Five key takeaways from Cheltenham's International meeting

Pentland Hills deserves another chance

Pentland Hills might have failed to enhance his Champion Hurdle credentials in the Unibet International, but he is not one to give up on.

Although last season's outstanding juvenile could finish only fifth behind stablemate Call Me Lord, there were reasons to be positive as he travelled strongly before fading up the hill on ground softer than ideal.

His keenness in the early stages told at the finish, but his jumping was as slick as ever and he can be expected to improve for his first run since April.

Pentland Hills was pushed out to 10-1 for the Champion Hurdle, but Henderson was far from downbeat about the performance and it's too early to dismiss his prospects.

Henderson gearing up for a very merry Christmas

Nicky Henderson dominated Cheltenham's International meeting with five winners across the two days.

A Friday double with Chantry House and Pym was bettered on Saturday with Mister Fisher, Call Me Lord and Dame De Compagnie providing the trainer with a treble.

Chantry House: one of five winners for Nicky Henderson across the two daysCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Christmas is traditionally a merry time at Seven Barrows as powerful teams are readied for Ascot's two-day meeting next week and Kempton's Christmas meeting on December 26 and 27.

With Henderson in such blistering form, his festive runners look worth following.

Pipe bites back after Warthog bares his teeth

After a couple of lean years at Pond House David Pipe was back in the big time after Warthog's gutsy victory in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup.

The Pipe name is synonymous with valuable handicap victories at Cheltenham, not least in this Grade 3 which was worth £130,000 this year.

Pipe won the race early in his career with Tamarinbleu in 2007, following on from father Martin's two victories in the 1990s.

Major successes have not flowed with the usual ferocity of late – Warthog's win was Pipe's most valuable since Vieux Lion Rouge landed the 2016 Becher Chase – so the trainer would have been delighted to see his grey get back up from Spiritofthegames close home.

Botox strengthens Moore's juvenile hand

Gary Moore has already unleashed the best juvenile so far this season in Goshen and he boosted his JCB Triumph Hurdle options when Botox Has won Cheltenham's key trial.

After making all under the trainer's son Josh as the 8-11 favourite, Botox Has had his Triumph prices cut to 20-1 (from 33-1) by Paddy Power.

Botox Has gives the last flight plenty of air in the Triumph Hurdle TrialCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

The French recruit put in a big jump at the last and drifted left on the run-in but he stuck on well at the finish, leaving the impression there is plenty for Moore to work with.

O'Brien shows no signs of slowing down

One of the key themes of the season has been the relentless form of Fergal O'Brien.

Cheltenham has been a particularly happy hunting ground and O'Brien was back in the famous winner's enclosure courtesy of Friday winner Goodbye Dancer.

The trainer came close to gaining another notable success when Champagne Well was just run out of it in Saturday's Grade 2 novice hurdle.

Since the start of September, O'Brien has operated at a strike-rate of 40 per cent (35-113), which is all the more remarkable when you consider he moved stables during that time.

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