Ratings Update: Slate House back with a bang

Doncaster and Newbury both had to abandon their cards on Saturday due to the heavy rainfall which hit Britain last week. The Vertem Futurity Trophy had already been in the headlines earlier in the week due to Aidan O’Brien being responsible for 11 of the 12 entries, but the race is now set to take place at Newcastle on Friday, and attracted an array of entries when it was reopened on Monday. It will become the first Group 1 race in Britain to take place on an artificial surface. The Horris Hill stakes, where the exciting Kinross was a short-priced favourite, has also been rerouted to Newmarket on Saturday.

The weather tried its best to scupper racing at Cheltenham, too, but the meeting survived a precautionary inspection after the track was hit by 30mm of rain in 24 hours, significantly more than was forecast. The first race showed just how testing conditions were, with less than half of the runners that set out actually finishing the race, and the race fitness of The Conditional (up 5 lb to 135) seemingly counted for plenty. He shaped well in a similarly competitive handicap (Leinster National) last season and there was nothing here to suggest he wouldn't prove at least as effective over longer trips.

The Paul Nicholls-trained Quel Destin (up 1 lb to 138) picked up a good prize, appealing to connections of four-year-olds that might well be difficult to place in open-aged races, the winner very much fitting that bill, from a stable that has no peers when it comes to placing its runners. Quel Destin was fit from the Flat and proved at least as good as ever, handling the testing ground well and making the best of his greater experience than the runner-up Soviet Pimpernel (129p from 115p) in the closing stages. The winner was prolific as a juvenile, but things are sure to be tougher from now on, with a BHA mark that could well be pushing 150, though his attitude will continue to stand him in good stead.

2111115-1

Quel Destin has a fine jumps record for @PFNicholls and runs out a brave winner under @CobdenHarry for another @CheltenhamRaces success pic.twitter.com/nU2v6k3yV5

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 26, 2019

Quite a few in the handicap chase won by Saint Calvados (up 3 lb to 160) failed to give their running, so it wasn't as strong of a race as it might have been for the money, but there is reason to be positive about the principals. Saint Calvados looked better than ever after eight months off (had a breathing operation during that time) to win his first handicap start for nearly two years, consolidating his good record when fresh. He's raced only at around two miles in Britain/Ireland, but his sire and the way he raced here suggest he'd be worth trying over further and is perhaps worth an entry in the Paddy Power. Vaniteux (133 from 125+) has made a good start for this yard and will remain of interest from this sort of mark, while Knocknanuss (147+) also left the impression there are more races to be won with him.

Full replay and reaction: Classy Saint Calvados takes advantage of drop in class to edge out Vaniteux in @CheltenhamRaces thriller 🏇 Watch what @Harry_Whitt and @gavsheehan92 had to say to @nickluck about his victory >>>https://t.co/ZhN9KV7roR pic.twitter.com/NVgj1333sR

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 26, 2019

The performance of the day came from Slate House (142p from 129+), who had a big reputation in his younger days and put it all together on his first run since undergoing a second breathing operation to win the novice chase in impressive fashion. This was easily his best performance over fences, jumping fluently and tanking through the race, clear after two out and winning with much more in hand than the 11-length margin suggests. With the field reduced by three due to the testing ground, it is hard to know what the form is worth, but the time suggests a very positive view should be taken, and Slate House clearly has the ability to build on this.

A very stylish performance from SLATE HOUSE, who routs his rivals on his return to action at @CheltenhamRaces, for @colintizzard and @Robbie_Power_! 🏇

(🎥@RacingTV)pic.twitter.com/URQ05SFjtR

— Timeform Live (@TimeformLive) October 26, 2019

Time Flies By (106p) won a good renewal of the valuable bumper that closed the card, showing a useful level of form with the testing conditions making for a proper test of stamina. He has a superb pedigree – and a physique to match – promising plenty of stamina later on, but he showed quite a bit of speed, and he looks an exciting prospect for bumpers this term.

On Sunday, the Old Roan Chase took centre stage at Aintree, and was won by Forest Bihan (up 3 lb to 154) for the in-form Brian Ellison. Without the usual cheekpieces, he ran up to his best to gain his first win over fences in more than two years, though he was seen to maximum effect thanks to the test of speed this became, with the home-straight fences omitted on both circuits due to low sun, and it is best not to take this performance too literally as a result. Kalashnikov (158p) produced a perfectly encouraging first run outside of novice company, not suited by the omitted fences, but he still pulled clear of the remainder and likely has even better to come this year.

Full replay and reaction: Forest Bihan produces a decent turn of foot to floor Kalashnikov and Frodon in the Old Roan Chase at @AintreeRaces and continues @BERacingLtd's great run of form 🐎 >>>https://t.co/yUmB4s5GNy pic.twitter.com/Y1pRjQpVOV

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 27, 2019

White Hart Lady (105p) made a good impression in the bumper, looking a class apart from her rivals in making a winning debut, the form having some substance, too. She's an exciting prospect who would likely be among the market leaders if taking her chance in the listed mares bumper at Cheltenham next month, or the similar event at Huntingdon in December.

Over in Ireland, Battleoverdoyen (132P) made his eagerly anticipated chase debut in a race that has produced numerous Grade 1 winners, the same connections’ Don Cossack and Presenting Percy to name but two.  Battleoverdoyen’s task was made easier when stablemate Galvin unseated his rider four out but he looks set to take high rank in the staying novice division this season, turning the screw entering the home straight and having far too much for his remaining rivals. He will likely be up in grade next time and is open to significant improvement as a chaser.