Neil takes a look at a couple of horses who fell short of victory at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival but could impress in the coming weeks.
SAINT ROI Cheltenham, March 14th
Each way backers of SAINT ROI were never in danger of claiming a small profit in the Arkle Challenge Trophy, in which the JP McManus-owned gelding was patiently ridden and made his move coming down the hill. Although unable to impact on El Fabiolo and Jonbon he stayed on well and might be more suited to the Mildmay course and fences should his connections choose to send him to Aintree next month.
OSCAR ELITE Cheltenham, March 14th
After making a poor start in the Ultima Chase OSCAR ELITE was waited with at the rear of the 23-runner field. Deliberately kept wide, he forfeited ground but stayed out of trouble, and after making relentless headway coming down the hill, turned into the home straight with the leaders in his sights. However, he remained wide after jumping the final fence and finished fifth, though the fact remains he lost more ground in the early part of the race than he was beaten by.
MR FREEDOM Cheltenham, March 14th
MR FREEDOM ran an incredible race considering he galloped for much of the two-mile trip with a slipping saddle In this Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle. He was then bumped, causing his rider to lose an iron after jumping two out, while the racecourse vet found the gelding has been struck into which can’t have assisted his cause. From a small stable that does well with the horses it purchases off the Flat, he needs to be taken seriously if going for a similar race at one of the big spring fixtures.
THREE CARD BRAG Cheltenham, March 17th
THREE CARD BRAG appeared to hit a flat spot racing to the bottom of the hill after looking before that to be set for a frame finish in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle. He then got his second wind and was staying on again in the final 100 yards, to suggest his connections may consider applying headgear on his next outing.
CONFLATED Cheltenham, March 17th
CONFLATED’s run in the Gold Cup needs close inspection, as he looked to be going as well as either of the two horses that eventually beat him until his rider met with two instances of traffic problems rounding the home bend and approaching the second-last fence. They combined to put him on the back foot, and when seeing daylight the damage had been done. It didn’t help that Davy Russell was unable to take the mount and was replaced at the eleventh hour by a jockey who had never ridden the gelding before. Should he take his chance in the Grand National, this classy individual would hold a serious chance.
