Gerri Colombe stays unbeaten with Scilly Isles victory

/by

Gerri Colombe produced a gutsy performance to land the Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown.

Gordon Elliott’s Irish raider arrived at the Esher track unbeaten, having won two bumpers, a pair of hurdles and two chases, the last of which came in the Grade One Guinness Faugheen Chase at Limerick over Christmas.

Sent off the 10-11 favourite under Jordan Gainford, the seven-year-old looked to be cruising behind Balco Coastal before taking it up down the back on the final circuit.

However, he got in tight at the last of the Railway fences and briefly lost momentum.

It handed the advantage to Nicky Henderson’s runner and jockey Nico de Boinville kicked for home.

At the Pond Fence, Gerri Colombe still had a bit to do and looked laboured, yet Gainford galvanised him and he responded to his rider’s urging and having gone upsides between the last two fences, a good leap at the last sealed the deal and he strode up the hill to score by a length and three-quarters.

Thunder Rock, who had been patiently ridden at the back of the field throughout much of the two-and-a-half-mile contest, made some late gains to finish third.

“We were delighted. We knew we’d be taking a risk going over two and half miles,” Elliott, who was at Leopardstown, told Racing TV.

“In fairness to the horse, he looked like he was beaten three out, but he stayed galloping really well. It was a good performance, we’re delighted with him.

“We were a bit worried that the ground was not as deep as it usually is, but Jordan went over and walked the track this morning. We knew it wasn’t as soft as ideal, but we knew we had to take our chances, being a Grade One.”

Coral were impressed by the performance and cut Gerri Colombe to 4-1 favourite from 10-1 for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Elliott added: “Before today I was thinking trying to qualify him for the National Hunt Chase. It looks like we are going to be tight for that now, but he looks made for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase doesn’t he? So I would say that’s where we’ll go.”

Owner Brian Acheson said: “He made a little mistake at the last of the Railway fences and he just got a little bit tight, but then Jordan got him back. It is great when you have got a kid like Jordan on as you have huge confidence in the jockey. It is a Grade One and you don’t win them that easily.

“I’d be looking at next season with him and if Gordon doesn’t want to go to Cheltenham I’ve no issue with that. Cheltenham is very hard on novice chasers. Next season he could be a Gold Cup horse.

“This has taken the National Hunt Chase out of the equation and it is the Brown Advisory or nothing. He hasn’t run an awful lot as Gordon had it in his head he could be a Gold Cup horse, but we have to keep him sound.”

El Fabiolo just fabulous under Daryl Jacob in Irish Arkle.

/by

Daryl Jacob gave El Fabiolo a perfect ride to win the Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase at Leopardstown for Willie Mullins.

Mullins held an enviable hand in race with Appreciate It, Dysart Dynamo, Flame Bearer and Saint Roi giving the champion trainer a stranglehold on the Grade One.

The Mullins camp all seemed to side with Appreciate It, with Paul Townend making him his selection after two faultless victories over fences.

But the nine-year-old, who has missed so much time with various injuries, found younger legs too much to handle in a contest that was run at a ferocious pace.

That was set by Danny Mullins on Dysart Dynamo and after only four fences good horses like Fil Dor and Visionarian were a long way behind.

El Fabiolo (9-2) did make a bad mistake three from home, but Jacob allowed him time to get back into his rhythm and by the second-last he was in pole position.

As he began to pull away, Joseph O’Brien’s Banbridge began to stay on strongly and he eventually got by Appreciate It and Dysart Dynamo to finish second, but some 10 lengths away.

The Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned winner went down narrowly to Jonbon over hurdles at Aintree last season and those two now dominate the betting for the Arkle at Cheltenham next month, with Betfair making Jonbon their 13-8 favourite ahead of El Fabiolo at 2-1 (from 7s).

“He’s just improving all the time. At the start of the year we were thinking maybe we should go out to two and a half (miles), but what he did at Christmas and again today it’s definitely the Arkle,” said Mullins.

El Fabiolo was still full of beans on returning to the paddock
El Fabiolo was still full of beans on returning to the paddock (Donall Farmer/PA)

“You could see every horse had a chance at different stages of the race. The one negative (was) when we made the mistake, but Daryl blamed himself for that, he said it wasn’t the horse’s fault.

“Then he came back on the bridle again and I thought ‘this horse is travelling’ and he just did everything right.

