Noel George doing father Tom proud, as Il Est Francais flies the flag in France

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Il Est Francais is a step closer on his French Champion Hurdle quest as the George continental foray continues to prove fruitful.

The five-year-old has become a flagbearer for the father and son French venture, winning three times under Tom George’s name before switching to a joint-licence held by his son Noel and Amanda Zetterholm.

Having landed a hat-trick of hurdle contests that culminated with a Grade One success in the Prix Renaud du Vivier in November, which he won by eight lengths, Il Est Francais then stepped out of his age group to take on the Grade Three Prix Juigne at Auteuil on Sunday.

Running for the first time under the name of his new trainers, the gelding was an authoritative length-and-a-half winner for Felix de Giles as usual rider James Reveley was ruled out after a fall.

The French Champion Hurdle – the Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil held in May – is the ultimate target and he may take in another outing along the way.

“I was delighted, he had to step up his game when going from his age group to open company but he did it impressively,” George said.

“He’s definitely going to improve for the race, he’s a very exciting horse for the future.

“He won’t be coming to the UK until the autumn, the French Champion Hurdle is the main plan. Whether or not he’ll have a prep race for that – there’s one in three weeks or one in six weeks – we haven’t really decided.

“He is bucking and squealing in the field today and we’ll see how we go over the next week or so.”

The Prix Juigne serves as something of a trial for the Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil, with Il Est Francais defeating 2022 winner Hermes Baie at the weekend and prior champions such as L’Autonomie and Paul’s Saga contesting the race en route to the summer Grade One.

“It’s the first big prep race for the Champion Hurdle in the programme at Auteuil and he managed to keep his unbeaten record in it, which is great,” said George.

“It was the first time Felix had ridden him and he got off him and said that he’s a very, very smart horse that’s going to be even better when he jumps a steeplechase fence. It’s very exciting to hear that when someone gets off.”

The horse is proving George’s French enterprise has been a worthwhile pursuit and is helping establish a family operation that runs on both sides of the channel and can open new avenues for horses handicapped out of contention in Britain – with the French-style hurdles also acting as a middle ground between smaller British hurdles and steeplechase fences.

“For horses that end up being badly handicapped, the programme out here is based on how much money a horse has won, a lot of horses can have won races in England and not picked up any money,” George explained.

“Also, for example, we ran a horse round Auteuil under dad’s name and he’d got a bit scared over English fences, but we ran him here and he just fell in love with it again.

“It gave him lots of confidence over those French hurdles rather than the high tempo of the chases we have in England.”

Prize-money is another great draw, with Il Est Francais the winner of over €300,000 in prize-money and premiums during his career so far.

“At the end of his four-year-old year he’d earned nearly €250,000, for what he’s won you’d have to be winning Grade Ones in England to be honest,” said George.

“It’s a great programme in that he’s been able to run against his own age group for a certain amount of time and he’s only just stepped into open company.

“It’s taken a few a years, I’ve had to learn the language and move away from home to a completely different lifestyle.

“To bump into a horse like him so early on has meant it’s not a difficult decision at all, these are exciting times and hopefully he can attract new owners and prove that horses are able to do it on both sides of the Channel for myself and dad.”

Le Milos leaves Skelton taking plenty of positives from weekend reverse

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Dan Skelton has Le Milos “perfectly where I want him” ahead of his tilt at the Randox Grand National – despite his annoyance the Coral Gold Cup hero was agonisingly denied in his Aintree prep at Kelso.

The Alcester-based handler made no secret of the fact he had left a bit to work on ahead of Le Milos’ run in the Listed Premier Chase on Saturday, but the 10-11 favourite looked set to oblige when his class took him clear of the field heading to the last.

Having been off the track since scoring at Newbury in November, fitness took its toll in the closing stages and despite hitting the basement price of 1.01 on the exchanges in running, Sandy Thomson’s Empire Steel ran on strongly to mug Skelton’s Aintree candidate in the shadow of the post.

