Big end-of-season handicaps in mind for Threeunderthufive

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Threeunderthufive will be aimed at either the Coral Scottish Grand National or bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown having been scratched from the Randox Grand National.

Although a four-time winner over the larger obstacles as a novice – including twice in Grade Two company – things have not gone as smoothly for Paul Nicholls’ charge when tackling some hot handicaps this term, unseating at the first in the Coral Gold Cup before struggling to make his presence felt in both Warwick’s Classic Chase and most recently the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival.

Those performances have only underlined the belief of connections that a tilt at the Merseyside marathon may come a year too soon for the eight-year-old and he will skip Aintree to continue his big-field education either at Ayr on April 22 or a week later at Sandown on the final day of the season.

Threeunderthrufive with a stable hand during a visit to Manor Farm Stables
Threeunderthrufive with a stable hand during a visit to Manor Farm Stables (Adam Davy/PA)

“It was always the case we thought the National might come a season too early for him, but if he was to run well in the Ultima his mark would have gone up and he would have been well-in for a National,” explained Iain Turner, racing manager for owners the McNeill family.

“So when he didn’t (run well) and he was subsequently dropped 3lb there was no need keeping him in a Grand National.

“He will probably go for the Scottish Grand National or to Sandown for the bet365 Gold Cup.”

Reflecting on Threeunderthrufive’s eighth-placed finish in the Ultima, Turner believes the performance has been reflective of his season as a whole, with the gelding having to adapt from racing in small-field novice chases to the hurly-burly of some of the calendar’s most fiercely-competitive handicaps.

He continued: “I think for some of these novices coming out of novice chases, if you’re not going to be one of the graded ones it becomes a big leap to run in these significant double-figure field races.

“In novice chases Threeunderthrufive was able to get an easy lead with novices not wanting to go on, while in the Ultima you line him up with the intention of sitting in the first three or four and he’s taken completely off his feet. It was probably a credit to himself he’s managed to hang on and finish eighth.

“While it was disappointing and we hoped he would be competitive, I think the experience he’s had will help him be a better horse next year when he’s actually used to running in these bigger-field races and he can carry that experience with him.

“If we go to Scotland it won’t be any easier for him, but if anything, he’s going to be 3lb lower and he’s going to be learning and getting some more big-field experience.”

Noble Style to test Guineas aspirations in Greenham

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Gimcrack winner Noble Style is to tackle seven furlongs for the first time in the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes at Newbury as a trial for what trainer Charlie Appleby hopes will be a crack at the 2000 Guineas.

Appleby sees the outcome of a race over seven furlongs giving him options of whether to go up or down in trip for the unbeaten son of Kingman, a horse he describes as “going well and in great form”.

Having won on his debut at Ascot in May he was well fancied for the Coventry Stakes but an injury kept him off the track until he won at Newmarket at the end of July.

Appleby said: “He has done well from two to three and the plan is to go for the Greenham, because I didn’t want to step him up from six furlongs to a mile in the Craven.

“The seven and how he gets on will give me an indication of what we are going to be doing, whether that is dropping back to six for the Commonwealth Cup or going forward in distance to the Guineas.

“He was very impressive in the Gimcrack when he gave the impression there’s a lot of speed in that family. His maiden at Ascot is also very strong form, and he’s delighted me through the winter.”

Appleby conceded that he does not have an obvious flag bearer among his three-year-old fillies, and is hoping something may emerge in the coming weeks.

He concluded: “I have a few to run in the trials, and while there is no standout individual they have all done well and will not look out of place physically. Others will run in maidens and let’s see what transpires.”

Nolan rules Aintree out for Sandor Clegane

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Paul Nolan has ruled Sandor Clegane out of an immediate Aintree rematch with his Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle conqueror Stay Away Fay.

There were few stronger finishers at Cheltenham than the strapping six-year-old, who flew home from an impossible position to finish a length and a quarter behind the Paul Nicholls-trained winner.

A smart bumper performer, finishing second to Facile Vega at last year’s Dublin Racing Festival, he relished the step up in trip at Punchestown in November when sauntering to a 12-length maiden hurdle win.

Given a couple of months off, he returned in the Grade One Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown, where he finished third to Good Land.

Sandor Clegane appeared to improve again at Cheltenham, despite suffering little luck in running before powering up the hill under Sean O’Keeffe.

Nolan is in no rush to map out immediate plans, however.

He said: “He ran a stormer. We expected him to. I knew he was better than he was at Leopardstown.

“I know we can’t keep going on about it, but I thought he was a little bit unlucky. He didn’t get much luck in running.

