YOU can understand why Ucello Conti is high in the betting for the St James’s Place Foxhunter at Cheltenham. Gordon Elliott’s horse is a high-class staying chaser, he has finished second in two Paddy Power Chases and a close-up fourth in a Becher Chase and he has finished placed in two Thyestes Chases. He has now won his point-to-point, he won a hunters’ chase at Thurles on Sunday under Barry O’Neill, a race that has been won in the past by Foxrock and Gilgamboa and Prince De Beauchene. It is not certain that he would have beaten Gwencily Berbas had that rival not unseated at the final fence.

Barry Connell’s horse was unlucky to unseat too. He just got in tight, landed steeply, and gravity won. It was a shame for his rider Aine O’Connor, because it appeared as if she had retained something in reserve for the run-in. It may be a bit of a rush now to get the gelding qualified for Cheltenham, but he will have a big chance if he does get qualified.