Cheltenham Saturday

THE field assembled for the Grade 2 International Hurdle at Cheltenham last Saturday was perhaps not the strongest ever to contest the race formerly known as the Bula Hurdle, and the Cheltenham Trial Hurdle prior to that. It was, however, a very competitive one, and it produced a race of great intrigue, with at least half the field holding winning chances in the straight.

The pace was set by the returning Elixir De Nutz, but he faded as fitness told from the penultimate flight, leaving Ch’tibello, Ballyandy, Call Me Lord and Pentland Hills in a line across the track approaching the final hurdle.

It looked like Triumph Hurdle winner Pentland Hills would prevail as the quartet crossed the final flight, but he tired noticeably on the back on an absence, leaving his stablemate Call Me Lord to withhold the renewed challenge of Ballyandy, who switched inside having initially made his move next to the outside rail.

This was the winner’s first run right-handed since joining Nicky Henderson, and while he did score twice going left-handed in France, Anthony Bromley, who purchased him for Simon Munir and Isaac Souede admitted that he had steering issues than which were also evident on the home gallops.

He seemed to have no problems with the track direction here, however, and this opens options up for him. James Bowen was stepping in for the injured Daryl Jacob.

Caspian Caviar

Connections of Warthog were concerned about his ability to stay the trip in the Grade 3 Caspian Caviar Gold Cup given he’d faded up the hill in the BetVictor Gold Cup last month, but he found surprising reserves of stamina having looked in trouble at the last, producing a late rally which saw him overhaul the smooth-travelling Spiritofthegames.

He was well placed throughout under David Noonan, and jumped soundly, as he had last month. He has been rather fragile in terms of temperament in the past, but this win could be a watershed for him, and he will stay further on this evidence. His win came on his co-owner Professor Caroline Tisdall’s birthday, which made the victory all the sweeter.

The winner has been raised 4lbs to a mark of 136, which remains very workable, assuming he can hold his form better this year than last, and while David Pipe has no immediate plans for him, he does appeal as the sort who would relish the challenge of the Topham at Aintree in April.

It’s also notable that while he has run poorly for other riders, his record when partnered by Noonan is a solid one, and it’s to be hoped that partnership is allowed to flourish.

The Grade 2 Albert Bartlett (Bristol) Novices’ Hurdle threw up a shock, as connections of Ballyandy, the Options O Syndicate and Nigel Twiston-Davies struck with Redford Road, who looked beaten when surrendering the lead with a stuttering leap at the last, but he has much more stamina that you’d expect for a son of Trans Island, and rallied in great style to overhaul favourite Champagne Well.

Three miles will suit on this evidence, and the Albert Bartlett will likely be his aim in March, for all a fair bit of improvement will be needed for that. With Sam Twiston-Davies riding the yard’s better-fancied runner, Mossy Fen, this was a rare pattern winner for Jamie Bargary.