“He got shuffled back to last nearly twice and he just wasn’t lucky, yet was only beaten a length.

“He flew up the hill and made more ground up than anything in the race.”

A tall, scopey individual, Sandor Clegane would appear to have a bright future, but Nolan is prepared to bide his time with the Kay Browne and Anne Coffey-owned gelding.

He added: “We will see the way he goes. He is on a wee break now. We won’t make any rash decisions on whether he will run again this season.

“He is only six, but at the end of the day he is born to run.

“We haven’t rushed him this season. We haven’t over-faced him. We had a plan and stuck to it.

“Unfortunately, it so nearly went our way at Cheltenham, but it just didn’t work out.”

Horse Racing – Hennessy Gold Cup – Leopardstown Racecourse
Paul Nolan (right) hoping there will be big days to come from Sandor Clegane (Niall Carson/PA)

Any thoughts of taking on Stay Away Fay or his River Don Hurdle conqueror Maximilian in the Cavani Menswear Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree were scotched by Enniscorthy handler.

“He definitely won’t go to Aintree,” said Nolan. “Punchestown would be the one place he’ll go if that happens, but I won’t make a call on that yet.

“He’s huge – he’s 17 hands and is bigger than you think. That’s why we hope he’ll get stronger. I was happy enough he’d improved going into Cheltenham, but for 10 horses to pull up in a Grade One, it shows you what a rough race that was.

“I think there is more to come, but you can’t keep saying this that and the other, and I’m not going to come out with the cliché that he’ll be better over a fence and all that. You live in the present, but we’re hopeful he will improve.”

Haydock hero Richmond Lake stakes Aintree claim

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Richmond Lake may have earned himself a place on Donald McCain’s squad for Aintree next month following a dominant front-running display at Haydock.

The seven-year-old carried the colours of the late Trevor Hemmings to a couple of victories over hurdles last season and was runner-up to the top-class Jonbon in a Grade Two at Haydock in January.

His chasing career got off to a fairly inauspicious start at Carlisle in the autumn, but he had since won at Wetherby and finished second at Ayr and he was a 5-2 shot for his return to Merseyside in the Bob ‘Few Scoops’ Kerslake’s 70th Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.

Ridden by Theo Gillard, deputising for suspended champion jockey Brian Hughes, Richmond Lake was sent to the lead from the start of the two-and-a-half-mile contest – and while he showed a marked tendency to jump left, he was accurate enough at his obstacles to keep the pressure on the chasing pack.

Ned Tanner attempted to make a race of it in the straight, but McCain’s charge ultimately had far too many guns and was good value for the winning margin of four lengths.

“That is just him (jumping left). We went to Carlisle for his first run over fences and it was a bit of a horror show to be honest because he does go that way, but he is a talented horse,” said the Grand National-winning trainer.

“I know he went that way again today, but he jumped like a buck and picked up really well.

“He’s got an engine and it’ll be Aintree or Ayr for him now. We’ll get him home and see, but I would have thought it’ll be one or the other.”

Fourofakind provided fledgling trainer Harry Derham with the 10th winner of his debut season in the Haydock Park Welcomes Racing To School Maiden Hurdle.

Fourofakind with connections after winning at Haydock
Fourofakind with connections after winning at Haydock (Ashley Iveson/PA)

Previously placed at Taunton and Newbury, the four-year-old was the 4-5 favourite to make it third time lucky on Merseyside and readily pulled 12 lengths clear of his rivals in the hands of Paul O’Brien.

Derham said: “I’m very pleased with how the season is going and I’m extremely pleased for this horse and the group of owners.

“There’s a few professional golfers in there, headed up by Ken Comboy, who is Graeme McDowell’s caddy. I met him at a Pro-Am 10 years ago, we’ve kept him in touch, he said he’d support me when I set up and he did.

“I’m going to take this horse to Ascot on April 2 now if I can. There’s a juvenile handicap hurdle worth a few quid and I feel like a competitive handicap can improve him a bit.”

The Molson Coors Juvenile Hurdle ended up being a match, with Alan King’s Tuddenham Green (evens) readily accounting for the Venetia Williams-trained Jolly Nellerie (4-5 favourite).

Winning jockey Daryl Jacob said: “He’s not a horse for making the running really and he just had a look at the first because of the nature of the race.

“We didn’t know how good Venetia’s horse was, but our horse is a nice stayer and I thought he was good over the last four hurdles.”

Dan Skelton and conditional jockey Tristan Durrell combined to land the Every Race Live On Racing TV Handicap Hurdle with 13-2 chance Alnadam.

