The eight race Cheltenham Trials Day card began five minutes after midday on ground described as Soft. The Grade 2 Triumph Hurdle Trial (registered as the Finesse Hurdle) saw the unbeaten Minnela Yoga go off the 2/1 favourite. However, he could only finish third behind the winner Maestro Conti for the Skeltons with Harry Derhams One Horse Town an honourable runner up. The winner is top price 9/1 for the Triumph but the Major will be looking elsewhere for the winner come March.
The Cross Country Chase was taken impressively by the Gordon Elliott trained and Gigginstown owned Favouri de Champdou who passed the line eight lengths clear under Jack Kennedy. The eleven-year-old veteran is now top priced 8/1 for the Cross Country at the Festival.
The Cotswold Chase was won by Irish trained Spillane’s Tower who saw off the brave L’Homme Presse. Trainer of the winner Jimmy Mangan said post-race his horse had ideal conditions on the day and expected a bold showing. Grey Dawning the Betfair Chase winner from last November ran rather flat and finished back in third beaten five lengths.
The International Hurdle turned into a rather non event when Sir Gino pulled up after 3 out and the race eventually went to The New Lion for Harry and Dan Skelton. The race was run at a dawdling pace and I am not too sure what to take from it. Sir Gino as is reported as I write this, has suffered a pelvic injury and is currently stable according to trainer Nicky Henderson. A sad day in many ways but thankfully the horse looks to be ok fingers crossed.
Next up the Cleeve Hurdle for the staying hurdlers and usually a good yardstick for the Stayers Hurdle itself. This race saw the emergence of another high calibre staying prospect for the Emma Lavelle outfit following on from her grand old stable star Paisley Park. Named Ma Shantou this seven-year-old gelding beat the Long Walk Hurdle winner Impose Toi seven lengths and made it three from four at Cheltenham, his only defeat coming in last year’s Albert Bartlett behind Jasmin De Vaux. He has gone up fifteen pounds in the handicap this season and has now proven his ability to compete at the top table.
Worth a good mention, earlier in the week saw the highlight of the jumps season at Gowran Park Home. By The Lea took the Grade 2 Galmoy Hurdle for Joseph O’Brien and JJ Slevin while the Grade 3 Thyestes Chase was won by the Gavin Cromwell trained Now Is The Hour who held off Better Times Ahead by a head! with an extraordinary nineteen lengths back to the third. An unlucky runner was the Willie Mullins trained Spanish Harlem who unseated his rider at the last when a length or more clear.