“Some very good horses were second, third and fourth so to win 10 lengths in that type of a race, he’s goes to Cheltenham with a real good chance.”

Simon Munir greets Daryl Jacob
Simon Munir greets Daryl Jacob (Gary Carson/PA)

On the owners he added: “They both (Munir and Souede) have a great appetite for the game and enjoy it. They both travelled a long way to be here at the Dublin Racing Festival this weekend so it’s fantastic that they’ve had a Grade One winner.”

Munir said: “I was very impressed. It’s only the sixth run of his life, so we don’t really know how good he is.

“We’re on a roll at the moment, but it’s still a long long season.”

Souede said: “We were very excited and we actually think the best is yet to come with this horse because he’s not that experienced.”

Gala Marceau gets the better of luckless Lossiemouth

/by

Gala Marceau caused a turn up in the Donohue Marquees Spring Juvenile Hurdle when turning the tables on her much-vaunted stablemate Lossiemouth at Leopardstown.

Owned by Kenny Alexander of Honeysuckle fame, Gala Marceau finished seven lengths behind Lossiemouth at Christmas and could be backed at 9-2 while Lossiemouth was sent off the red-hot 1-3 favourite.

However, the Willie Mullins-trained pair, although dominating the finish, did not cross the line in the order expected.

Lossiemouth’s race was lost at the third-last when another stablemate, the rank outsider Jourdefete, owned like Lossiemouth by Rich Ricci, made a mistake leaving Lossiemouth nowhere to go.

Paul Townend had to take his medicine on the market leader, briefly dropping back to last before circling the field on the bend.

It was to Lossiemouth’s credit that she still had a chance heading to the last, but the bird had already flown.

Gala Marceau and Danny Mullins were spring-heeled at it and maintained a two and a half length advantage at the finish. Another Mullins runner, Tekao, was third.

Lossiemouth is now 9-4 from 11-8 for the Triumph while the winner is 4-1 from 10s.

“Paul got into a lot of trouble, but the winner is a good filly and she’s improving all the time,” said Mullins. “Paul thinks he was a little unlucky.

Gala Marceau got the better of Lossiemouth
Gala Marceau got the better of Lossiemouth (Gary Carson/PA)

“That (same ownership) was the disappointing part about it. Paul said to me he got done three times.

“I just hope it doesn’t leave its mark that she had such a hard run from the third-last home. She put in a huge effort for a juvenile filly and that might just leave a mark.

“That’s what I’m really worried about and I would have been happier if Paul had maybe just been hands and heels. The writing was on the wall, so what was the point in hitting her.

“He has to have a go to try to win, but to me unless Danny’s made a mistake at the last he wasn’t going to get to that one.”

On the winner he said: “We thought she had every chance coming here today if anything happened to the other one. Lossiemouth had been working well at home, but Gala Marceau probably had more scope for improvement.

“She jumps very well and she’s a good filly.”

Lossiemouth looked an unlucky loser
Lossiemouth looked an unlucky loser (Brian Lawless/PA)

Ricci was philosophical and said: “She was hampered by my other horse! Take nothing away from the winner, but I’m disappointed and Cheltenham will be a different story.

“She lost a furlong when the race was really starting. It’s disappointing and we’re still bereft of a Grade One this season – hopefully we’ll get one tomorrow.

“I think Paul was trying to let the other horse know he was there, the young fella (Jack Foley) on the other horse just got his wires crossed, these things happen, it is what is and fair play to the winner.”

Good Land makes no mistake for O’Connell at Leopardstown

/by

Good Land got punters at the Dublin Racing Festival off to a flying start when justifying favouritism in the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors “50,000 Cheltenham Bonus For Stable Staff” Novice Hurdle.

Barry Connell’s seven-year-old suffered a mishap on his hurdling debut when unseating Michael O’Sullivan at the first obstacle but the pair soon made amends at the big Leopardstown Christmas meeting.

Connell and O’Sullivan had broken their Grade One ducks with Marine Nationale in the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse and with that monkey off their backs headed into the two-mile-six-furlong contest full of confidence.

Sent off the 3-1 favourite on his return to the Dublin track, the only doubt his backers will have had was if Good Land had done too much in the early stages of the race, as it was clear the pace-setting Weveallbeencaught – a rare raider from Britain at this fixture – was not going fast enough for him.