Rated as high as 145 over fences at his peak, the 10-year-old made the most of a more lenient hurdles mark of 121 with a two-and-three-quarter-length success over the well-backed Hasty Brook.

Skelton’s assistant, Tom Messenger, said of the winner: “He had a bad fall last season at Perth and took a while to get going this season.

“We’ve gone back over hurdles and he ran much better last time and has done better again. He’s taken a bit of rebuilding this season and it’s nice to see it pay off. He’ll stick over hurdles.”

Equus Dreamer (6-1) galloped his rivals into submission in the Tim Molony Handicap Chase, making much of the running under David Bass and saving just enough to see off 13-8 favourite Your Own Story by half a length.

Equus Dreamer won the three-and-a-half-mile handicap chase
Equus Dreamer won the three-and-a-half-mile handicap chase (Ashley Iveson/PA)

Kim Bailey’s assistant, Mat Nicholls, said: “He’s never run over three and a half miles before and we said to David ‘make sure he gets the trip’. He was obviously confident!

“He’s always raced behind the bridle and when the second horse came to him, you just suspected he had something up his sleeve.

“He jumps really well and ought to improve, but he does want soft ground.”

Bailey and Bass doubled up with the visored Broomfield Present (8-1) in the Old Boston Handicap Hurdle, while the concluding Haydock Park Racecourse Handicap Chase went the way of Grey Diamond (100-30).

Marie’s Rock team sticking to three-mile plan at Aintree

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Marie’s Rock will pursue her planned step up to three miles at Aintree after a disappointing Cheltenham Festival performance.

The Nicky Henderson-trained eight-year-old was vying to defend her title in a red-hot renewal of the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle, but did not land a blow when coming home in seventh place.

Despite the line-up being especially competitive, connections felt the run was far from a true reflection of Marie’s Rock’s abilities and she was ultimately unsuited by how the contest unfolded tactically.

Both the mares’ race and the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Festival were under consideration, with her team eventually deciding on the former and a step up to three miles pencilled in for the Grand National meeting at Aintree instead.

Marie’s Rock winning at the Cheltenham Festival last year
Marie’s Rock winning at the Cheltenham Festival last year (Nigel French/PA)

That remains the plan and the JRL Liverpool Hurdle over three miles and half a furlong is next on the agenda.

“She’s come out of Cheltenham fine, it was obviously a bit of an unsatisfactory race,” said Tom Palin of owners Middleham Park Racing.

“They went a bit of a crawl and it was the first two home that had the correct set of fractions, they were well positioned throughout and then it became a bit of a sprint and that was always going to suit a Champion Hurdle winner.

“That’s racing, it was run in a manner which didn’t show her to the best of her ability but there’s nothing wrong with her, nothing’s come to light.

“She’s not had a hard time of things, Nico (de Boinville) looked after her once it became clear they were scattering away from her. We were weighing up whether to go up in trip at Cheltenham, but I still think we made the right decision as the ground was pretty testing for the Stayers’ Hurdle.

Trainer Nicky Henderson and Marie’s Rock
Trainer Nicky Henderson and Marie’s Rock (David Davies/PA)

“She will go up to three miles for the Grade One on Grand National day, the Liverpool Hurdle. It looks an exciting race, I think Champ’s going there and they’re talking about it with Blazing Khal.

“The trainer and jockey firmly believe that’s where we should be pitching her now, hopefully it’s good ground. It’s a nice, flat track and they should go a good gallop so she can settle for the first mile and a half.”

Though disappointed with his runner’s performance, Palin was still able to enjoy the poignant success of the now-retired Honeysuckle, who bowed out on a high in an emotional victory for Henry de Bromhead.

Honeysuckle's victory was a popular result
Honeysuckle’s victory was a popular result (Tim Goode/PA)

He said: “It was very deflating and disheartening on the day, but the story in the end was fantastic. It was a brilliant story for racing and that was about the best hour of jumps racing you should wish for.

“It was meant to be Love Envoi, Epatante, Marie’s Rock and Honeysuckle jumping the last together and may the best filly win. It was a bit unsatisfactory for us, but the broader outcome was great.

“The fact that we never landed a blow and we were never involved tells us it was a draw a line through it stuff, hopefully she’ll bounce back at Aintree and that will make next year’s plan very simple.”

Michael O’Sullivan basking in glory of Festival double

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Michael O’Sullivan is “greedy for more” success at the Cheltenham Festival as he reflects on a stellar week in the saddle at Prestbury Park.

