Betfair Hurdle day at Newbury is one Nicholls looks forward to

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Champion trainer Paul Nicholls is readying a strong squad for one of his favourite meetings of the season at Newbury on Saturday.

Two solid chances in the feature Betfair Hurdle with Hacker Des Places and Rubaud, Hitman looking to get back on track in the race named after former Ditcheat star Denman and McFabulous aiming to emulate Bravemansgame in the opening race, there is plenty to go at.

But it is Greaneteen in the Betfair Exchange Game Spirit Chase Nicholls will be watching with most interest, given how the Queen Mother Champion Chase picture has changed in recent weeks.

The defeats of Energumene, Edwardstone and Blue Lord have opened up the race and Nicholls hopes his three-time Grade One winner can re-enter the picture.

“He ran very well in the Champion Chase two years ago when I don’t think he was anywhere near as good a horse as he is now and he wasn’t beaten too far,” said Nicholls.

Greaneteen won the Haldon Gold Cup earlier in the season
Greaneteen won the Haldon Gold Cup earlier in the season (David Davies/PA)

“The last couple of weeks the (Champion Chase) waters have been muddied a little bit, which often happens at this time of year, but we’ve always thought this was the perfect race to run him before Cheltenham.

“He loves good ground and I’ve left him a little short rather than have him fully wound up like I did for the Haldon Gold Cup, which was possibly why he was a little bit flat in the Tingle Creek this year.

“We’ve left plenty to work on, he’s nice and fresh so hopefully he’ll run very well en route to Cheltenham.”

In the Betfair Hurdle Nicholls saddles the second- and third-favourites behind Emmet Mullins’ Filey Bay.

“Hacker Des Places keeps on going up a little bit and has a 5lb penalty so we could have done without that – he did surprise me by winning the other day so he could well be improving. Angus (Cheleda) does take the 5lb off,” he said.

“Angus gets on very well with him. He won at Aintree on him and the other day at Cheltenham and rides him most days at home so that 5lb is handy. He probably learned the last day not to be in front too soon.

“Rubaud has only got a mark of 130 and I actually think that’s OK compared to some of my other novices.

“It’s a competitive race, but there’s no Champion Hurdle horse in it like there can be some years so it’s a good competitive handicap.

“You always hope your novices are decent, he’d only had one poor run last year but he came from France and hadn’t acclimatised. I did always like him and I didn’t want to run again after Kempton and risk getting a penalty, praying it was going to be good ground. We’re hoping we’ve got a live chance.”

McFabulous may not go on to emulate King George winner Bravemansgame – who won this race 12 months ago – but he is already rated highly.

Nicholls said: “He’s got to run off a mark of 153 which is quite tough, but there are only two others declared. One is getting a stone off him and the other a stone and a half so that evens it up a bit.

“He loves good ground, won very nicely in a Grade Two earlier in the season and while he might have plenty of weight I’m sure he’ll take a bit of beating.”

Nicholls also runs two nice types in Fire Flyer and Meatloaf in the closing Betfair-sponsored bumper, but says nothing should be read into jockey bookings.

“In the bumper, which is always a nice race – we ran Al Ferof in it before he was second to Cue Card at Cheltenham – we have Fire Flyer who won nicely at Ascot, we like him a lot, and Meatloaf who won at Wincanton and was just touched off at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day,” said Nicholls.

“Jockey-wise Lorcan (Williams) won on Fire Flyer and Harry (Cobden) has ridden Meatloaf so I made the decisions. I wouldn’t know which is better than the other.”

For once there appears to be little doubt whether a big weekend meeting will take place, with clerk of the course Keith Ottesen and his team covering the track from the frost earlier in the week.

Ottesen said: “We’re in a good place and will be fine for Saturday. It dropped to minus 2C overnight, but by 7am there was no frost. It’s going to be slow, good ground and it’s very different to what it was in November when we were having to water it a little bit to get it to good.

“It doesn’t look as though we’re going to freeze overnight on Friday so we’ll probably take the covers off on Friday.”

‘He seems to have improved no end’ – Notlongtillmay under Cheltenham consideration

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Laura Morgan looks set to hand Notlongtillmay an entry in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham after completing a three-timer for the yard at Musselburgh on Saturday.

The Alan Rogers-owned gelding joined the Waltham On The Wolds yard from Chris Gordon, having won a novice hurdle at Fontwell in January 2022, and has clearly enjoyed the change of scenery.