Although disappointed not to leave the Scottish borders with victory, Skelton knows exactly how much of the screw needs to be tightened before he embarks on his Merseyside mission and is confident the eight-year-old will arrive in Liverpool at the peak of his powers.

He said: “It was a good prep run, but it was gutting to get beat when we were ahead three strides before the line – that was fairly annoying.

“That happens and I made no secret beforehand the horse was going to improve for the run. I did think five strides before the last that perhaps he might get away with it, but it was very obvious on landing that he took a massive blow.

“It is a bit frustrating to get beat, but you can see the horse is in great health and he jumped and travelled round there really well, which was just what I wanted to see.”

Le Milos and connections after winning the Coral Gold Cup
Le Milos and connections after winning the Coral Gold Cup (PA)

He went on: “We’ve got a bit of work to do now, which we always knew we were going to have, but he is perfectly where I want him in terms of Grand National preparation.

“That race will do him 10 per cent of the work and then there’s a few more per cent to work on, but I will make sure he’s ready.

“Corach Rambler is obviously one of the favourites and there are a few others in there, but we’re one of the more prominent in the betting from the English team and we will be going there to fly the flag and do our best.”

Snowden admits Ryanair would be ‘sensible’ shout for Ga Law

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Connections are still considering the best route to take with Ga Law – and whether the “sensible” option would be to run in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham next week and forgo a Grand National bid this year.

The Paddy Power Gold Cup winner is also in the Boodles Gold Cup, a race which offers Ga Law a potential route to the National in that a first-four finish would secure his qualification criteria for Aintree.

He is, however, a big price for the blue riband and much shorter for the Ryanair – and the dilemma comes as Ga Law needs a top four finish over three miles for the National after falling in the Sky Bet Chase, a race he was very much in contention for at the time.

Snowden said: “If he is going to be a progressive horse in graded races next season, then this is the year to have a crack at the Grand National.

Ga Law and jockey Jonathan Burke after winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup
Ga Law and jockey Jonathan Burke after winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup (David Davies/Jockey Club)

“But he fell at the last on his most recent start at Doncaster and even though the handicapper suggested he showed improved form over three miles, he is not qualified for the Grand National as he has not finished in the first four over three miles.

“The sensible route is to go to the Ryanair and forget about the Grand National. The Gold Cup is a seriously competitive race and we would have to run our heart out to finish fourth and if we did, it is only four weeks then until the Grand National.

“I think we confirm for the Ryanair and we confirm for the Gold Cup and we sit and wait until declarations and see what it all looks like and make a decision at the time. We have got ourselves into a tricky position, but a lovely position.”

Looking at options beyond the Ryanair, should that be the race he goes for, Snowden said: “If we went for the Ryanair, you could then have a look at one of the Grade One races at Aintree or the Grade Two Oaksey Chase at Sandown Park on the last day of the season.

“We don’t need to decide yet. We have the money in the bank from the Paddy Power and we can pay for the confirmation stage at Cheltenham and see what it looks like. We have come this far, so let’s kick the can down the road a little bit further.”

Mulholland in no hurry to map out Willmount plan

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Neil Mulholland is in no hurry to make firm plans for Willmount, who remained unbeaten when cruising to success in a bumper at Doncaster on Saturday.

The five-year-old, who cost £340,000 at Tattersalls Cheltenham February Sale last year, was a two-and-a-half-length winner of his four-year-old maiden point and duly won his first bumper in January by 13 lengths under Jamie Moore.

Willmount followed up on his second start for Mulholland with a convincing four-and-a-half-length win in the Virgin Bet Open National Hunt Flat Race, this time partnered by Sam Twiston-Davies.

Mulholland was suitably impressed and said: “We’ll see what happens. He had 22lb more than the runner-up (Broomhill Road) and they didn’t go that quick.

