Ratings Update: Cheltenham Open Meeting 2016

Though the jumps season has been rather slow to get going so far, with fast ground making for some smaller and less competitive fields, Cheltenham’s three-day Open Meeting (crucially run on rain-softened ground) did not fail to deliver in terms of both competitiveness and drama.

Chasers

The feature handicap of the meeting, the BetVictor Gold Cup, was a high-quality renewal with half the field rated 150 or above with the BHA, so it is no surprise that the winner Taquin du Seuil (161 from 160) put up as good a performance as any winner bar Al Ferof (2012) in the last decade when beating Village Vic (159 from 155) by a neck. Now two from two in handicap chases and with a good record at Cheltenham (won the JLT in 2014), Taquin du Seuil should remain competitive in similar contests.

Another notable performance in a handicap chase during the Open Meeting came from What A Moment (131p from 127p) who took Friday’s closing amateur riders’ race. He did well to see off a pair of last-time-out winners and had more in hand than the winning margin of two and a quarter lengths suggested (idled markedly in front after the last).

Viconte du Noyer (154 from 148) won an eventful BetVictor Handicap Chase on Saturday in which the loose Le Reve ran across in front of the field at the twelfth fence and was directly responsible for the departure of three runners. The winner – who avoided the trouble – has been quickly turned inside out by his new trainer Colin Tizzard and was tackling a marathon trip for the first time, having previously been largely campaigned over two and a half miles. Viconte de Noyer is clearly unexposed over staying trips and his trainer mentioned the Grand National as a potential target.

Victonte du Noyer's connections also enjoyed Cheltenham success with Fox Norton in Sunday’s Shloer Chase. Fox Norton had been bought privately out of Neil Mulholland’s yard following an impressive handicap success over the same C&D in October and, now Timeform rated 166, his new connections appear to have a serious Champion Chase contender on their hands. The Tingle Creek looks the obvious next step.

Novice Chasers

The highest-profile novice performance of the weekend came from current Gold Cup favourite Thistlecrack (149P) on Saturday. He fully delivered on his second chase start in ability terms, but there were some questions raised in regard to his jumping, which was perhaps a little too bold at times. He is reportedly likely to go for a novice at the Hennessy meeting next, and he remains a most exciting chase prospect.

Other notable novice chasing performances came from O O Seven, who instantly bettered his smart hurdling form on his first start over fences (now rated 147p). The way he surged clear near the end of a well-run race marks him down as a potential Grade 1 chaser down the line, for all that he hung right when out on his own up the run-in.

Le Prezien (146p) didn’t need to improve much on his good second at Uttoxeter on his chasing debut to win the Grade 2 Arkle Trophy Trial on Sunday, and despite his jumping lacking conviction at times, he remains with potential.

Hurdlers

The feature handicap hurdle of the meeting is, of course, the Greatwood, which was won by Dan Skelton’s North Hill Harvey (146 from 142). A second-season hurdler, he may have more to offer yet, though he almost certainly will need to improve again if he is to be competitive in the International, which is reportedly his next target.

Novice Hurdlers

A slow pace until two out means that the form of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Trial doesn’t quite come up to that of some of the best recent runnings of the race (won last year by subsequent Supreme winner Altior). That said, this year’s winner Moon Racer (133p) looks likely to be a serious contender for the Supreme, and is sure to progress again. Favourite Ballyandy (125p) was not well served by a patient ride and reportedly finished distressed afterwards, and provided all is well he looks at least as good a prospect as any in the field, especially with an eye to stepping up in trip.

In contrast to the Supreme Trial, the Neptune Trial on Friday had more of a feel of an end game than a graduation, and the winner Peregrine Run (135) – who landed a four-timer – may become overshadowed as the season goes on. West Approach (130) was seen to full effect in third, but will have a future over further (and over fences) in time given he's a half-brother to Thistlecrack.

Defi du Seuil (135p) won the first graded juvenile event of the season on Saturday with complete authority and was value for quite a bit more than the one-and-three-quarter winning margin suggests. He looks set to take high rank among the juveniles this winter.