Ratings Update: Fiddlerontheroof lays down his Cheltenham credentials

Champ (154p) was in the process of putting up another striking performance in the Dipper Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day, appearing to have matters firmly in hand when he endured a crashing fall two out. His exit was a function of how strongly he was motoring at the time rather than any flawed technique, and he remains one of the very best chasing prospects on the scene; he was rated as a five-length winner. The fortuitous winner Midnight Shadow (up 3 lb to 144p) deserved to have something go his way over fences, but the runner-up was beaten in a novice handicap the time before from a mark of only 129, which puts the form into context.

The Relkeel Hurdle later on the card was a messy contest, run at a slower gallop and in a slower overall time than the opening listed novice, which itself wasn't a true test. The winner Summerville Boy (151) proved connections’ decision to switch him back to hurdles the right one, though he did gain a sizeable advantage at the start, his jockey keen to get a flyer in a race that didn’t have any other obvious front runner.  However, he still produced by far his best round of jumping to date and demonstrated that all his battling qualities remain intact, readily despatching of the smart Roksana (149). Cheltenham clearly suits him well – he won the Supreme in 2018 – and a crack at the Stayers’ Hurdle and Paisley Park is sure to be on the cards.

Class act - Summerville Boy bounces back and lands the Relkeel, his first hurdles success since Supreme glory for @TomGeorgeRacing at @CheltenhamRaces

Results ➡ https://t.co/glajGV55GR pic.twitter.com/SHTubszoRD

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) January 1, 2020

The 2019 Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo (174) made his seasonal reappearance on the same day at Tramore. He was sent off the 7/4-on favourite to win Tramore’s biggest race for the second year in succession and duly got the job done with the minimum of fuss, going with plenty of enthusiasm and jumping well in the main as he gave weight and a comprehensive beating to stablemate Acapella Bourgeois (153). Connections were understandably pleased with the manner of his success and the outing should set him up nicely for his bid to become the first horse since Best Mate to win back-to-back renewals of the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The manner in which Fiddlerontheroof (up 10 lb to 144p) and Jeremys Flame (up 1 lb to 127) spread-eagled a field containing several other promising sorts that had been well bunched turning for home suggests it was a strong renewal of the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown on Saturday, an opinion also backed up by the time. The level of form is not dissimilar to that achieved by subsequent Cheltenham Festival winners Yorkhill and Summerville Boy in recent years. Fiddlerontheroof’s strength in the betting prior to the race was almost as taking as his performance, the six-year-old powering clear on the run-in without jockey Robbie Power having to pick up his whip. He has the option of either the Supreme or the Ballymore at the Cheltenham Festival – he is unlikely to be seen out before then – and he'd be a leading player in either, still open to further improvement as a hurdler.

"I'd be very surprised if this horse doesn't go for the Supreme."

Agree with @thebedfordfox about Fiddlerontheroof? #TheVerdict pic.twitter.com/NXYfgG0taJ

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) January 6, 2020

Earlier on the card, Palladium (118p) was more or less gifted the juvenile hurdle, with one of his trio of rivals falling at the first before proceeding to interfere with the other pair at various stages. In truth, he was likely much the best horse in the race anyway and had little trouble opening his account, for all he briefly shaped to run out onto the chase course entering the straight. The time was much slower than both the Tolworth and the good handicap at the end of the card, but Palladium is in excellent hands and has the scope to progress further over hurdles.

Thirty minutes later, Indefatigable's flop paved the way for an ultimately routine success for her main market rival Silver Forever (up 10 lb to 138) in the listed mares’ hurdle. The proximity of the front-running outsider in a falsely-run affair limits the level of the form, but Silver Forever looked at home over the longer trip, going well when produced to lead before the last and just shaken up to assert. However much winning this ended up taking, it is worth noting just how strong she was in the market against an established rival with useful handicap form in Indefatigable.

The Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle has been dominated by the powerhouse yards of Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins since the race was accorded Grade 1 status in 2015, and Envoi Allen (152P) and Elixir d’Ainay (up 7 lb to 136p) had this year’s renewal between them from the outset at Naas on Sunday. The former made no mistake in landing the odds on his first start at two and a half miles, not needing to improve on the form of his Royal Bond win last month but looking comfortable at the new trip nonetheless. Bookmakers were quick to slash Envoi Allen’s odds for the Ballymore at the Cheltenham Festival, which is still his most likely target, but, with the Champion Hurdle picture still up in the air, it would be no surprise were connections thinking about that race in the back of their minds.

Envoi Allen - win machine! @alexsteedman and @thebedfordfox on the unbeaten talent and another to note from yesterday's Grade One at @NaasRacecourse #TheVerdict pic.twitter.com/31rZVgSzg7

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) January 6, 2020

Willie Mullins unleased a potential top-notcher just half an hour later in the shape of Asterion Forlonge (131p). He cost connections £290,000 after winning a point in early-2018 and made an impressive start over hurdles, travelling strongly and drawing clear from two out after being headed at the third-last. Trainer Willie Mullins stated afterwards that Asterion Forlonge had an easy time of it at home while not making the track last season, so expect him to be busy leading up to the Cheltenham Festival, with a possible run at the Dublin Racing Festival next on the cards. There is plenty of stamina in his pedigree and odds of 20/1 for the Ballymore make a fair bit of appeal at this stage.

According to the betting and jockey bookings, Cash Back (up 4 lb to 147p) was seemingly the second string of Willie Mullins’ two runners in the novice chase earlier in the day, but there was nothing second rate about his performance. He produced a dominant display to make it two from two over fences and is clearly a better chaser than hurdler already. The purpose with which he travelled and the fluency in his jumping was impressive, readily putting distance between him and his rivals from two out, and he looks well worth his place in graded company next time. Cash Back looks an out-and-out two-miler, and the bookmakers cut him to a general 14/1 for the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival. Connections may be tempted to test the water and run him in the Irish version at the upcoming Dublin Racing Festival next, though the Flyingbolt Chase at Navan is another option. Whichever route he takes, he seems sure to go on improving.