The young Irishman – who had previously ridden in just one race at the Festival – enhanced his growing reputation with an impressive day one double at the big meeting.

Having held his nerve to produce Barry Connell’s Marine Nationale to perfection in the opening Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, he then navigated his way through the pack to strike aboard Gordon Elliott’s Jazzy Matty in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.

It was a day that will live long in the memory of the 23-year-old – whose services continued to be called upon by an array of well-known connections throughout the rest of the week – and one he hopes to repeat at future Festivals.

“It was brilliant, a great day,” said O’Sullivan.

“The first one was very important and then to add another was a nice bonus – it was a special day and one I won’t forget.

“It takes the pressure off. I was obviously very busy for the rest of the week so it’s hard to say you enjoy it as you hardly ever have a minute. But it certainly made the week overall more enjoyable all right.”

He went on: “You’re just greedy for more. After Tuesday I was definitely hoping I would get another one and it’s a bit of a bug – you’re just really greedy for more. I hope it’s not the last one I have anyway.”

O’Sullivan gave Marine Nationale an ice-cool ride when registering his first Grade One victory in the Royal Bond earlier in the season and he showed his steely big-race temperament once again aboard the unbeaten six-year-old – waiting until he had cleared the last before pushing the button to breeze past Facile Vega.

The Cork native was thrilled to see the horse that has helped forge his relationship with owner-trainer Connell thrive yet again on the big stage and, having won a Festival Grade One in facile fashion, is confident there is more to come.

Michael O’Sullivan celebrates winning the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle with Marine Nationale, alongside owner and trainer Barry Connell
Michael O’Sullivan celebrates winning the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle with Marine Nationale, alongside owner and trainer Barry Connell (Mike Egerton/PA)

He continued: “We were very happy with him beforehand. I ride him most of the time and I was delighted with him.

“The only worry was the ground, but his class got him through and he showed what we always thought of him and how good he is. He’s only going to get better and it was a brilliant performance. He didn’t have a hard race.

“You don’t let yourself feel the buzz until you are over the line, but going down to the last I was really happy I had Facile Vega covered and it was just a matter of jumping the last well. He quickened up nicely and won pretty easily.”

Impervious recovery key to Punchestown outing

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Trainer Colm Murphy is keen to see how Impervious recovers from her Cheltenham Festival heroics before deciding whether to pitch her back in against the boys before the end of the season.

The County Wexford handler is no stranger to success in the Cotswolds, with Champion Hurdle hero Brave Inca and Queen Mother Champion Chase victor Big Zeb among his five previous Festival winners.

Murphy retired from the training ranks in 2016, but three years later decided to renew his licence and he was thrilled to be back in the hallowed Prestbury Park winner’s enclosure on Friday.

“It was fantastic the way it all panned out on the day,” he said.

“When we came back, you’re only hoping you get a nice one, so we’ve been lucky that way.”

Seven years on from his last Festival triumph with Empire Of Dirt, Impervious lined up with leading claims in the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase on Cheltenham Gold Cup day after winning each of her three previous races over fences.

She looked like she may have to make do with the runner-up spot after being passed by hot favourite Allegorie De Vassy on the run-in, but fought back tenaciously to regain the lead and she was ultimately well on top at the line.

Brian Hayes and Impervious return to the Cheltenham winner's enclosure
Brian Hayes and Impervious return to the Cheltenham winner’s enclosure (David Davies/Jockey Club)

The Punchestown Festival at the end of next month appears a logical next port of call, even if it means she will have to take on geldings at Grade One level.

Murphy added: “Touch wood, she seems good. She’s come out of it well and we’re happy.

“We’ll see how she is over the next couple of weeks and then make a decision. Punchestown is still plenty of time away and she was fresh when we ran her in Cheltenham, so we’ll see.

“She might have to take on the boys, but so be it.”

Willmount to bypass Aintree and go novice hurdling next year

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Neil Mulholland’s Willmount will be saved for next season after a highly promising bumper campaign.

The five-year-old, who was a costly purchase at £340,000, won an Irish point-to-point as a four-year-old before changing hands and stables.

On his bumper debut and his first start for Mulholland at Doncaster in January he cruised home to win by 13 lengths, beating Nicky Richards’ subsequent winner Luckie Seven.

At the same track in March he was a winner again, taking another National Hunt Flat contest with a four-and-a-half-length victory when carrying 22lb more than the runner-up.

Cheltenham was never a target for the gelding and Aintree was only loosely mentioned, but connections have agreed that his season has come to a close and he will return for a novice hurdling campaign next term.

