Ratings Update: No prize for Raffle winner

Bar the Imperial Cup on the Saturday before the Cheltenham Festival itself, the preceding month tends to be relatively quiet, and the weekend just gone was no exception.

However, there were a couple of reputations bolstered in the novice/juvenile hurdling divisions, with the most impressive performance coming from the British debutant Fusil Raffles (now 140p in the Adonis. Unfortunately, he returned with quite a serious cut which may rule him out of the Triumph, but his performance was right up with the best by a British-trained juvenile this season, while plenty of the others – including the fourth Red Force One (118p) – were ridden with an eye to the future/needing experience.

The Dovecote appeared a good opportunity for Angels Breath (now 144p from 143P) to get more experience and enhance his Supreme claims, and, with Scarlet Dragon (135 from 136p) running poorly, this developed into a match with the more prominently-ridden Southfield Stone (up 8 lb to 140). The first two pulled a long way clear in a race run in a quicker time overall than the preceding Adonis, the runner-up Angels Breath under a penalty still emerging with plenty of credit but not suggesting he’s the best around.

Southfield Stone takes the (Grade 2) Sky Bet Dovecote Novices Hurdle, for trainer @PFNicholls!

A fourth victory in the race for the Ditcheat handler!

The Nicky Henderson-trained Angels Breath finished in second.

(🎥@itvracing) pic.twitter.com/g2kCxG9OvF

— Timeform Live (@TimeformLive) February 23, 2019

In the aftermath of the race, Paul Nicholls suggested there was a big gulf in class between Southfield Stone and his Kingwell Hurdle winner Grand Sancy – who has entries in both the Supreme and County Hurdle – with Saturday’s winner (who is also in the County) a possible runner in the Imperial Cup next.

There was the usual small field for the Pendil, indeed for any graded novice away from the major Festivals, but the race was at least more competitive than last season's. Frodon and Cyrname had also won the last two runnings from three rivals, so that's a good omen for the winner Bags Groove (remains on 150), who produced a performance up to standard for the race. Like them, he’s set to bypass Cheltenham for Aintree, and this was another step in the right direction under his penalty, jumping well and putting the race to bed in good fashion late on.

Elsewhere on the card, Erick le Rouge (up 4 lb to 134) showed all his best qualities to extend his unbeaten run this season to four, battling his way back to the front late on in the opening handicap; he’s done his winning at all sorts of tracks and should go well in the Coral Cup next month.

The valuable 888sport Handicap Chase was competitive, with plenty coming into it in form, but the race played to the strengths of the speedier types who raced handily, with winner Walt (up 4 lb to 138) and course specialist runner-up Double Shuffle (156 from 153+) always to the fore. In behind, Talkischeap (146 from 149p) shaped as if needing a stiffer test of stamina; a race like the Ultima at Cheltenham might suit him well. The following race was turned into a procession by Another Crick (up from 130 to 136p), who has some very strong handicap form to his name; he'll be hit hard by the handicapper, but is a chaser on the up and looks sure to go well again in something like the Close Brothers.

While the interloping Winter Derby at Lingfield proved no more than a piece of work for the 4/1-on favourite Wissahickon (remains on 125), the Eider up at Newcastle found itself run on much quicker ground than is often the case. The finish to an incident-packed race was fought out by Crosspark (up 4 lb to 138) and former winner Mysteree (now 130), with the time around 43 seconds quicker than when Mysteree was successful a couple of years earlier.

All heart! Crosspark wins the Vertem Eider Chase at @NewcastleRaces for Jamie Moore and Caroline Bailey… pic.twitter.com/Rcf4kXklry

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) February 23, 2019

Crosspark produced a career best as he gained comfortably his most valuable success to date; the bet365 Gold Cup could be the race for him next given he doesn't need the mud. In behind, the fifth and sixth, Kimberlite Candy (139) and Just Your Type (down 1 lb to 139) both shaped well enough, the latter very much the type to excel when faced with a sterner test of stamina.

At Chepstow, Dickie Diver (128P) looks one to keep on the right side of after making no mistake in the maiden hurdle, while novices’ chase winner Chef des Obeaux (136+ from 125p) won despite still having work to do on his jumping. The most interesting race, though, was the Pertemps qualifier which was dominated by the progressive Samburu Shujaa (up 9 lb to 131). He’s clearly going the right way, but once they'd settled down he wasn't harried for the lead and the finishing sectional time indicates that he did have the run of things. Catching the eye in behind was eventual fourth Tommy Rapper (remains on 132), who made a big move round the field before the turn for home, and appeared to pay for it when Samburu Shujaa quickened again. He should come on for this first run after 12 weeks off and is one to watch out for next time, especially if the ground is testing.

Over in Ireland, the progressive Way Back Home (up 10 lb to 129) won a below-par renewal of the Grade 3 juvenile at Fairyhouse. Magic of Light’s (145) unseat just as things were beginning to take shape ensured this year's Bobbyjo lost another key figure (following the defection of Presenting Percy before decs), though it still took one of the better efforts in the race's recent history from the returning Rathvinden (161+ from 155) to beat runner-up Alpha des Obeaux (down 2 lb to 162), who'd put up a huge handicap effort on his previous start and was given a ride that took no prisoners.

Full replay and report: Rathvinden cut for Grand National glory after landing the @BetVictor Bobbyjo Chase at @Fairyhouse. ⬇️https://t.co/naAbuaiUiR pic.twitter.com/B69OvcI0my

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 23, 2019

Tiger Roll might have put down the most compelling marker since the release of the Grand National weights, but Rathvinden ought to be considered right behind, and the way he handled the examination in a big field in last season's National Hunt Chase gives hope he'll make a good fist of the unique Aintree test - he's a must for any shortlist.

On Sunday, the Aintree-bound Chosen Mate (remains on 137p) made extremely hard work of beating Hannon (up 7 lb to 130p) in a Grade 2 novices’ hurdle at Naas, while Cadmium (remains on 147) showed his wellbeing ahead of the big spring festivals – he's got an entry for next month's Grand Annual and did win a big-field handicap at last season's Punchestown Festival – when winning the Grade 3 chase later on the card.

At Fontwell, there was a competitive field on paper for the Grade 2 National Spirit with five of the six involved already proven smart hurdlers. Not all of them went through matters as if they were right at their best, though, with winner Vision des Flos (up 4 lb to 152) the exception; he has a number of entries for Cheltenham, but might be stuck between a rock and a hard place, not quite having the class to win a Champion Hurdle and lumbered with a big weight in the handicaps. Runner-up If The Cap Fits (154 from 153) ran another good race on the figures, though without travelling through things all that sweetly, Noel Fehily having to bustle him along at various stages.