'He can go far over hurdles' - high hopes for Allmankind in Triumph trial

For a horse to do as much wrong on his first start over hurdles as Allmankind did and still win by 37 lengths in a canter, says much for the raw talent he has for this discipline.

A good handicapper on the Flat, Allmankind could scale even greater heights for owners Bill and Tom Gredley over hurdles, albeit much will depend on the skills of trainer Dan Skelton and rider Harry Skelton in getting the three-year-old to calm down in his races.

Allmankind makes his second start over hurdles in the Grade 2 JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial Juvenile Hurdle (12.40) at Cheltenham on Saturday and Dan Skelton is eager to see his charge in action again.

He said: “If he settles there's no reason why he won't go a long way over hurdles. He jumped very nicely at Warwick and won eased down, although I'm not sure about the quality of the form.

"He didn't take much out of himself that day and he deserves to be in a race like this, but I don't know about the ground.”

Allmankind is one of a number of horses who bring winning form into the race, including Botox Has and Prefontaine.

Josh Moore: 'I’m confident he has a nice chance”Credit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

The duo have met once before, with Botox Has coming out on top, although Prefontaine went one better himself when winning impressively at Kempton last time.

Josh Moore partners Botox Has for his father Gary, and said: “We’re very happy with him. He’s working nicely and we think he’s strengthened up since winning at Fontwell. I believe he’ll handle the ground, it’s just how well he’ll handle it at this stage in his career. I’m confident he has a nice chance.”

Keeping Prefontaine focused on the task at hand is the main job for jockey Jonjo O’Neill Jnr, who rides the grey for his father Jonjo O’Neill.

The trainer said: “No doubt he's got ability but he does think about it a little bit and the blinkers helped him when he was off the mark at Kempton last time. This is a step up in grade and we'll see where we stand with him.”

Four of the seven declared runners for the mallardjewellers.com Novices’ Chase (1.15) clashed at Cheltenham last month, with Wholestone doing the best of them in second behind Mulcahys Hill.

Mulcahys Hill gets the better of Wholestone to win the 3m½f novice chase at Cheltenham on FridayCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies reaches for cheekpieces as he aims to maintain the eight-year-old’s advantage over Minella Warrior, Rockpoint and Aye Aye Charlie.

He said: “He ran a really good race last time and if he performs like that again he should win. He hung a little that day, so we're hoping cheekpieces should keep him straight.”

The ground is likely to play a key role in the chances of Rockpoint and Minella Warrior, with connections voicing different views as to how it may help or hinder their runners.

Kim Bailey is less keen on the going for Minella Warrior, and said: “I'm worried about the ground as he's theoretically a good-ground horse, but he ran well there last time and he's come on a bit for that.”

Colin Tizzard, however, believes Rockpoint can handle the ground and said: “He didn't run a bad race last time. He will have improved for that and the ground will be fine for him. He has place claims.”

The ground is unlikely to be an issue for Poker Play either, with his trainer David Pipe confident they will suit his runner.

He said: “He'll love the conditions. We had wanted to run him over two and a half miles on Friday but that was called off, so we're trying him over three. It's competitive and his penalty doesn't help but he's in good shape.”

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