The seven-year-old backed up a win on his chasing debut at Wetherby in November with two further victories at Musselburgh, the latest a nine-length victory romp over an extended two and a half miles.

Leicestershire-based Morgan is now deliberating whether to take him to next month’s Festival meeting, although she has ruled out a tilt at the Turners’ Novices’ Chase, for which he is a general 33-1 chance.

Morgan said: “He seems to have improved no end. I can’t believe it. Chris said to me that he used to struggle really badly with bleeding problems.

“Touch wood, that has not happened at all. That was my main priority and hopefully we are on the right road.”

Morgan is in two minds about running Notlongtillmay at the Festival, although feels a drop back in trip might be on the cards if he does.

“I find it hard this season to be going mad with a novice. He only had his third start over fences the other day.

“I’m a small yard and of course I’d want to have a Cheltenham runner, but at the same time I just wouldn’t want to go and wreck him this season, because he’s probably only going to have one more run.

“I will definitely pop an entry in the Grand Annual without a shadow of a doubt, but while he’s been winning over two and a half, Brian (Hughes) says you could drop him back to two (miles). He’d say he’d be there with every shout. So let’s have a look and see how we go.”

Notlongtillmay, whose nickname in the yard is ‘Maurice’, has largely been campaigned over flatter tracks than he would encounter at Cheltenham, a fact that concerns Morgan.

She added: “If he doesn’t go to Cheltenham, it would either be Aintree or Ayr, but it is a long time until then. While he’s fit and in great form, we might as well pop an entry in the Grand Annual.

“A strongly-run race will really suit him but while I want to be going, he’s won on pretty much all flat tracks, which is slightly worrying.

“In my heart I’d love to be going because I have a horse good enough to compete, but at the same time, what if he gets there and hates the track? It is a difficult one.”

Meanwhile, Percussion – placed in both the Grand Sefton and the Becher Handicap Chase over Aintree’s Grand National fences – is in line for a return to the Liverpool track.

The Evan-Robert Hanbury-owned eight-year-old has won three of his 12 starts over fences and been placed on another five occasions.

Having bypassed the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster, Morgan intends to give him one more run to qualify him for the Topham Handicap Chase on April 14.

“The plan is to go for the Topham, but obviously he will need to go up a bit, so he will go to Doncaster or Wetherby and then see where we are then,” said Morgan.

“I know the owners would love to go there. They also have Fantastic Lady and Nicky (Henderson) is aiming her for Cheltenham, but she might go for the Topham as well.

“It is just the fact that ‘Percy’ loves those National fences and jumps them so well.”

Cleeve hero Gold Tweet to be supplemented for Stayers’ Hurdle

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Gold Tweet is on course for a tilt at the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle, with trainer Gabriel Leenders confirming he intends to supplement his Cleeve Hurdle winner for the Cheltenham Festival contest.

Although not among the original entries for the Thursday feature, Gold Tweet shot towards the head of the market for the three-mile Grade One when becoming France’s first Graded winner at Cheltenham in 18 years on Festival Trials Day.

Sent off a rather unfancied 14-1 for the Cleeve, he travelled strongly into contention in the hands of Johnny Charron before scooting clear of the game Dashel Drasher after the last to record a taking three-length victory.

Gold Tweet ridden by Johnny Charron (left) before going on to win the Dahlbury Stallions At Chapel Stud Cleeve Hurdle during Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham
Gold Tweet ridden by Johnny Charron (left) before going on to win the Dahlbury Stallions At Chapel Stud Cleeve Hurdle during Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham (David Davies/PA)

Connections were initially lukewarm about returning to Prestbury Park, but Leenders has now signalled his intention of stumping up the £14,787 supplementary fee for Gold Tweet to take part in the March 16 event.

He said: “We have no problem supplementing him for the Stayers’ Hurdle, the race on the Thursday.

“I’m very excited and it is a dream for me and all my team.

“It’s a better level race and the Irish horses are a different quality I think.

“We will come like last time, relaxed and we will see. If he has a good chance then we are happy, but we are relaxed. We won last time but now the race is better.”

Mullins favouring Mares’ assignment for Princess Zoe

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Tony Mullins believes Princess Zoe has a “very serious winning chance” in whatever Cheltenham Festival race she runs in, with the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle her likely landing spot.

