40-1 for the festival is too big for this Nigel Twiston-Davies prospect

Weveallbeencaught
Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, March 17
1pt each-way at 40-1 with bet365

One horse caught my eye more than any other at Cheltenham's November meeting and he strikes me as a big price for festival glory even at this ridiculously early stage.

What we saw off and on the track makes me think Nigel Twiston-Davies has another potential superstar on his hands with Weveallbeencaught.

The trainer tends to almost exclusively handle robust, thick-set chasing types and the gigantic son of Getaway cut a similar figure to veteran Ballyandy and Greatwood winner I Like To Move It in the paddock.

He looked to be carrying a little condition, which perhaps explains why he drifted out to 9-1 at one stage, and he should have plenty of improvement to come as just a five-year-old.

He was bought for £210,000 in January after winning a Dromahane point-to-point and it is testament to his ability he was sharp enough to win a decent bumper at Newbury in March.

It prompted his usually reserved trainer to compare him to his 2010 Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander, and while he has a long way to go to match him, Friday's effort was a step in the right direction.

Connections showed how highly they thought of him by pitching him into Grade 2 company for his first try over hurdles, and although he didn't win he justified their confidence with a promising performance.

Weveallbeencaught overcame a mistake at the first hurdle and, despite becoming outpaced down the hill, responded powerfully to his rider's urgings to storm past Hubrisko and nearly join Music Drive at the line.

The form shows he has taken a giant leap forward from his bumper run as this time Collectors Item, who was just half a length behind at Newbury, faded 22 lengths into the distance.

We saw with Hillcrest last year how imposing horses can come unstuck by their jumping, but Weveallbeencaught warmed to the task ably at Cheltenham and, unlike Trevor Hemmings' charge, has point-to-point experience under his belt.

Chasing is sure to be his game eventually but there is no reason why he can't make up into a super staying novice hurdler beforehand, particularly considering the mix of speed and stamina in his pedigree.

Blaklion and Wholestone both placed in the same race prior to competing at Grade 1 level for Twiston-Davies and it would be disappointing if this youngster didn't end up just as good.

Those two horses went on to win the Grade 2 novice hurdle registered as the Bristol Novices' Hurdle at next month's International meeting, and the step up to three miles on the more galloping New course is almost guaranteed to bring out further improvement in Weveallbeencaught.

Odds of 40-1 are available for the Albert Bartlett at the festival in March, a price that would surely tumble were he to register a first hurdles success in three and a half weeks' time.

Cannon's initiative reaps rewards

The tighter inner circuit of Cheltenham's Old course often seems to favour those who can establish an efficient early rhythm, and so it proved last week when nine of the 18 winners made most, if not all.

Perhaps it was due to the ground, which was watered to maintain its good description throughout the three days, while fitness may have also played a vital part.

In-form trainer Paul Nicholls recently said he likes his horses to be ridden aggressively and we have seen Greaneteen and Frodon defy big weights from the front in recent weeks.

His Hermes Allen certainly did not take any prisoners on Friday, and while you could argue fellow open company winners Banbridge and Nube Negra were simply a class apart regardless of tactics, four of the 11 handicaps were won by horses who raced from the front.

Chris Gordon: two winners at CheltenhamCredit: Edward Whitaker

Trainer Chris Gordon enjoyed a particularly strong meeting and both of his runners dominated under Tom Cannon, who perhaps hasn't got the credit he deserves for two fabulous rides.

The jockey showed initiative to press on from an early stage in Saturday's 3m handicap hurdle even though his mount, Annual Invictus, had been beaten 20 lengths on his only previous try over the trip under rules.

The pair fought off all-comers from the back for a brave success, while Unanswered Prayers was similarly valiant in the 2m4f novice handicap chase on Friday.

The six-year-old had the form in the book to suggest he could triumph off a mark of 126 as he had finished a creditable fifth in the Silver Trophy last month, but a starting price of 9-4 could have looked short on chasing debut.

However, Cannon wasn't afraid to ask for some hefty jumps and his partner obliged in willing style. He began to come under pressure at the top of the hill but his decision to bag the inside running rail paid off as it forced the strong-travelling types to challenge wider.

The closing stages represented a triumph for stamina and heart as Unanswered Prayers put his head down to deny the quirky Railway Hurricane by a three-quarters of a length, and the charming success was one of my highlights of the meeting.

The winner will be on my shortlist wherever he turns up next and has the scope to reach a decent level over fences, particularly over three miles.

Read more from the Weekender . . .

Graeme Rodway: Paul Nicholls is the man to follow outside March – as he showed at Cheltenham (Members' Club)

Paul Kealy: 'He has to be the bet' – top tipster is taking on A Plus Tard (Members' Club)

Tom Segal: 'She has everything going for her' – Pricewise with two Cheltenham Festival bets (Members' Club)

Alan King: I couldn't risk damaging Edwardstone – but fingers crossed we can run at Ascot (Members' Club)

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