More to come from Farclas after courageous win in Triumph

Benatar
Third, JLT Novices’ Chase, 2m4f, Cheltenham, Thursday, March 15
This six-year-old lost his unbeaten record over fences, but he did remarkably well to finish third. He pulled hard for the first five fences and refused to settle and then he made a few minor errors on the way round. However, he still found enough at the end to pull away from his main rivals for third. This performance has to be upgraded and he is clearly a smart prospect once he learns to drop the bridle.

The big, rangy Shattered Love looked fabulous in the paddock and produced a really impressive performance. Her jumping was good throughout and she showed a smart turn of pace to pull away from her rivals.

The favourite Terrefort looked in tip-top shape and raced prominently throughout, but he was always going to play second fiddle once joined by the winner. The five-year-old has made rapid progress in the last couple of months given his age and I am sure he can win another Grade 1 in the near future.

Kemboy, who was fitted with earplugs, is not the biggest and made a horrendous blunder at the ninth, which stopped him in his tracks.

Finian’s Oscar glowed with health in the paddock and had skin like a seal. Sporting a pair of cheekpieces and after wind surgery, he seemed to travel and jump with fluency, but earlier in the season I wrote that he had been asked to do too much in a short space of time and he still needs a break.

Invitation Only looked grand beforehand, but I never felt he was travelling with the same fluency we had seen last time even before he fell.

Balko Des Flos
Winner, Ryanair Chase, 2m5f, Cheltenham, Thursday
This chestnut gelding looked ready for action and produced the best run of his career to lift this Grade 1. Settled behind the leaders, he always seemed to be doing things relatively easily and the race was over once he made his move. He bounded up the hill to win fairly comfortably.

The defending champion Un De Sceaux could not have looked any better. Sporting his customary earplugs, he tracked the leaders until he took the lead with a circuit to go and jumped with his usual exuberance, but he couldn’t repel the winner in the closing stages. Maybe 2m5f on really testing ground just stretches his stamina to the limit.

Cloudy Dream, who looked the part, ran through to pick up the pieces in third.

Cue Card looked in rude health, but his exertions at Ascot last time out had clearly taken the edge off him and he never travelled.

Penhill
Winner, Stayers’ Hurdle, 3m, Cheltenham, Thursday
Last year’s Albert Bartlett winner had been off the track since his novice days but looked to have done plenty of work and, in a slowly run race, his Flat speed was always going to be a crucial factor. Held up out the back, he moved through the field after clearing the third-last and it was clear Paul Townend had plenty of horse underneath him. Once he had cleared the last he settled the matter in a couple of strides.

Supasundae, who was on his toes, stepped up on his Coral Cup win to run a cracker in second. He had every chance approaching the last but the winner had a better turn of foot.

Course specialist Wholestone ran a marvellous race in third. He never seems to run a bad race around here.

Sam Spinner, who looked very fit, was not helped by his jockey setting a steady pace and was always going to be a sitting duck out in front.

Yanworth looked great but didn’t seem to fire in the closing stages.
The Worlds End was the paddock pick, but the ground was all against him. Three miles around Aintree on good ground should be right up his street.

The unlucky horse was Bacardys, who was running a good race but struggled to find room and then crumpled on landing at the last having jumped it cleanly. I think he might have been placed.