The popular grey made a winning hurdling debut, dead-heating in the a mares’ maiden at Leopardstown, having previously been a regular top-class performer on the Flat, where she secured a Group One triumph in the 2020 Prix du Cadran, as well as landing the Group Three Sagaro Stakes at Ascot.

While she was set to be retired for broodmare duties in 2023, she failed to meet her reserve price at the Tattersalls December Sale, prompting connections into a rethink.

Though she made a winning start over hurdles, sharing the spoils with Ladybank in the extended two-and-a-half-mile contest, bookmakers were largely unimpressed, offering a general 16-1 for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle and 20-1 for the Albert Bartlett.

Mullins is eyeing the former, however, and said: “We were delighted with the run and relieved to get the dead-heat.

“Her preparation didn’t go perfect, in so far as we had a frozen week and a washed-out week the first two weeks of January.

Connections with Princess Zoe after her hurdling bow
Connections with Princess Zoe after her hurdling bow (PA)

“I thought it was a fantastic performance. Obviously, the betting suggests that I’m the only one impressed. I was surprised that she didn’t shorten, but maybe they’re right.

“I couldn’t be happier. Our preparation went right, our race went right and if everything goes right from here on in, I still believe that she is there with a very serious winning chance.”

The eight-year-old has the option of the three-mile Grade One Albert Bartlett and the Grade Two Mares’ Novices’ race, also known as the Dawn Run, which is run over a distance of two miles and one furlong.

Mullins is now swaying towards Princess Zoe taking on her own sex.

He added: “I thought the Albert Bartlett looked quite weak a month and a half ago, but there are a couple of horses there, Willie’s (Mullins) horse that won at Thurles (Embassy Gardens) and a couple of other ones I saw won in England. It is now a stronger Albert Bartlett.

“So while we are not writing anything in stone, we are now training her with the mares’ novice in mind.

Princess Zoe has always been the apple of Tony Mullins' eye
Princess Zoe has always been the apple of Tony Mullins’ eye (PA)

“If a couple of hotpots come out of the Albert Bartlett, we’ll see.

“We have the one beautiful thing that very few have – we know we have the class to win over two (miles), we know we have the stamina to win over three. We don’t care if it is good to firm – we have won Group races on the Flat with that – we don’t care if it’s heavy, we’ve won Group Ones on that. So, nothing matters to us now, only our preparation.

“I would say we are confident that everything has gone right. We’d love to have had two or three runs over hurdles, but considering everything, we are confident.

“If her preparation goes right, I will be interested to see what could beat her.

“She has travelled a lot and she has never had a problem with travelling. We have most things covered now and if everything goes right for the next three weeks, we’ll be there quite happy to take on whatever arrives.”

Princess Zoe could also return to the Flat in the summer, with the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot again on the agenda.

Kyprios (right) is the best stayer Mullins has seen
Kyprios (right) is the best stayer Mullins has seen (Adam Davy/PA)

She was runner-up to Subjectivist in 2021 and beaten six and three-quarter lengths by Kyprios in the two-and-a-half mile feature last June.

Mullins fears the Aidan O’Brien-trained winner will be near impossible to beat, yet is not going to duck the challenge.

“Paddy (Kehoe, part-owner) has said to me from the very start that racing is his priority and breeding is a lovely little added extra, but is the least thing on his mind,” said Mullins.

“As long as we feel she is safe and sound to stay racing, he wants to stay racing. He is a racing man and and great racing fan.

“Kyprios blew us out of the water altogether last year. I think he is an absolute phenomenon. I would put him above Yeats, Stradivarius and all of them. I think he’s the best stayer I’ve ever seen.

“He is so superior from anything we know of at the moment. He was better at Longchamp than he was at the start of the season, so he is only getting better.

“We are going to enjoy our racing and if he’s there it is going to be a pity – but we’ll give him a go!”

France Galop announces use of whip to be reduced from May 1

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New whip rules will come into effect in France from May 1, France Galop has announced.

The number of times the whip may be used will be reduced from five to four – both on the Flat and over jumps.

France Galop said that between now and the implementaiohn of the new rules there will be an “educational and transitional period from March 1 to April 30”, with jockeys made aware of the new rules when they use the whip five times or more, and that the development is “part of the aim to gradually reduce the use of the whip”.