“He hit him once before the wings of the last and he went from one length clear to four and a half lengths clear in the space of half a furlong.

“I thought it was a good run, giving 22lb away to a horse who will probably win next time out.

“He only started to get going in the last half-furlong. They didn’t go that quick early on, because the ground was plenty quick enough.”

Though he does not hold an entry in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, he could be under consideration for Aintree’s Grand National meeting next month.

The Wiltshire-based handler is in no rush to commit Willmount at this stage, however.

“If he runs anywhere, he will run at Aintree, but obviously he’s a nice novice hurdler for next year.

“For any horse to win two bumpers is a good achievement. We know he is a nice horse and we’re happy with what we have and there is no pressure to run him.

“If there is a bit of rain around, that’s fine. But that was good ground at Doncaster.”

Mulholland is still pondering who will ride Lord Accord at next week’s Cheltenham Festival.

Though the eight-year-old holds an entry in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup, he is expected to line up in the Ultima Handicap Chase on day one of the four-day meeting, for which he is a general 12-1 chance.

Mulholland is mulling riders for Lord Accord
Mulholland is mulling riders for Lord Accord (Mike Egerton/PA)

Regular partner Richie McLernon is ruled out after suffering a broken leg and knee damage, sustained when Mulholland’s Crossing The Bar was brought down in a handicap hurdle at Doncaster in January.

The trainer is still sizing up options for Lord Accord, who won a Cheltenham handicap in October and was runner-up to Frodon in the Badger Beer Handicap Chase at Wincanton the following month.

He added: “We’ve booked nobody yet. I have to speak to the owners and see.

“Unfortunately, Richie McLernon is injured. I think he is hoping to be back for Aintree, but the horse is in good order and we’re very happy with him.”

Mullins taking every precaution in search of Cheltenham whitewash

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Last season’s Cheltenham Festival meeting was a Willie Mullins whitewash – and he is not leaving anything to chance in pursuit of something similar next week.

Having won a remarkable 10 races over the four days at Prestbury Park – taking his tally at the Festival to a record 88 winners – the Closutton handler revealed he has painted all the bars on his schooling fences and hurdles white.

White markings on the frames, guard rails and take-off boards replaced traditional orange colourings on obstacles at every British racecourse last year.

Willie Mullins has left nothing to chance at his Bagenalstown, County Carlow yard
Willie Mullins has left nothing to chance at his Bagenalstown, County Carlow yard (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

The British Horseracing Authority’s decision for the colour change, following guidance from experts at Exeter University into horse vision, came in the interests of horse welfare and safety.

In years past, Mullins has worked and schooled horses at Leopardstown prior to running at Cheltenham.

This year will be a little different, however. Speaking at the Dublin track to Racing TV on Sunday, he explained: “I don’t see much point in schooling here, if they all jump well.

“Unless someone comes round with a bucket of whitewash tomorrow and paints those fences, I don’t see much point in schooling over the orange bars.

“I’ve put in a whole new schooling operation with white hurdles and fences and we’ll do our stuff at home.”

Mullins is a stickler for details and knows that with competition so fierce at the Festival, every mistake is magnified.

He added: “Some horses could go down (and jump) over blue fences, yellow fences, it wouldn’t matter a damn to them – they are just that cool.

“Other horses will look at them from a half-mile out and they will see something different, so you never know which one, especially in the shorter races if you want to be up there and and have your position.

“You don’t want to have them looking at the first hurdle and backing off it or the first fence and backing off it, because you just lose your position and then at Cheltenham you are playing catch-up the whole time.

“Whereas round the country tracks or not at the big meetings, it doesn’t matter so much, as you’ll get your ground back much easier – but at Cheltenham, no one gives you an inch.

“So what you lose at the first hurdle or fence, it’s gone, you are not going to get it back.”

Mullins said his powerful string has taken to the painted obstacles well and is looking forward to the meeting, which starts on Tuesday week.

“They are jumping them every second day at home, so we’re good.”

