THERE were rather mixed messages from the rest of the Trials Day Meeting at Cheltenham. Most of the races were well-run but some amounted to rather more than others.

Apple’s Shakira impressed me more than she seemed to impress the majority when winning the opening Triumph Hurdle Trial but I had been more sceptical than others previously. She took a while to get on top of Look My Way but that one was useful on the flat and Apple’s Shakira was particularly strong up the run-in.

Apple’s Shakira earns a 139 timefigure for this, which is second only to Sussex Ranger (145) among juveniles, and she would receive a sex allowance from that one were they to meet. I have demoted Act Of Valour (who had beaten Look My Way previously) to 134.

Mister Whitaker won the Timeform Novices’ Handicap Chase in workmanlike style and a solid time – paying a compliment to Hell’s Kitchen, who had beaten him in a good time at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day – but he carried fully 18lb less than Frodon did at the same course and distance soon after (with the ground probably deteriorating slightly) and any comparison favours the latter.

RUNNER-UP

Santini ran a 145 timefigure – joint-second-best behind Summerville Boy (148) among British-trained novice hurdlers – but my money would be on runner-up Black Op (144) if they met again, as he looked superior for most of the way and might still have held on but for blundering at the last.

Agrapart answered his rider’s every call to win the Cleeve Hurdle but in just a respectable 154 timefigure, and may need similarly testing ground to be a major factor in March.

It looks worth excusing defeats in this race more than others, with runner-up Wholestone (151) just found out by the increased test of stamina and fourth-placed The World’s End possibly unsuited by the ground.

Meanwhile, over at Doncaster, Maria’s Benefit ran a personal best (144 timefigure) and showed battling qualities to go with her electric early pace when holding Irish Roe (141) in the Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle. The first two should figure prominently in the Dawn Run Mares Novices’ Hurdle at the festival providing this contest does not leave a mark.

Sceau Royal confirmed he is very smart by winning a novice chase in a 154 timefigure from Shantou Rock (146), without being quite as impressive as he had been when landing the Henry VIII at Sandown in December.

I have a 128 timefigure on Enniscoffey Oscar for winning the River Don Novices’ Hurdle, with sectionals showing that this was the fastest finish of the three hurdle races on the card despite being run over by some way the longest overall distance.