The stewards will consider use of the whip on the shoulder or neck of a horse when the jockey does not have both hands on the reins as counting towards the permitted number of strikes, while it will be at the discretion of the stewards whether a jockey has used his/her whip clearly and unequivocally for safety reasons rather than misused it. Using the whip above shoulder height is considered a misuse offence.

France Galop added that in conjunction with the latest whip rules specific penalties will also apply to all Group races. A review of the new system will be carried out at the end of the year.

In Britain new rules announced recently have resulted in Flat riders being limited to six uses of the whip, with their jumps counterparts allowed seven – down from seven and eight respectively – following suitable ‘bedding-in’ periods.

Lot Of Joy books Cheltenham ticket with Fairyhouse success

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Lot Of Joy appears to have booked her ticket to the Cheltenham Festival in opening her account over hurdles at Fairyhouse.

The five-year-old finished fourth in a Galway Premier Handicap on debut for Willie Mullins before placing in the Irish Cesarewitch when a length third to Waterville.

The daughter of Camelot has since finished second behind a pair of useful operators in both of her outings over timber, but made no mistake when sent off the 1-7 favourite for the Fairyhouse Schooling Races Mares Maiden Hurdle.

Having tracked the pace in the hands of Paul Townend, Lot Of Joy breezed to the front approaching two out before pulling an impressive 12 lengths clear of the runner-up to set up a tilt at the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Prestbury Park – a race for which she is as short as 8-1 with Paddy Power.

“She’s learning and bringing her back to two miles was probably the best thing to do. She’s learning to race like a National Hunt mare now rather than a Flat mare,” said Mullins.

“She’s settling better and jumping better. We’re very pleased with her progress.

“She’s in the mares’ novice at Cheltenham and I’d imagine that will be her next target. She’ll be easier to ride there as there is usually a very good pace in that. We’re looking forward to it.”

The victory was part of a treble on the day for Mullins who got on the board immediately when Instit (2-7 favourite) landed the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase in facile fashion.

The three-timer was secured when Viva Devito justified 4-5 favouritism in the Fairyhouse Easter Festival Maiden Hurdle.

Second to Paul Nolan’s Joyeux Machin over course and distance on his hurdles bow before finishing fifth at Leopardstown at Christmas, the six-year-old showed his quality when recording a decisive 21-length success.

“I’m not sure that he settled but he looks a powerful jumper,” said Mullins.

“He’s very forward going and I’d imagine I’ll plan a campaign at home and maybe end up at Fairyhouse at Easter.

“I’m hoping that going over fences could settle him and we’ll look forward to that, maybe next season.”

Elliott fined £1,000 and Zanahiyr disqualified from last year’s Champion Hurdle

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Gordon Elliott has been fined £1,000 after Zanahiyr tested positive for a banned substance following his third-place finish in last year’s Champion Hurdle.

The six-year-old finished four and a half lengths behind Honeysuckle in the two-mile feature at the Cheltenham Festival, but has been disqualified after a post-race urine test was found to contain 3-hydroxylidocaine, a metabolite of the local anaesthetic lidocaine.

Elliott appeared before an independent disciplinary panel of the British Horseracing Authority in a remote hearing on Wednesday afternoon, with the BHA contending the Grand National-winning trainer had not taken reasonable precautions to prevent cross-contamination.

A BHA investigation, which included an unannounced visit to Elliott’s County Meath yard, failed to establish the source of the prohibited substance, with potential contamination at the Cullentra stable ruled out while none of the staff who travelled with the team’s horses to the Festival were taking any medication that would have explained the test.

Charlotte Davison, representing the BHA, argued Elliott’s culpability fell into the medium bracket of the penalty guidelines, rather than the low end of the scale, due to “significant failings” in taking precautions.

Zanahiyr has been disqualified from last year's Champion Hurdle
Zanahiyr has been disqualified from last year’s Champion Hurdle (Brian Lawless/PA)

She said “The absence of any training or guidance that was given by Mr Elliott to members of staff about how to reduce the risk of cross-contamination if they were taking medication, the fact there doesn’t appear to have been any such training or guidance in place and that there appears to have been no procedures in place to, for example, allow for members taking relevant medication to notify Mr Elliott, and the fact there were simply no procedures or processes in place the BHA says does amount to significant failings.

“However, these aren’t the most significant failings this panel has ever seen and that is why we have suggested that this falls into the lower end of medium culpability.”

