January 22 – Gowran – Home On The Lee – 75
Extremely testing conditions greeted the runners on Thyestes Day at the Kenny venue but that did not prevent this staying hurdle contest being run at a healthy clip. The fact last year’s winner. Rocky’s Diamond, was flat to the boards exiting the back straight suggested this was a proper test and it ended up being a good dual between Joseph O’Brien’s veteran and Staffordshire Knot from two out. The winner, who had struggled at the highest level for the last two seasons, bounced back to something approaching his best and no doubt he will go to Cheltenham again in a bid to arrest some the previous disappointments he has encountered over the Irish Sea. As for the runner-up, he proved his recent resurgence to be no fluke and he might turn out to be an interesting contender for the Pertemps Final, having already qualified on his previous outing at Punchestown.
January 22 – Gowran – C’est Ta Chance – 70
If ever a race epitomised the theory Danny Mullins should never be underestimated on any horse he rides this was it. Riding the outsider of Willie Mullins’ three in this beginners chase, he some how galvanised his mount to come from fourth at the last to get his head in front on the line. Despite the blanket finish, the overall time suggested they had gone a decent gallop and the form could well be worth keeping on side for the foreseeable future. Of the first four, King Alexander comes across has having the most scope and potential and is just waiting for some better ground in the spring.
January 24 – Cheltenham – Donnacha – 72
A generously run affair and it produced a rousing finish between two horses with contrasting profiles. The eventual winner was one of the more exposed members of the party but as events panned out, his experience of these type of well-run handicaps stood him in fine stead and he managed to see off his more exulted counterpart up the hill. As for Jagwar, he ran a fine race, but at the same time he left many scratching their heads how he did not manage to put this opportunity to bed. The way he sauntered up to the head of affairs approaching two out suggested he had plenty left to offer and despite a slightly sketchy jump at the last, it was a surprise he failed in his bid to go past his only remaining rival on the climb to the line. Now up to a rating of 152, Jonjo & A J O’Neill’s gelding will have a tough task on his hands trying to defend his Plate crown he captured off a mark of 139 last season and maybe he might better served stepping up to three handicap run on the first day of the festival.
January 24 – Cheltenham – Ma Shantou – 71
Not a breakneck gallop set by confirmed front runner Gowel Road, but a strong enough one to produce a useful speed figure and we have a fresh name to throw his cap in the ring for the Stayers Hurdle crown in the shape of Emma Lavelle’s inmate. The son of Shantou worked his way through the ranks this season to earn a crack at this prize and in a race where there were many with questions to ask prior to facing the starter, he was the one who came up with the goods. On a day when most of the races suggested it was hard work for the participants, the seven-year-old bucked the trend with the way he powered up the hill and he rates the clear British challenger for the Grade 1 in March, hailing from a stable that have won the race before with Paisley Park.
January 24 – – Doncaster – Newton Tornado – 68
A race that was run in a time two seconds quicker than the Great Yorkshire Chase over the same C&D and those numbers suggest the performance posted by Rebecca Curtis’ inmate is worth noting. Pulled up the time before at Newbury due to an early bad mistake, as a result, the son of Cokoriko was on a bit of a retrieval mission in this similar event but he got back on track in no uncertain terms, staying on strongly in the final half a mile to pull well clear of his rivals. On this evidence, stamina is clearly his strong suit and something like the National Hunt Chase, mentioned in the post-race chat, could turn out to be ideal for a horse housed at a stable that took the race last season with Haiti Couleurs.
January 24 – Doncaster – Thedeviluno – 72
Easily the best field assembled for a staying novice hurdle all season and the speed figure it produced suggested we are dealing with very strong form. The fact the runners were strung out all over Town Moor, six were pulled up, backed up that view and the front two pulled nicely clear of the rest – suggesting they are very strong stayers at the trip. The winner had got put in his place by Doctor Steinburg at Navan previously but stepping up in trip here, he relished every inch of the three miles and he was full value for his five length winning margin. Hopefully he has sufficient time to recover from this arduous test as he looks one of the main players for the Albert Bartlett on the evidence of this top-class display. As for the runner-up, Country Code, he can count himself unfortunate to bump into such a tough opponent of the day but the fact he pulled miles clear of the rest backs up the view he lost very little in defeat. Indeed, Ruth Jefferson’s inmate travelled every bit as well as the eventual winner until he was just outstayed after the last, but on better ground at the festival, there would certainly be worse 50-1 chances in the three-mile Grade 1 contest should connections decide to go to Cheltenham rather than wait for Aintree.
January 25 – Naas – Argento Boy – 71
A keenly-contested Grade 3 novice chase and it proved to be a test paper only two ended up passing. The winner looked to be a slightly lucky winner of his previous contest at Punchestown when he two main market rival fell, but there was no fluke about this effort. The way he stayed on in the closing stages to edge out a tough opponent in the shape of Bossofthebrownies was praiseworthy and he looks just the type for a big prize further down the line when the emphasis is on stamina. As for the runner-up, he lost little in defeat and he too left the impression staying handicaps are where his future lies, with something like the Irish National being a possible end of season target.