He added: “Fingers crossed, toes crossed, everything crossed. We are very happy with how most things are.

“You are always going to get little upsets, but we still have another week to go before we travel. Things will come right, but nothing major.”

‘It’s all been good’ – Les Eyre bows out from the training ranks

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The career of Ebor-winning trainer Les Eyre has come to an end as he sent out his last runner on Saturday.

Based in Catwick near Beverley in East Yorkshire, Eyre has held a licence since 1988 and initially trained National Hunt horses.

Success came when switching to the Flat code, though his homebred mare Celestial Choir proved to be useful in all manner of races when winning on the all-weather, on the Flat on turf, over hurdles and over fences – landing the Dipper Novices’ Chase in 1998.

Prior to that victory Eyre enjoyed a famous ‘local’ triumph in the 1997 Ebor with Far Ahead, whom Tyrone Williams rode to victory at 33-1 in the valuable handicap contest at York.

Nigrasine, winner of the Listed John of Gaunt Stakes in 1998, was another high-quality horse Eyre handled throughout his career, which was punctuated by a 12-year stint in Mijas, Spain.

Whilst in warmer climes Eyre trained a winner of the Mijas Cup before returning to Yorkshire in 2014 to resume his career on the domestic front.

Recent highs have been provided by Just Frank, winner of the £150,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes at Newmarket in 2020 and now in the care of Tim Easterby, and horses like Bedford Flyer and Fame And Acclaim, both of whom will now be trained by Mick Appleby.

“There have been so many good days, the obvious one is when we won the Ebor but I’ve had many a good day when we’ve won a small race at Pontefract or Beverley,” Eyre said.

“They were less salubrious but just as good, I’ve always enjoyed trying to make people happy and a small owner was always just as important to me as a bigger one.”

Celestial Choir lives on at stud and is still happy and well at the ripe old age 33 having produced three winners from four foals.

Far Ahead (left) winning the Ebor at York
Far Ahead (left) winning the Ebor at York (John Giles/PA)

Eyre said: “She was unbelievable, she retired to an old owner of mine called Lady Jennifer Green and she sent me a photo only last week and she’s still going strong at 33 years of age.

“She went to Cheltenham favourite or second-favourite over both hurdles and fences.

“I think just about everything she’s bred has won, she was marvellous.”

Of more recent successes and of the support he has received from owners both old and new, Eyre added: “Just Frank won the big sales race and Bedford Flyer won at York and broke the track record at Lingfield.

“I have had some very loyal owners, similar owners since 1990s time, and then I’ve had newer owners come along with new ideas and new horses – it’s all been good.”

Sceau Royal sticking to hurdles at either Aintree or Sandown

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The ever-popular Sceau Royal is set to stay over hurdles, with connections mulling over a run at either Aintree or Sandown before the end of the season.

The Alan King-trained 11-year-old was at his enthusiastic best in the autumn, winning a Kempton Listed hurdle for the second season in a row before finishing a good second to Knappers Hill in the Grade Two Elite Hurdle at Wincanton.

Although struggling to make his mark in both Kempton’s Christmas Hurdle and when switched to fences at the Dublin Racing Festival, he showed his old zest when encountering spring ground in Fontwell’s National Spirit Hurdle recently – finishing just over a length behind the winner Brewin’upastorm.

Now he is set for one further appearance before the current campaign draws to a close – and having proven he now stays further than the bare two miles the Aintree Hurdle on April 13 or the bet365 Select Hurdle on the final day of the season (April 29) are possible options.

“He’s quite remarkable, isn’t he – to be 11 and still running to that level,” said King.

“We were delighted with the run and he was giving the winner 6lb as well at Fontwell.

Trainer Alan King hopes Sceau Royal sticks around at Barbury Castle for a little longer
Trainer Alan King hopes Sceau Royal sticks around at Barbury Castle for a little longer (David Davies/PA)

“We will freshen him up and regroup and he will either go to Aintree or Sandown. I think we will probably stay down the hurdles route with him now, he seems a little bit happier over hurdles these days.