Elliott was represented by Rory Mac Neice, who argued the finding was “something that was entirely separate from and out of Mr Elliott’s control” as the positive test came after horse had been stabled at Cheltenham since March 12, when the positive test was produced following his run on March 15.

Lidocaine has a “detection time” of 72 hours, the hearing was told, which Mac Neice said placed “the overwhelming likelihood” Zanahiyr came into contact with the substance “at some point” during his time in the racecourse stables.

He said: “The horse came into contact with the prohibited substance in an environment Mr Elliott was not in control of. The prohibited substance was not in his own yard, it wasn’t contained in any medication, it wasn’t contained in anything used by his staff.

“The one issue on which the BHA seeks to criticise Mr Elliott is essentially that he had no recording process in place for medication taken by staff. That had no causative effect at all on the adverse finding of this horse. It’s a process the BHA does not require of itself.

“Given those features, the BHA has not explained why it says not having such recording procedures in place amounts to a significant failing, because you have to get to that threshold of significant failing in order to make a finding of medium culpability.”

The panel, which comprised of chair David Fish, Ian Stark and Dr Lyn Griffiths, decided after a short deliberation that Elliott’s offence was at the lower end of the culpability scale and a £1,000 fine was imposed.

Fish said: “Taking into account the mitigating and aggravating features, the panel takes the view that a fine of £1,000 will be imposed and the horse must be disqualified, places will be amended and accordingly prize-money must be returned.”

Written reasons will be supplied in due course, Fish added.

Le Milos leading National charge for Skelton – and could be joined by Ashtown Lad

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Dan Skelton could be set for a two-pronged assault on the Randox Grand National, with both Le Milos and Ashtown Lad catching the eye among the 85 entries for the April 15 contest.

Only 31 of the possible runners for the Merseyside marathon hail from British trainers, but both of the Lodge Hill contenders strike as live candidates for the Aintree showpiece judged on their exploits before Christmas when landing the Coral Gold Cup and Becher Chase respectively.

The duo are now now being prepared to run again over the next few weeks, with Le Milos set to complete his National preparation in Kelso’s Premier Chase – a race which has been used by the likes of Ballabriggs and Many Clouds to tune up for Aintree in the past – while Ashtown Lad will head to Ascot on February 18 before a final decision on his participation is made.

“They are both really well and we’ve had no problems at all,” said Skelton.

Le Milos and jockey Harry Skelton (centre) coming home to win the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury
Le Milos and jockey Harry Skelton (centre) coming home to win the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury (John Walton/PA)

“Le Milos goes to Kelso on March 4 for the Premier Chase and Ashtown Lad hopefully runs next at Ascot in the Swinley Handicap Chase, and then we will have a think about what we do with him.

“Le Milos will go to Kelso and then straight to the Grand National. I’m very happy with him.

“Ashtown Lad is proven over the fences, but there is a question mark over the trip. The plan is to run him next Saturday and then have a proper think about it.”

The Irish have dominated the Grand National in recent years winning the last four and five of the last six runnings. They are responsible for almost two thirds of the initial entries this time around with entries from the home team thin on the ground.

However, the man responsible for two of the better-fancied British runners believes the lack of numbers could be due to trainers having to be more selective with their entries.

“We’ve got two nice entries,” explained Skelton. “The Grand National is unique, you have to stay the trip number one and you have to be appropriate for the fences.

“It costs £950 at the first stage and I think the down on numbers entry is reflective of the whole situation at the moment. People have to be responsible with their entries, you can’t just fire anything in. Perhaps people are just being a bit more delicate with their entries.”

HMS Seahorse setting sail for Coral Cup challenge

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HMS Seahorse is being primed for a raid on the Coral Cup, following an impressive success at Navan.

The Paul Nolan-trained five-year-old showed good form last season, finishing third behind Vauban in the Champion Four Year Old Hurdle at Punchestown in April, having previously been fourth in the Fred Winter at the Cheltenham Festival.

Given a break after finishing down the field in the Irish Cesarewitch in September, he relished the step up to two and a half miles when reappearing over hurdles last month, scoring with ease in soft ground – on his first start since a gelding operation.

“He was good at Navan,” said Nolan. “He looked like he stayed well and I think he’s a horse who is in no way ground dependent.

“He seems to be able to handle it every way and I’m hoping the improvement has come from him being gelded.

“There are times when it doesn’t make any difference at all, but this fella definitely seems to have improved for it.”