Sent to the front just before the turn for home, he had Sandor Clegane to see off and when he cried enough Absolute Notions began to close, but there was a length and a half between them at the line.

O’Sullivan, unable to claim his 5lb as the race was a Grade One, punched the air in delight and Betfair cut him to 5-1 from 10s for the Ballymore at Cheltenham.

“We were expecting that. He was a course and distance winner at Christmas and never came out of a hack canter,” said Connell.

Good Land with winning connections
Good Land with winning connections (Gary Carson/PA)

“He hasn’t missed a beat since then and we were very confident today. He’s a quick horse and we didn’t think he’d mind the ground.

“We only gave him one entry at Cheltenham in the Ballymore because we have the other horse for the Supreme (Marine Nationale).

“It couldn’t have gone better, he was maybe a fraction keen over the first couple but then he got a lovely lead off Nigel’s (Twiston-Davies) horse (Weveallbeencaught).

“He never missed a beat jumping, he got a lovely blow into him turning in. He hit the front probably plenty early and he was idling in front.

“I think we are still only scratching the surface with this guy. The big plus with him is that he’s seven years of age.

“We bought him as a four-year-old from one of the point-to-point guys and gave him a run in a bumper. Then he had a few issues.”

He went on: “It’s a big advantage for these horses to have that age on their side. He’s bombproof and you could see him walking around beforehand like he was at a kid’s gymkhana.

“Marine is the same, the two of them are brilliant. We are a small operation, we have 25 horses, and we’ve had two entries in Grade Ones this season and won them both.

“He’s not slow, I won the Albert Bartlett before with Martello Tower and it is quite hard on novices. I prefer the Ballymore, he could drop back to the Supreme if something happens to the other guy but I would need to supplement him.”

On O’Sullivan he added: “He’s a find, he’s ice cool and a brilliant horseman. He rides all of ours and I’m delighted. It doesn’t matter if he claims or not.

“The good thing is that he’s 22, he’s not 16 or 17. He’s been champion point-to-point rider and he’s got his college degree now. He has maturity on his side which is a big help.”

Blue Lord part of ‘double green’ raid on Dublin Chase

/by

Blue Lord is widely expected to provide Willie Mullins with a sixth successive victory in the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase at Leopardstown on Sunday.

The champion trainer has claimed each of the previous five runnings of the Grade One contest, with Min claiming back-to-back wins in 2018 and 2019 before Chacun Pour Soi completed a hat-trick.

Blue Lord, winner of the Irish Arkle on this weekend last season, appears to have taken his game to another level this winter, with a comeback success in the Clonmel Oil Chase followed by a comprehensive defeat of Chacun Pour Soi over the Christmas period.

With his Champion Chase-winning stablemate Energumene beaten in the rescheduled Clarence House at Cheltenham last weekend, this year’s renewal of Cheltenham’s two-mile chasing showpiece has a more open look to it and connections of Blue Lord are hopeful he can cement his status as a leading contender.

Anthony Bromley, racing manager to owners Simon Muir and Isaac Souede, said: “It is a great engagement for him. It is nice to go back to the course and distance he won over at Christmas.

“I understand he has trained fine for the race. We are really looking forward to seeing him again over two miles and hopefully all roads lead to the Champion Chase at Cheltenham after the weekend.

“The proviso is we have the option of the Ryanair at Cheltenham as an entry if we wish to try that instead. The Champion Chase division is now looking open and let’s hope for a good display like we saw at Christmas.

“He seems to have improved from his novice days a bit as well.”

Sceau Royal has been a fantastic servant to his connections
Sceau Royal has been a fantastic servant to his connections (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

Blue Lord is one of two runners set to carry the ‘double green’ colours of Munir and Souede, with Alan King’s stable stalwart Sceau Royal crossing the Irish Sea to take him on.

A high-class operator over fences and hurdles, Sceau Royal is not getting any younger at the age of 11, but will at least encounter his favoured conditions on the outskirts of Dublin.

“He is in the twilight of his career, but he had been running well over hurdles,” Bromley added.

“You can put a line through his last run in the Christmas Hurdle as he made a mistake down the back and Sam (Twiston-Davies) looked after him that day.

“But he is in good form at home and likes going left-handed over fences, which is why we wanted to go to Leopardstown – he was never even entered for the Clarence House at Ascot.

