NIGHTOWL CHELTENHAM TRIAL

No doubt the Mares Chase here in April will be the target but until she learns to pick her feet up, she’ll always be risky. At worst I think she would have been placed. Sadly for us Miss Night Owl’s jumping frailties came back to haunt us, as she fell four out when in with every chance. He rattled up the hill after getting outpaced a bit 2 out, giving the impression an end-to-end gallop will suit him well, and although he’ll need to go up a few pounds (about 10 by my rough maths) that’s not impossible as he’s lightly raced and should have more improvement in him. The yard won the race last year and will be keen to keep the crown, and this might be the one. The only thing I have written down here is “County?” next to Not That Fuisse after an eyecatching effort here.

He’ll need to tidy his jumping up whatever, though. Nevetheless, he did come up the hill with some gusto and I wonder whether the four miler might be more his bag come the Festival, especially on good ground. He has stayed on a bit after the last to close for second but that’s a bit of an optical illusion as he’s not closed on the winner at all from three out (on timed gaps). The best looking of the four was Gunfleet, who is a gorgeous individual that’s a perfect size for fences, but mistake after mistake on ground that was probably a bit quick for him did not help his cause and he was the well beaten. With the Cheltenham hoodoo off his back, he now becomes a serious player for the RSA as we know the class is there. If I was one of the connections of the horse I’d be begging Noel Fehily to ride him in the RSA as he seemed to jump so much better for him here, barely making a semblance of any mistake. The worry for me was that The Worlds End’s Cheltenham record wasn’t great and that he’d find the hill too much again, but he’d got them all cooked well before that was even going to become an issue. Ibis Du Rheu is a lengthy sort and might need further still, but he’s been well and truly put in his place by The Worlds End here. Once loose he jumped around fine although made the same mistake at the same fence next time around, even without a jockey on board. I still can’t quite have Lil Rockerfeller as a chaser on looks and an early fall here has done little to dissuade me otherwise. Monsieur D’Arque looked like he would come on for a run and ran that way too. I’d already written “ galloper” by Jarvey’s Plate even before he’d raced and he very much gave that impression too, just lacking a gear at a key time before staying on well up the hill. Of the others, I K Brunel looked the most athletic and “now” of the rest of them, and should pick up a novice hurdle with ease. Whether, ultimately, he has the class to win the Supreme only time will tell, but he was giving away chunks of weight here (which, incidentally, in a post-race interview his trainer didn’t even realise he’d have to do until declarations had been made – what have I said before, does Colin know what day of the week it is at times? -)) and couldn’t have done any more than win. Once again he made all the running and found plenty to repel the raiders when asked. He does catch the eye in the paddock, fences surely await him one day, and he’s much more tractable these days. I have made no secret of my love for Elixir Du Nutz and it was a joy to see him continue to progress here.

NIGHTOWL CHELTENHAM TRIAL

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Nightowl cheltenham