“He proved at Fontwell he gets two and a half these days and he’s just a pleasure to train.”

A winner of 17 of his 50 career appearances, Sceau Royal is already well into the twilight of his career, with King appreciating a conversation will soon be had about his future. However, he is hopeful his admirable stable stalwart will stick around at Barbury Castle for a little while longer.

He added: “He will have one more run this season and I’m sure we will have a chat, but I very much hope we get him back for another year because he’s loving his training and he will tell us when he’s had enough.”

Cheltenham off the agenda for Chatham Street Lad

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Chatham Street Lad will not line up in the St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and has been ruled out for the season after suffering from lymphangitis.

As an eight-year-old, the Michael Winters-trained gelding was a 15-length winner over the ill-fated Midnight Shadow in the 2020 Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham and was subsequently fourth to Chantry House in the Marsh Novices’ Chase at the Festival meeting that season.

But he sustained a nasty cut when third to A Plus Tard in the Betfair Chase at Haydock 16 months ago which sidelined him until December, when he reappeared in a point-to-point.

The Vivian Healy-owned Chatham Street Lad won a three-mile point on New Year’s Day, but his latest problem – severe swelling of the lower leg – came to light after he was well held in a subsequent point early last month.

“He is not going. He has a problem with lymphangitis,” said Winters. “It is bad timing, so he is being left off for the season, basically.

“We were looking forward to it. If he turned up 100 per cent, he would be a danger to everything.

“With the ground and everything, we’ll give him a chance and we will leave it a lot to nature now.

“We have done a lot of supervision, bathing and minding and everything.

“We will leave him out now in a nice place, where the ground is nice and he has creature comforts, and maybe let nature take its course.

“All the little small injuries he’s had – it is exasperating. But he is a fine horse.

“He’s out in a field and he’s happy. As long as we can all retire that way!”

Samuel Spade key part of small but select Cheltenham squad for Pauling

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Ben Pauling has highlighted the claims of Samuel Spade in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, as he prepares to go in search of a fourth Cheltenham Festival winner.

Willoughby Court got the Naunton Downs handler off the mark at Prestbury Park when winning the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle in 2017, while Le Breuil in the 2019 National Hunt Chase and, most recently, Global Citizen in the Grand Annual 12 months ago have added to his tally at National Hunt’s showpiece meeting.

Pauling took a selection of his Cheltenham contenders to Kempton for a racecourse gallop as he puts the finishing touches to his squad’s Festival preparations, and believes he has “a fairly strong hand” in the Boodles and that Samuel Spade is “probably one of our best chances of the week.”

The four-year-old – who runs in the colours of Emma Palmer carried to victory at Cheltenham by Le Breuil – has won two of his three starts, impressing with a wide-margin success at Huntingdon most recently having chased home Perseus Way in the Chatteris Fen at the track on his penultimate run.

He said: “He’s done it the hard way. He was only bought in October and we’ve got three runs into him. His form has worked out superbly well – even the horse that finished second in his Kempton race (Chaos Control) won at Market Rasen by 20-plus lengths.

“He gave 8lb to Perseus Way at Huntingdon and was only beaten three lengths, and Perseus Way has gone on to be touched off in the Adonis since and is now rated 132.

Samuel Spade, who could dig punters out of a hole when he lines up in the Boodles at the Cheltenham Festival
Samuel Spade, who could dig punters out of a hole when he lines up in the Boodles at the Cheltenham Festival (Nigel French/PA)

“He is probably one of our best chances of the week and I’m looking forward to seeing him out again on the Tuesday of Cheltenham.”

Although he could be light of runners in the graded contests throughout the week, Pauling will be looking to make his mark in the handicaps and last year’s hero Global Citizen will lead the charge.

