The Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle has been the source of several Festival winners in recent years and it would be a surprise if one of the first two in 2014’s running did not add to that record. Red Sherlock (9/4) and Rathvinden (6/4f) finished well clear of the useful Aubusson (7/1) on Saturday.
Red Sherlock remains unbeaten and has been priced at around 7/1 for the race of the same name at the Festival. His trainer David Pipe said afterwards: “He stays well and might get further so I'd imagine he'll have entries over two-five and three miles at the Festival.”
Saturday’s going at Cheltenham (heavy, soft in places) does add a complication to assessing likely Festival performance, when the going is usually better (although, given the UK weather in recent times, it could be anything).
A combination of the ground, age and lengthy absence from the racetrack accounted for Big Buck’s’ defeat in the Cleeve Hurdle. The 11-year-old led the field quite a long way from the finish and was only overtaken by Knockara Beau (66/1) and At Fishers Cross (5/1) in the final 75 yards of the three mile race.
Big Buck’s remains the favourite for the World Hurdle and will no doubt improve on better ground and with Saturday’s run. But he will have to improve to win the World Hurdle if Annie Power runs in the race. Willie Mullins’ mare won easily at Doncaster on Saturday (1/6f) and would receive a mare’s allowance in the World Hurdle. But her plans have not yet been confirmed for the Festival.
At Fishers Cross put in a much improved performance to finish second but it does not look like Festival winning form to finish behind an 11-year-old in Knockara Beau and less than a length ahead of Big Buck’s, who was giving him 4lbs.
The picture for the Cheltenham Gold Cup was made clearer in the sense that several contenders had poor performances on Saturday and look unlikely to win the main event in March.
The current ante-post prices for the Gold Cup tell the story of Saturday's runners: Boston Bob 25/1, The Giant Bolster 33/1, Rocky Creek 40/1, Harry Topper 50/1, Houblon Des Obeaux 100/1.
Le Rocher (Nick Williams) was a good winner of the JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial but the gelding could have been one to benefit from the heavy going on Saturday. He has won twice now on heavy ground. If he runs at the Festival he will have to act on what will presumably be better ground.
There is much to ponder on over the next month or so.
