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Established Chaser – Grey Dawning
It was a Cheltenham Festival to remember for Dan Skelton, whose four winners included a Grade 1 double on the third day of the meeting, kicked off by GREY DAWNING’s gritty victory in the Turners Novices’ Chase.
Grey Dawning had finished runner-up to Ginny’s Destiny when the pair clashed in a novice chase at Cheltenham in December.
Still, he was giving the winner 3 lb on that occasion and, more importantly, had made a shocking mistake at the second last when looming up.
Grey Dawning is essentially a fluent jumper, though, and in the Turners, he put in a superb round, which helped him to reverse the placings with his old rival and score by a couple of lengths, with the runner-up eight lengths clear of the third.
Ginny’s Destiny was one place before Grey Dawning when they clashed again at Aintree in the Manifesto Novices’ Chase.
Still, both had to settle for minor honours behind Arkle third Il Etait Temps, whose speed proved decisive in a race run at a stop-start gallop that placed far less emphasis on stamina than had been the case in the Turners, which was run at a strong tempo throughout.
It’s also possible that the dingdong battle at Cheltenham had taken the edge off Ginny’s Destiny and Grey Dawning at Aintree, and they are better judged on the form they had shown in the Turners. Grey Dawning appeals as a leading contender for Grade1s in open company this season.
He also seems likely to be suited by the return to three miles, given how thoroughly he saw out the trip when successful in a well-run edition of the Hampton Novices’ Chase at Warwick in January.
Novice Hurdler – Kopek Des Bordes
The valuable Tattersalls Ireland George Mernagh Memorial Sales Bumper, run at Fairyhouse’s Easter Festival and worth €60,000 to the winner, may have thrown up an excellent prospect for the second year running.
Subsequent Grade 1 winner Brighterdaysahead took the prize in 2023, while the latest winner, KOPEK DES BORDES, also looks destined to make his mark in top novice hurdles following a hugely impressive victory.
One of three debutants in the line-up for Mullins, Kopek des Bordes, was sent off the 15/8 favourite under Patrick Mullins, who gave him a supremely confident ride.
Travelling strongly held up, Kopek des Bordes improved to go second early in the straight and then led on the bridle over a furlong out before drawing clear of long-time leader Clap of Thunder to win by 13 lengths with another nine back to one of his stablemates Doctor Steinberg in third.
As well as some useful winners in France, Kopek des Bordes is also a half-brother to Utopie des Bordes, who proved a useful staying hurdler for Nicky Henderson after winning the Grade 1 Prix Maurice Gillois for four-year-old chasers at Auteuil earlier in her career.
Kopek des Bordes has a pedigree that suggests he’ll be even better when sent jumping, and he is expected to rank high amongst this season’s novice hurdlers.
Novice Chaser – Caldwell Potter
CALDWELL POTTER comes from one of jump racing’s most successful families: a brother of the ill-fated four-time Grade 1 winner Mighty Potter and a half-brother of rising star Brighterdaysahead, who has since won a Grade 1.
His half-brothers, French Dynamite and Indiana Jones, have been successful at Grade 3 level. Nicholls quickly ruled out a trip to the Cheltenham Festival with Caldwell Potter after his expensive purchase out of Gordon Elliott’s yard, stating that the horse would need more time to acclimate.
But the record purchase was declared for the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree for a clash with his former stablemate and half-sister Brighterdaysahead. Sadly, an infected foot meant Caldwell Potter had to miss that engagement, and we never got to see the extent of his ability over hurdles.
But his form when winning his Grade 1 at Leopardstown marks him as one of the most exciting prospects for novice chases this season. Caldwell Potter, a decisive winner on two of his three starts over hurdles, has raced only at trips around two miles but will have no problem staying two and a half miles.
Handicap Hurdler – Both Barrels
BOTH BARRELS is yet to finish out of the frame in his seven outings. Starting the previous season in bumpers, he belied his odds of 66/1 when running his best race on his third and final outing in that sphere to finish third behind another of our Fifty, Bertie’s Ballet, in another of the Go North Finals at Kelso.
Both Barrels made his hurdling debut in a novice race at Carlisle last November, finishing fourth behind the useful Johnnywho who spent the rest of the season in graded company and was then gambled on when third behind Worcester winner Ikarak in a similar event at Newcastle.
But, Both Barrels found life a bit easier in handicaps and showed improvement at Ayr in February. His jumping could have been a lot tidier, but he did well to see off all his rivals bar the easy winner, Eire Street, who was under his penalty for winning at Carlisle the previous week.
Both Barrels’ first win was only delayed, though, and off the same mark at Kelso, he could go one better when sent off favourite to beat a largely exposed bunch. The Kelso race, at just over two and three-quarter miles, is the furthest distance Both Barrels has raced over so far, and he promises to stay three miles, being by high-class Flat stayer Saddler’s Rock.
Handicap Chaser – Demnat
French recruit DENMAT had a 32-month absence to overcome when making his first start for Venetia Williams in a two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase at Ludlow in February. But he did so in style, looking potentially smart as he travelled enthusiastically on the front end before drawing 15 lengths clear.
That was the clear highlight of the campaign for Demnat, who was ultimately beaten a long way on two of his three subsequent starts and pulled up on the other occasion. But he shaped better than the result a couple of times and will be one to watch out for on his return after receiving some respite from the handicapper.
He’s already shown his effectiveness when fresh and represents a trainer who excels with such types. Indeed, last season, Williams’ record with chasers running for the first time after an absence of 150 days or longer was 15 winners from 53 runners at a strike rate over 28%, which returned a profit of £31 to £1 level stakes.
Demnat is now only 5 lb heavier in the weights than when successful at Ludlow, and if he is kept to trips at around two and a half miles, he is expected to hold his form better.
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