“We always do hurdles for the first half of the winter with him and then he goes chasing. Normally, the Game Spirit is where he gets his first chase run of the season, but I just thought this race wouldn’t have a big field and there is much more prize-money on offer than there is at Newbury.

“He is quite old to be making his Irish debut, but it is sporting of the owners and of Alan King to bring him across and he is in nice form and will like the ground.”

Mullins has a second string to his bow in the form of Gentleman De Mee, but he finished 41 lengths behind Blue Lord at Christmas and clearly needs to improve.

Dunvegan (Pat Fahy) and Fastorslow (Martin Brassil) are the other hopefuls.

Facile Vega faces toughest test yet at Leopardstown

/by

Facile Vega and High Definition are all set to take each other on in a Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle not to be missed at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Already odds-on for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, that price tends to be based more around what Facile Vega achieved in bumpers last season, including a stylish victory in the championship event in March.

He has won both starts over timber to date and the son of six-times Festival winner Quevega will be all the rage for the first race of the big meeting should he win again.

Assistant trainer Patrick Mullins rode him in all his bumpers and said: “I suppose he has his critics but that is probably based on the price he is for the Supreme, I don’t think anyone is knocking the horse for what he’s done.

“I was more impressed than most people at Christmas, more so because of Paul’s (Townend) body language, he didn’t really ask him to race until after the last and that form has worked out, both Ashroe Diamond (third) and Path D’Oroux (fourth) have won since.

“So I think that performance was a lot better than he was given credit for at the time.”

Mullins’ father Willie will also saddle another unbeaten runner in the race in Dark Raven who defied a 631-day absence to make a winning hurdling debut at Leopardstown, form which has subsequently been franked.

“He is a horse who doesn’t show us an awful lot at home but every time he goes to the track he looks a different animal,” said Mullins jnr.

Dark Raven impressed on his return from a long absence
Dark Raven impressed on his return from a long absence (Brian Lawless/PA)

“It’s a big step up in class for him but we think he’s more than worthy of his place in the line up.”

Il Etait Temps, who has four lengths to find with Facile Vega, completes the Mullins trio.

It is far from a Mullins benefit, though, with one-time Derby favourite High Definition, now with Joseph O’Brien, looking to add to his winning hurdling debut.

“We’re looking forward to taking on Facile Vega, hopefully he runs well,” said O’Brien.

“I think he’ll improve from his first run over hurdles, as he’s entitled to. The form has worked out well, it’s a big step up in class but we’re hoping for a good run.

“It’s a big ask going from a maiden straight into a Grade One, but at this time of year it’s kind of what you have to do if you’re going to go to the big Festivals.

“Hopefully he acquits himself well and we’ll have something to look forward to for the spring.”

Gordon Elliott has always thought a lot of Irish Point and he has finished second in two Grade Ones the last twice.

“He probably has gone underneath the radar a little bit, but he is a good horse, so we are looking forward to running him,” he said.

“It’s too early to say whether he will go for the Supreme or Ballymore, but he is entered in everything.”

Henry De Bromhead’s Inthepocket is another defending an unbeaten record having won at Wexford and a Grade Two at Naas.

“The Lawlor’s was coming a bit too quick for my liking as he’d had a hard race at Naas but we’re happy enough to look at two miles as well as he travels well in his races. I think it’s a nice race to run in and we’ll see where we are afterwards,” said De Bromhead.

The Ladbrokes Novice Chase is a rarity in that it is a Grade One with a non-Mullins favourite.

Mighty Potter has made a big impression over fences
Mighty Potter has made a big impression over fences (Brian Lawless/PA)

That honour goes to Elliott’s Mighty Potter, who has been very impressive over fences to date and in his career overall bar at Cheltenham in March when everything that could go wrong did.

Joey Logan, racing manager for owners Andrew and Gemma Brown’s Caldwell Construction, said: “He worked on Wednesday and is in top form – Gordon is very happy with him.

“We’re looking forward to running him, it’s exciting to be honest.

“It was always the plan to skip Christmas and keep him fresh. Hopefully it works out for us on Sunday and then we can go on to Cheltenham.

“If everything goes to plan he’ll have a strong chance.”

Mullins runs Adamantly Chosen, Gaillard Du Mesnil, I Am Maximus, James Du Berlais and Kilcruit.