He added: “Global Citizen had a lovely prep race for the Johnny Henderson (Grand Annual) at Wincanton and he goes back there for that in the same form as last year.

“We’ve got a nice few to look forward to. Fingers crossed we are competitive and with a bit of luck we can pick one up.

“I think we’ve got a fairly strong hand in the Boodles, we’ve also got a strong hand in the Kim Muir and Shakem Up’Arry will be fine over two and a half in this ground in the Plate.”

It is set to be a family affair in both the National Hunt Chase and the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir where Jack and Gina Andrews will both partner a Pauling runner in each race.

Malinello and Harper’s Brook are likely to put their stamina to the test in the longer of the two contests which leaves Southern National winner Slipway and Anightinlambourn – last seen winning at the track in the hands of Jack Andrews at the November Meeting – to take aim at the Kim Muir.

“Gina and Jack Andrews will both have one in the three-mile-six for me and one in the Kim Muir,” Pauling continued.

“Slipway didn’t get into any sort of rhythm up at Musselburgh (in the Edinburgh National). He was an improving sort of horse previous to that and I think we just have to draw a line through Musselburgh. He seems well at home and has to school once more before he goes but I think he’ll have a very good shout in that race.

“Anightinlambourn likes the track and possesses plenty of tactical speed and could also run a big race”

Pauling also feels his Champion Bumper hope Fiercely Proud may have slipped under the radar following his Listed win at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.

Fiercely Proud ridden by Luca Morgan (right) wins The JCB “Junior” National Hunt Flat Race at Cheltenham Racecourse
Fiercely Proud ridden by Luca Morgan (right) wins The JCB “Junior” National Hunt Flat Race at Cheltenham Racecourse (David Davies/PA)

He said: “He has course form which counts for a lot. That race doesn’t appear to have worked out brilliantly yet, but I think there are reasons why a couple of the well-fancied horses that finished second and third in that race haven’t quite performed to the same level.

“He’s only four, but he’s improving all the time and his work at Kempton was superb.

“He will be dropped in on the day because that is how he likes to be ridden and with a view to picking our way through if they go a good gallop early which will suit us. I do think he will run well.”

Cobden full of hope with ‘best’ Cheltenham team for some time

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Harry Cobden believes he is going into the Cheltenham Festival with the strongest book of rides he has had for several seasons.

The 24-year-old is the stable jockey to 13-time champion trainer Paul Nicholls, for whom he enjoyed his greatest Festival success to date when landing the 2019 RSA Chase aboard Topofthegame – a race now known as the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.

Cobden’s other Festival triumph came aboard Colin Tizzard’s Kilbricken Storm in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle in 2018, with Festival rides since Topofthegame’s victory proving winless.

This season, however, the team at Ditcheat have high hopes for a string of contenders that include Bravemansgame, Tahmuras and Hermes Allen.

Cobden – who was stood down following a fall at Ffos Las on Sunday, but later described as “absolutely fine” by his agent Sam Stronge in a Twitter update – said: “Certainly in the time I’ve been at Ditcheat we would be going to Cheltenham with our best team with the likes of Bravemansgame, Hermes Allen and Tahmuras.

Harry Cobden after winning the King George VI Chase aboard Bravemansgame
Harry Cobden after winning the King George VI Chase aboard Bravemansgame (John Walton/PA)

“It is quite exciting and fingers crossed we have a bit of luck there this year.

“I think for the last few years there have not been too many stand-out teams we have sent to Cheltenham.

“We’ve had good horses like Politologue and Silviniaco Conti, but they were not Denman, Big Buck’s or Kauto Star, and whether we will ever see horses like that again, who knows?”

Despite a winner proving elusive, Cobden still feels the Nicholls runners have posted good performances but ultimately have not been able to get the better of horses trained in the big Irish powerhouse stables.

