainty over whether similar issues existed elsewhere on the track. Even Clerk of the Course Jon Pullin admitted to Lydia Hislop on Racing TV that the entire course would now need checking ahead of the Festival. That alone should have stopped the race. Running it felt like an unnecessary and avoidable risk.
Thankfully, there was no incident, and the race itself was a cracker. Kripticjim edged out Taurus Bay by a short head, rallying bravely after a mistake at the last and fully deserving the verdict. However, it was a photo finish and looking at the print there was no way you could tell who had won. In a sport underpinned by betting, the idea that we might not definitively know who the winner is simply unacceptable.
As for the form, both horses are decent, but I’d be stunned if this turns out to be Festival-grade novice hurdle form.
Cotswold Chase: Gold Cup Reality Check
There was no shortage of drama earlier on the card. Before the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase, favourite Grey Dawning was kicked by Spillane’s Tower. He was passed fit to run, though whether he should have been allowed to take his chance is another matter entirely.
The race itself was unsatisfactory. Flooring Porter, usually an aggressive front-runner, was restrained and dropped out in last. He needed to complete over fences to qualify for the Grand National, but you’d have expected the stewards to at least ask questions. I doubt they did.
The race itself was tactical. L’Homme Presse got an uncontested lead in what became a modestly run affair. Spillane’s Tower, back over fences for the first time this season, was the one bright spot. He cruised up two out and appeared set to win easily but had to be ridden out to get past a brave L’Homme Presse, who once again showed his honesty and toughness.
Grey Dawning made a race-ending mistake two out, but even without it I don’t think he was winning.
Spillane’s Tower is now firmly back in the conversation for the Gold Cup. For a first run over fences this season, it was a solid effort, and he deserves his place in the Gold Cup line-up. But let’s be clear: this was not Gold Cup-winning form getting 6lb from the runner-up.
As for the rest, L’Homme Presse will run his race in March, but he’s place contender at best. Grey Dawning will line up in March, as he should, but he’ll be lucky to place if the main players turn up in form.
A Trial That Told Us Nothing
What was billed as the race of Trials Day – Sir Gino versus The New Lion in the Grade 2 Unibet Hurdle turned into another let-down.
We never got the contest we had hoped. Sir Gino was anchored in last of the four and suffered a pelvic injury on landing over the third last, forcing him to be pulled up. That immediately took the edge off the race.
Nemean Lion set steady fractions in front and the whole thing boiled down to a sprint in the straight. At the last all three remaining runners still had a chance. In the end, The New Lion showed the best turn of foot, to win a shade cosily. Nemean Lion was beaten 1½ lengths, with Brentford Hope a nose further back in third.
Connections will be pleased. The New Lion settled, took a lead and did what was required. Beyond that, there’s very little new we learnt about him.
This was another unsatisfactory race. The winner beat a horse crying out for further than 2m1f, in a slowly run contest that told us nothing new. As Champion Hurdle form, it isn’t worth a hill of beans.
That said The New Lion remains Britain’s best Champion Hurdle hope. He was that before the race, and he still is now. But Trials Day did nothing to strengthen that position.
Favori De Champdou Bolts Up
Favori De Champdou showed his versatility in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase. The Leopardstown Paddy Power Chase winner carried top weight of 12-0 and made light work of it. He travelled strongly, jumped fluently and powered clear after the last. A rise in the weights is inevitable, but he’ll have strong claims when returning here in March for connections who know how to win this race. Final Orders couldn’t repeat his C&D success on quicker ground and faded late. Softer conditions blunted his edge, but he’s not one to give up on if he gets better ground at the Festival.
Ma Shantou Makes His Stayers’ Case
Ma Shantou burst into the Stayers’ Hurdle conversation with a commanding Cleeve Hurdle victory. He moved to the front turning in and powered seven lengths clear of his rivals. Favourite Impose Toi had every chance at the last, but he couldn’t live with the winner and didn’t seem get up the hill.
This was a career-best from Ma Shantou. A three-time course winner, he stays strongly and handled the soft ground with ease. He deserves his shot in the Stayers’ Hurdle and looks the best British hope. Can he beat the Irish? On this evidence, he might.
Of the rest
Maestro Conti took the Grade 2 JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle, overcoming early keenness to finish strongly. Maestro Conti’s now unbeaten in three starts over hurdles and rightly enters the Triumph Hurdle picture. He’s nice horse but he’ll need to progress again to win here back in March.
Jordans Cross landed the Timeform Novices’ Handicap Chase (2m4½f) in dramatic fashion, getting up on the line to beat Quebecois by a nose. It’s a race that has thrown up some smart winners in recent seasons and this looks form worth following.
Finally, Donnacha narrowly held Jagwar by a head in the Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase after a terrific duel to the line. The pair pulled well clear of the rest and will be back for Festival handicaps in March. Jagwar is a frustrating horse I would hope that Harry Cobden rides him next time and maybe he needs a step up to three miles.
Doncaster: Sean Shines on Town Moor
Irish jockey Sean O’Keeffe enjoyed a dream first day at Doncaster, landing a big-race double with two cracking rides.
Thedeviluno made a powerful impression in the Grade 2 River Don Novices’ Hurdle. I was on runner-up Country Code and, two out, I genuinely thought he was coming through to win. But O’Keeffe had the winner travelling just as well and, crucially, he outstayed the runner-up on soft ground. It was a confident ride in testing conditions.
He was seen to even better effect on Feet Of Dancer in the Grade 2 Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle. Coming to the last, I thought he’d left it too late to reel in long-time leader Dream On Baby. But he produced the mare at the perfect moment to collar her, and it was a fine, composed ride.
Pirate Plunders Doncaster Treasure
Dartmoor Pirate took the headlines in the Virgin Bet Great Yorkshire Chase. I had highlighted his claims in Wednesday’s column and tipped him up to subscribers ante post at 16/1 on Wednesday.
Joyeux Machin and Josh The Boss set a good gallop from the front, and Joyeux Machin was still going well when he fell five out.
Into the straight, I thought Dartmoor Pirate was beaten. But he kept galloping and grabbed New Order approaching the last. I suspected, the step up in 3m would bring out the best in him and he proved to well handicapped for his rivals.
Grand Geste, the 5/2 favourite, never looked happy and was pulled up halfway. It was one of those runs where you simply must forgive him as he was clearly amiss.
Dartmoor Pirate was a rare midweek ante-post punt from me, and it was satisfying to see it pay off. I will likely dip into the market again in the coming weeks.
I didn’t have many bets on Saturday, and I was well in profit come all the Cheltenham drama so it was a good weekend.
Onward to the Dublin Racing Festival.
Good luck with your Monday bets.
John