Festival eyecatchers: six horses to follow from Cheltenham

Envoi Allen
Won Champion Bumper

Watching the familiar Cheveley Park colours in the depths of winter rather than at summer festivals was jarring at first, but Envoi Allen justified David and Patricia Thompson's decision to diversify.

The Champion Bumper winner came with a Flat price tag at £400,000, but has a perfect record since joining Gordon Elliott, progressing through the ranks each time.

The motor is obviously evident, and Envoi Allen should have no problems staying up to and beyond 2m4f. If he can match the cruising speed with an aptitude for jumping, then hopes will be high he is back at the Cheltenham Festival next year for one of the novice hurdles.
David Baxter

5th in the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle

The concluding Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle is always a competitive affair with almost every runner having a shout, but Cartwright lost all chance in the first few strides after a standing start cost him around ten lengths.

His rider Fergus Gregory did a good job to get him to latch onto the back of the field and although he never looked like winning, he made serious late ground to eventually finish fifth, 15 lengths behind the winner Early Doors.

Gordon Elliott is a master with this type of horse and there will be a handicap hurdle in him in the near future off his current mark in the mid 130s.
Tom Collins

Shady Operator
7th in Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase

The Joseph O'Brien and Mark Walsh partnership endured a turbulent week, and although he was well-beaten in seventh, I was really taken by the performance of Shady Operator on Tuesday.

His jumping was far from faultless, but he had an absolutely torrid trip round on the outside, which was made ten times worse when he was hampered at a crucial stage four fences from home.

The son of Court Cave plugged on really admirably up the hill and given that he beat the ill-fated Ballyward over 3m1f in December, he looks as if he'll be a much improved horse over further than that 2m4f trip.

He looks well-handicapped and next year's Ultima could be the perfect fit.
Maddy Playle

City Island: looked good in the Ballymore Novices' HurdleCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Won Ballymore Novices' Hurdle

Martin Brassil’s runners at the festival have been rare, but he knows how to train a good horse and he has one now in City Island.

This son of Court Cave had done nothing wrong, winning three on the spin including two maiden hurdles after being disqualified from his Galway win when he tested positive for arsenic, which was put down to a seaweed-based supplement Brassil had been using.

On Wednesday, City Island beat one of the major pre-race fancies in Champ, so the form looks solid and there were no excuses for the runner-up. It was an authoritative display from City Island under Mark Walsh, and hopefully they will elect to go over fences with him next year, as he has the makings of a lovely staying novice chaser.

It might seem a way off now, but he appeals as an exciting Gold Cup candidate down the road.
Richard Forristal

Not Another Muddle
5th, Grand Annual Handicap Chase

Not Another Muddle went into the Grand Annual with the profile of a horse who could still be ahead of the handicapper and he certainly shaped that way, doing well to finish fifth having raced keenly and jumped sloppily.

Had you only started watching as they charged down the hill you would have identified Not Another Muddle as the likely winner, so powerfully was he moving after jumping the third-last. However, his earlier blemishes were always likely to take a toll and he was unable to sustain the effort up the hill.

The Grand Annual always poses a stern examination of a horse's jumping and while Not Another Muddle failed to pass the test it is worth remembering he was making just his fifth chase start and remains unexposed.
Tony McFadden

Won RSA Chase

The RSA Chase was built up around the big three – and the big three proved to be the best three, with Topofthegame enhancing his reputation significantly thanks to a victory that was easy to admire on many levels.

Topofthegame, Santini and Delta Work all moved effortlessly through the race. Cards still had to be played as the star trio swung off the final bend, but it was Topofthegame who came off the bridle last and it was Topofthegame who then found most under pressure.

Topofthegame (Harry Cobden) wins the RSA Chase Cheltenham 13.3.19 Pic: Edward WhitakerCredit: Edward Whitaker

Connections have long thought of the giant seven-year-old as a Gold Cup horse. This confirmed that belief to be true.

Going into the race some doubted his stamina, but the manner in which he soared over the final fence and then repelled Santini confirmed this trip was not a problem. The extra distance of the Gold Cup should also be well within his reach.

Given his enormous scope and the fact he has only three completed chase starts to his name, the Paul Nicholls-trained novice can only get better. That means by this time next year Topofthegame could be top of the tree.
Lee Mottershead

Use the Racing Post Horse Tracker to get email alerts for entries and declarations. Track up to 1,000 horses