He said: “The last couple of seasons Paul has had 143 and 176 winners and we go to Cheltenham for four days and we end up having horses run well that put in career bests to finish third or fourth behind some Willie Mullins or Gordon Elliott-trained hotpot.

Trainer Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden
Trainer Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden (David Davies/PA)

“It can be frustrating, but I wouldn’t say it has ever got me down as you get off one and put your colours on and go back out for the next race. Racing is a great leveller as for 30 minutes you can be down then in your next ride you could have a winner.

“I’ve been lucky enough to have a couple of winners at the Cheltenham Festival with Kilbricken Storm and Topofthegame and they were amazing days. It would be lovely to walk away with just one winner from this year’s meeting.”

Bravesmansgame is Cobden’s hope for the Gold Cup, with the eight-year-old currently the leading British chance and second-favourite behind Willie Mullins’ Galopin Des Champs.

Last seen securing an impressive 14-length King George VI Chase success, the bay will tackle a three-mile-two-furlong trip for the first time in March – but his rider is not concerned about his ability to stay.

“I don’t think the extra quarter of a mile will be a problem,” he said.

Bravemansgame winning the King George VI Chase
Bravemansgame winning the King George VI Chase (John Walton/PA)

“He is a good traveller and I think I’ve learnt to ride him a lot better now. He was very good at Kempton considering how wide he went.

“To my mind the only question would be the track because he has won on a lot of big galloping tracks and he has never really been tested on an undulating course. He is a well-balanced good jumper so I don’t think that will be an issue.

“The Irish horse (Galopin Des Champs) is the one they are going mad about, but I think he has been overlooked.

“When he has come up short before he has always had an excuse, whereas on Boxing Day he had no excuses.

“I thought it was his race to lose and I thought he showed how tough he was from the back of the fourth last to the line. I was at him a long way out. He put his head down and galloped all the way to the line. He jumped great and was very brave.

Bravemansgame with trainer Paul Nicholls
Bravemansgame with trainer Paul Nicholls (Adam Davy/PA)

“I think the fact he has only had two runs and before going straight there will make a big difference this season as he has been specifically trained for this race.”

Cobden will also ride Hermes Allen, the general 9-4 favourite for the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle having won all three of his hurdles starts – latterly landing the Grade One Challow Hurdle by a conclusive margin.

“Hermes Allen is probably our best chance of a winner there this year. The only thing he did well at home before going to Stratford first time out was jump as he never really galloped that fast, but when he gets to the track he is a different animal,” said Cobden.

“I thought he was very impressive at Newbury in the Challow Hurdle. He jumped well and went a very good gallop on soft ground.

“He turned in and absolutely scooted away, he barely came off the bridle. It was probably one of the easiest Grade One winners I will ever ride.

Hermes Allen winning the Challow Novices’ Hurdle
Hermes Allen winning the Challow Novices’ Hurdle (Nigel French/PA)

“You are not going to get an easy lead in a Ballymore. They might go quick in front and I will have to sit in third or fourth and he might run free and run no race at all, whereas he might go to sleep and bolt up.

“He has got to raise his game again, but we haven’t got to the bottom of him so we don’t know how good he is. It will be a good race, but he jumps well, is quite relaxed and laid back. He is everything you want in a good horse.”

Tahmuras was the winner of the Tolworth at Sandown on his last outing and is preparing for another tilt at a Grade One title in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

“Tahmuras was very good in the Tolworth Hurdle and showed he had a great attitude. He missed the last couple of hurdles which he is unlike him as he is usually a very good jumper,” Cobden said.

“The only thing I would be a little bit conscious about is whether he is quick enough to travel all the way round.

Tahmuras and Cobden at Haydock
Tahmuras and Cobden at Haydock (Nigel French/PA)

“In a Supreme on soft ground I would fancy him. If it was a good ground Supreme I think he would be a bit on the back foot.

“The experts say he has got a couple of pounds to find on the top ones, but Facile Vega bombed out on his last start so it has opened the race up a little bit.”