A son of Galileo, he holds an entry in Sunday’s Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle at Exeter, although his Enniscorthy handler says he is unlikely to travel.

“He’s got 4lb more with the English handicapper, but it’s more than likely we won’t go to Exeter,” added Nolan. “It has just given us more of an idea of where we stand. It is useful to know.

“I’d say more than likely we will go to the Coral Cup. It is just stepping up an extra furlong and we found out more about him last time.

“He won a mile-and-a-half handicap on summer soft ground at the Curragh, but sometimes it doesn’t work out that way – you can look like a stayer on the Flat, but there are times you might not stay two and a half or three miles over hurdles, but with him stepping him up in trip is definitely an asset.”

High Definition still in the frame for Cheltenham, despite weekend blip

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A tilt at the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is still on the cards for High Definition, despite his first foray into Grade One company over hurdles ending in disappointment at Leopardstown on Sunday.

A high-class performer and one-time Derby favourite when trained by Aidan O’Brien on the Flat, he made a seamless transition to the National Hunt sphere when making his debut for Joseph O’Brien at the Dublin track over Christmas – taking a maiden hurdle by a going-away four and a quarter lengths.

The from of that result got a boost when Jetara finished second in a mares’ Grade Three recently, while the sixth, Diverge, bolted up by 23 lengths at Punchestown on his next start and meant that High Definition reported for Grade One duty at the Dublin Racing Festival as the biggest danger to the then unbeaten Facile Vega.

Attempting to go stride-for-stride with the 4-9 favourite from the front, the son of Galileo only got as far as the fourth flight before unseating jockey JJ Slevin in a race that also saw the Willie Mullins’ hotpot blow out and the Supreme market turned on its head.

However, the five-year-old is reported to be none the worse for the experience and the Cheltenham Festival opener remains the likely next destination for High Definition providing he proves his well-being over the next few weeks.

“He has come out of the race well and we’ll see how he is over the next couple of weeks, but we’re potentially looking at going straight to the Supreme with him from here,” said O’Brien.

“We’ll see how he is before confirming that decision, but if he was to go to Cheltenham that would be the race.”

High Definition ridden by jockey J J Slevin (right) on their way to winning the All About Sunday Maiden Hurdle during day one of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival at Leopardstown Racecourse
High Definition ridden by jockey J J Slevin (right) on their way to winning the All About Sunday Maiden Hurdle during day one of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival at Leopardstown Racecourse (Brian Lawless/PA)

With no plans for another run before Cheltenham, High Definition could head to Prestbury Park with just the one completion over hurdles under his belt. But his handler is not concerned about a lack of experience and believes his jumping will stand up to the test of a Festival Grade One.

He continued: “I wouldn’t be too worried about that (jumping experience). It would have been nice to get a nice clear round in Leopardstown, but I don’t think he did anything wrong and I was very pleased with how he jumped the second and third hurdle.”

O’Brien also looks to have an ace card to play in the novice chase division at Cheltenham in the form of last year’s Martin Pipe winner Banbridge.

His Festival success in 2022 came over an intermediate trip, but he showed his adaptability when returning to Prestbury Park to land the Arkle Trial over two miles in November.

Banbridge, here ridden by jockey JJ Slevin winning the From The Horses Mouth Podcast Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham, has options open ahead of a return to Prestbury Park
Banbridge, here ridden by jockey JJ Slevin winning the From The Horses Mouth Podcast Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham, has options open ahead of a return to Prestbury Park (Tim Goode/PA)

Having stayed on strongly to grab second in the Irish Arkle at the weekend, the Owning Hill trainer admits the sensible thing could be to return to two and a half miles for the Turners Novices’ Chase next month. But the impressive nature of Mighty Potter’s win at Leopardstown means all options are being kept open for now.

“He stayed on all the way up to the line. He missed the last which probably cost him a few lengths as well, but we were very pleased with the run in what was an extremely hot novice chase,” said O’Brien, reflecting on Banbridge’s Dublin Racing Festival outing.

“We will keep his options open in both the two-mile and middle-distance novice chase (at Cheltenham) and a decision will be made closer to the time.

“From watching the race in Leopardstown it would suggest it makes sense to go up in trip, but then that looks a very hot race as well so we’ll keep our options open and a plan will be made after we’ve spoken to Ronnie (Bartlett, owner) closer to the time.”