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.