Hollie Doyle hoping to make riding return sooner than forecast

/by

Hollie Doyle is expecting to be back in action in a matter of weeks as she continues to recover from an elbow injury.

Doyle took a fall from The Perfect Crown at Wolverhampton on January 17 and suffered a dislocated elbow as well as ligament damage.

The record-breaking rider has a timesclae of four to five weeks before a return to race riding – but still harbours hopes she can be back before then.

“I saw a specialist yesterday and he said things couldn’t be any better for the stage we are at,” she told Sky Sports Racing on Friday.

“I’m hoping within the next few weeks I’ll be back on track.

“I dislocated my elbow and ruptured both ligaments around my elbow – and fractured it as well – but thankfully it put itself back into place which was good and I haven’t had to have it operated on.

“I didn’t think it was broken, but I knew something wasn’t right. I’d never dislocated anything before and I had a sicky feeling so I was surprised when I found out I’d done the damage I did. It could have been a lot worse.

“I’ve been in Oaksey House everyday and they’ve been fantastic. The day after the fall I was there for physio, physically I was fine so I was keen to keep my fitness up.

“I’m probably their worst nightmare as I’m trying to force it, but time is a healer.

“Worst case scenario is another four or five weeks off, but I’m hoping to be back sooner than that.”

Treble delight for O’Neills, on Chepstow card with much to savour

/by

It was a day for old favourites and young bucks coming good at Chepstow on Friday, highlighted by a 171-1 treble for the Jonjo O’Neill yard.

Inch House, Monbeg Genius and Beachcomber maintained the popular trainer’s good form, the trio ridden by his son, Jonjo Jr.

The former edged out The Newest One in a driving finish to the Vickers.Bet Independent Family Owned Bookmaker Novices’ Hurdle.

Inch House/Chepstow
Inch House was inch perfect under Jonjo O’Neill Jr (Simon Milham/PA)

Inch House was winning at the third time of asking, but it was in the balance until the dying strides, with the 5-1 chance going on to score by three-quarters of a length.

The winning jockey said: “I think the step up to three miles would suit him and he is a chaser for next year.”

In another pulsating finish, Monbeg Genius (10-11 favourite) defied top weight in the Follow Vikers.Bet On Facebook Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase to beat Stormy Flight by a length and a quarter.

O’Neill Jr feels he could be one for the Midlands National at Uttoxeter in due course.

He said: “He is improving. He acted on the ground, but I would say he is better on softer. He idled a little bit after the last, but we were fairly trapping up the home straight and he was jumping nicely.

“I’m not sure what’s next for him, but the Midlands National might suit him, maybe. He wants softer ground than this, but it will always be safe at that meeting.”

Monbeg Genius/Chepstow
Monbeg Genius made it a double for the O’Neill team (Simon Milham/PA)

The treble was completed by Beachcomber, the 14-1 shot slamming his rivals by 16 lengths in the concluding bumper.

O’Neill said: “We thought he’d run well at Carlisle (on debut) but he ran shocking. We had no clue why.

“We gave him a bit of time. He is quite nervy but he could be a nice horse, hopefully. There are no plans. That was the plan.

“It has been a nice day, It would have been nicer had it been four, or five. It is nice when they are running well, they may not all win, but it’s good to see them running well.”

Two equine veterans also struck, with 11-year-old Skinflint winning for the first time under rules at the 17th attempt, taking advantage of bottom weight as he routed his 12 rivals.

Skinflint/Chepstow
Skinflint defied his age under Bryan Carver (Simon Milham/PA)

Though up in grade and with cheekpieces back on, Bryan Carver rode the 15-2 shot positively and the Henry Oliver-trainee powered away with a faultless round of jumping to score by 10 lengths from Ballinsker.

Age also proved no barrier to Max Dynamo (14-1), with the 13-year-old a runaway 25-length winner of the Vickers.Bet Handicap Chase.

Harrison Beswick, sporting the famous white, black and pink colours carried by the Wilson family’s four-time Cheltenham Festival-winning hurdler Willie Wumpkins, allowed the Emma-Jane Bishop-trained gelding his head and he fairly scooted clear in the three miles and two furlongs event.

Owner Melinda Wilson, wife of the late Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning jockey Jim Wilson, said: “It was not really expected. You hope, but he’s never, ever made the running before.