“We’ll just keep him for novice hurdles next year, I spoke to the owner last night and he’s not going to go to Aintree,” Mulholland said.

“He’s won his two bumpers, we’re very happy with what he’s done. We’ll put him away for next year and away we go.

“He can’t do any more, he won his bumper first time out by 13 lengths. The horse that finished second has come out and won a bumper since.

“We won his second bumper giving 22lb away to the second horse. Two runs, two wins – he’s done what we wanted.

“He’s a very nice horse, an exciting horse for the future, and we’re looking after him.”

Reveley in race against time to be fit for Roi Mage National ride

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James Reveley is still holding out faint hopes that he will be fit to ride Randox Grand National outsider Roi Mage at Aintree.

Reveley, who was crowned French champion jockey for a third time in December, adding to his previous titles in 2016 and 2021, has been sidelined after breaking a leg in a fall at Pau on February 19.

Now he is facing a race against time to be fit for a rare opportunity to ride in the world’s most famous steeplechase.

“I’ve got a fractured tibia and I’m on the mend, but it could be touch and go for the National, to be honest,” said Reveley.

“I’m looking to get back around Easter. My target is April 8 to be back riding.

“I’m actually getting operated on to remove a screw, as it has come a bit loose and we will see how things go over the next week to 10 days.

“You can’t rush bone injuries and I have the leg to build back up. I’m slowly getting there but it takes a bit of time and work.”

The Patrick Griffin-trained Roi Mage is a general 50-1 shot for the April 15 National, having chased home Longhouse Poet at Down Royal on Friday.

The 11-year-old carries just 10st 8lb at Aintree, having missed the cut for the big race by one last year.

Reveley has won on Roi Mage before and partnered him when a close-up third tn a Listed event at Compiegne in November.

Though keen to renew the partnership, he fears he may be fighting a losing battle.

He added: “It is up in the air, but I spoke to James (Griffin, assistant trainer) and we said we’d make a decision over the first couple of days in April as to whether I would be fit to ride.

“I said I’d love to ride him and I know the horse quite well. I think he’ll suit the track.

“It is in the balance. I would say it is more unlikely than likely, but you never know. We’ll see.

“I was looking forward to it. It is a shame really, because most of the years I can never ride in the National because it falls on the same day as the big trials in Auteuil.

“This is the first year it has been separate weekends, so if I can’t make it, I’ll be gutted.”

Lemaire has designs on World Cup glory with Geoglyph

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Christophe Lemaire, the French jockey who has carved a niche for himself in Japan over the past nine seasons, has made clear his desire to add the Dubai World Cup to his already enviable CV.

The Frenchman partners the Tetsuya Kimura-trained Geoglyph in Saturday’s renewal, a colt by Drefong who finished out of the money in the Tenno Sho and the Hong Kong Cup at the end of last year, before bouncing back with fourth place in the Saudi Cup.

Lemaire is encouraged that Riyadh was his mount’s first run on dirt and he explained: “I very happy with his trial in Saudi when it was his first run on the surface. It was a great effort, even though he tired in the last 100 metres.

“I’m hoping in the World Cup he can do much better than last time. It’s a strong race, but if he can grab a place it will be very exciting.”

Lemaire is also looking forward to renewing his acquaintance with Equinox in the Sheema Classic, following victory in the Tenno Sho and the Arima Kinen on Christmas Day in the duo’s last two starts.

He said: “It’s his first race outside Japan, but he’s settled in well and his demeanour is perfect.

“He won two of Japan’s leading races for older horses including the Arima Kinen and became (2022) Horse of the Year. He was second in the Derby over a mile and a half, and I’m in no way afraid about the trip for him. He will stay.”

In his time in Tokyo, Lemaire has learned to speak fluent Japanese as well as seeing the meteoric rise on the global stage of the nation’s racing industry.

This has happened to such effect that this year there are a record 27 horses representing the country at the World Cup fixture.

Lemaire said: “From a young age I always wanted to become a jockey, and it was a dream come true to establish myself in France and then to do so abroad.

Christophe Lemaire has every confidence in his Dubai runners
Christophe Lemaire has every confidence in his Dubai runners (John Walton/PA)

“You need confidence and hard work combined with that little bit of talent, and since moving to Japan I have become used to competing in their big racing events, while it’s always a pleasure to be on such good horses.

“I love to win cup races and especially to win the Dubai World Cup one day. Japanese horses like the track and the conditions, and usually perform well.

“It’s very important to communicate with the horse connections, in your daily life as well as on the racecourse, which is why it’s so good to have a reasonable grasp of the language.”