Newbury Saturday

TALK of supplementing for the Gold Cup came in the aftermath of Eldorado Allen’s 6/1 win in the Grade 2 Betfair Denman Chase, but whether Colin Tizzard’s Arkle runner-up has the stamina for an extra quarter mile remains to be seen.

Brendan Powell rode him as if his stamina for this extended two miles, seven furlongs was assured. Eldorado Allen took well to a front-running role, jumping well, if a little to his left at times, and finding plenty when challenged by Royale Pagaille (Venetia Williams/Charlie Deutsch) between the last two fences, winning by two and a quarter lengths. Clan Des Obeaux went off at evens, but found less than seemed likely, and was beaten another 10 lengths.

Confidence

Headed by Imperial Aura when making his sole blemish at the 12th, Eldorado Allen was back in front at the first in the straight, and credit is due to Powell for instilling confidence in his mount under assured handling.

The winner was able to increase the pace in the straight after all five had grouped up at the cross fence. The feeling is that a well-judged ride was largely responsible for the apparent improvement, but the son of Khalkevi has always promised to thrive at trips in excess of two miles, so this was encouraging, even if the Ryanair appears a better fit for him that the Gold Cup.

Royale Pagaille was booking his ticket for the Gold Cup, and will be better suited to an end-to-end gallop on softer ground, but it’s hard to forget that he was soundly beaten 12 months ago.

Clan Des Obeaux has his stable’s form as some excuse for his defeat, but Imperial Aura cut out as soon as he was headed, and is a horse with problems.

VENETIA Williams didn’t have to wait long for compensation after Royale Pagaille’s defeat, and it was Charlie Deutsch’s turn to take the initiative on Funambule Sivola, who made all the running in the Grade 2 Betfair Exchange Game Spirit Chase.

The 9/4 shot outjumped 2021 winner Sceau Royal (Alan King/James Bowen) to win by two lengths, with Hitman (Paul Nicholls/Harry Cobden) two and a quarter lengths further back.

Speed

Funambule Sivola has been tried over further on a couple of occasions this term, but is clearly best with emphasis on speed, and took his chase record over two miles to 1121211 with this success.

That record includes an excellent second to Shishkin in the Grade 1 Manifesto last April, and he is ready for another crack at Grade 1 company. That will come in the Champion Chase according to Williams, and while that is a daunting task, it makes more appeal than waiting for the Melling Chase over further at Aintree.

Sceau Royal uncharacteristically failed to see a stride at a couple of fences, which put him at a disadvantage. He deserves credit for going close given that, and he was conceding 6lb to the winner, but he’s had plenty of bites at the Grade 1 cherry, and probably missed his best chance last year when a kinder run through would have given him every chance.

THE Grade 3 Betfair Hurdle provided less than its usual spectacle with a much smaller field than normal, and plenty had a chance of sorts from the home turn after a rather pedestrian early pace.

At the line, though, it was Christmas Hurdle runner-up Glory And Fortune (Tom Lacey/Stan Sheppard), who just held sway over the determined I Like To Move It (Nigel/Sam Twiston-Davies), with First Street (Nicky Henderson/James Bowen) beaten two and a quarter lengths into third.

Just a short-head separated the 20/1 winner from the novice I Like To Move It, but this narrow win pays some sort of compliment to Christmas Hurdle winner Epatante, that form looking rather weak at the time, but taking on a little more gloss with this result.

Dream

Connections of the winner are apparently keen to let him take his chance in the Champion Hurdle, and I Like To Move It seems booked to appear next in the Supreme. Both will be meeting much higher rated rivals in Grade 1 company, but people are entitled to dream.

THE day started with a novices’ handicap chase in which Bravemansgame (Paul Nicholls/Harry Cobden) continued to tread in Denman’s shoes, winning a race which was a non-handicap when the Barber/Findlay machine scored by a distance in 2007.

He had to give 16lb to his two main rivals, but despite being headed at the fourth last fence, he threw in a fine leap at the next and kept on well to win by three and a half lengths from National Hunt Chase-bound Pats Fancy.

Debate

Whether this told us anything new is up for debate, but it was intriguing to see the BHA handicapper raise him to 164 for this, a mark equal to that given to Galopin Des Champs by his IHRB counterpart. Denman was only rated 161 at the end of his victorious novice chase campaign.

Dog on Top

The card ended with what is a traditionally strong bumper, now holding listed status. It was won by Emma Lavelle’s Top Dog (Tom Bellamy), who was well placed to strike off a modest gallop, but did hang left in the closing stages.

In the circumstances, runner-up Rosy Redrum (Milton Harris/Mitch Bastyan) shaped very well in having to come from last in a race where such tactics were unwise.

She took the eye beforehand, and although unlikely to make the cut for the Champion Bumper on ratings, is a filly to keep on side, with her trainer rating her a better prospect than recent Cheltenham listed winner Mullenbeg.