Max Dynamo/Chepstow
Max Dynamo led them a merry dance in the Vickers.Bet Handicap Chase (Simon Milham/PA)

“We said to Harrison to take his orders from the horse. He jumped himself to the front and you don’t want to take a pull. He’s only got one gear. He is maturing with age, like a fine wine.”

A young star also emerged in the shape of Doyen Star, who remained unbeaten and made every single yard of the running in the Download Vickers.bet App EBF Novices’ Hurdle under Adam Wedge.

The five-year-old Doyen gelding, owned by William Rucker, never looked in any danger as he led his rivals a merry dance to score by two and a half lengths.

The only surprise to trainer Evan Williams was Doyen Star’s generous 15-2 odds.

Doyen Star/Chepstow
Doyen Star defied a penalty to score readily under Adam Wedge (Simon Milham/PA)

“He might be a very nice horse for the spring,” said the Llancarfan handler.

“He has done it well within himself. He has a good way of going, he has a nice way about him. I’d been waiting for a bit of decent ground with him.

“I just think he’s got a little bit up his sleeve. He’d beat a selling plater the same as he’d beat a good horse. It will be very interesting to see how it all pans out for him.

“I wanted to run him, as he is in a few races at Cheltenham. He had to go and do something under a penalty to even warrant thinking about that.”

Algiers continues to make an impression in Dubai

/by

Algiers’ stock continues to rise in the Middle East after an unchallenged success in round two of the Al Maktoum Challenge at Meydan to form the highlight of a great night for James Doyle.

Trained by Simon and Ed Crisford, the hot favourite was drawn in stall eight of a nine-runner field and found himself pushed wide by his rivals.

Despite taking the longest route throughout the race, the chestnut was easily able to accelerate away from the rest around the final bend to prevail by six and a half lengths.

Algiers won the first Al Maktoum Challenge over a mile, but was showing his versatility over an extended nine furlongs and must now enter the reckoning for the Dubai World Cup.

“It was pretty good, I knew it was going to be a tricky race to ride,” Doyle said.

“It’s the furthest he’s run on dirt to be fair, he did have one spin up the hill at Jebel Ali and he didn’t look like he saw it out but these are different conditions.

“We just wanted to learn things today, we didn’t want to ride him that aggressively but he broke so well, I could have taken up the lead and dictated but I chose to come back a little bit.

“One pushed up and forced me wide and then he just over-raced throughout, the fact that he’s achieved what he’s done off the back of that, not being in the rhythm, goes to show he’s got a serious engine.

“This kind of race, it opens up options, whether it’s here or Saudi.”

Doyle also won the Group Two Singspiel Stakes on Valiant Prince and the Vazirabad Handicap on First Ruler, both for Charlie Appleby.

With The Moonlight and William Buick led a Godolphin one-two in the Cape Verdi after 167 days off the track, another winner for Appleby.

Appleby’s Frankel filly has not been seen since finishing second in the Lake Placid Stakes at Saratoga last August, prior to which she was the winner of the Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes at the same track earlier the same month.

After a lengthy absence the four-year-old took no time to hit her stride on return and battled with Saeed bin Suroor’s White Moonlight up the home straight to prevail by three-quarters of a length.

“She’s a really good filly and it was a nice place to start her back,” Buick said.

“She’s done very well, she’s taken on some race-fit fillies that set a very good standard.

“She’ll come on plenty for the experience and her first run of the year, it was good.”

Skelton forced to rule Shan Blue out for the season

/by

Dan Skelton’s Shan Blue has met with a setback which will rule him out for the remainder of this season.

A highly-talented Grade One-winning novice chaser, he had the 2021 Charlie Hall Chase at his mercy only to suffer a heavy fall three fences from home.

He was being aimed at this season’s Charlie Hall, but a minor problem prevented him from going there. He did make it back to Wetherby for the Rowland Meyrick on Boxing Day when unfortunately he was pulled up at halfway.

“Shan Blue has a complication in his pelvis. It is not a true fracture, or anything like that. It is just a weird situation, but it is basically going to rule him out for the season. It is very frustrating,” said Skelton.

“He has just never had any luck since that day at Wetherby when he fell. That is horses for you. You just have to enjoy them when they win.

“Those big horses, they are hard to come by, for the owners, for the yard. You put so much emotional investment into it. It is hard to detach from it and it guts you when it goes like that.”