With the Cheltenham Festival just two weeks away, the action at Kempton on Saturday was arguably one of the last chances for punters to get further clues ahead of the greatest show on Earth at Prestbury Park. Here is a look at some of the highlights:
Charli finds Adonis no walk in the Parc
One of the most hyped-up horses of the day was Charli Parcs, well-touted for the Supreme and Triumph Hurdle’s after an impressive win at Kempton Park in December. However, under Barry Geraghty in the Adonis, the four-year-old was never travelling with any real zest throughout the two-mile contest with Geraghty pushing along quite a way from home. Despite that however, Nicky Henderson’s charge was still in contention in the home straight but took a crashing fall at the second-last flight with Alan King’s Master Blueyes going on to record a comfortable victory. Geraghty took a nasty fall from Charli Parcs and now faces a race to be fit for the Festival after suffering a punctured lung and cracked rib. This was pretty disappointing for fans of Charli Parcs and where he goes now is certainly up for debate.
River Wylde sails to Dovecote victory
Henderson was out of luck with Charli Parcs but stable-companion River Wylde enhanced his Cheltenham Festival credentials with an excellent success in the Grade Two Sky Bet Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle. Always travelling well under Nico de Boinville, the six-year-old son of Oscar, despite hanging to his left, stayed on strongly in the closing stages to repel the challenge of Alan King’s Elgin. River Wylde is now a general 10/1 shot for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
Pilgrims Bay lands feature
James Best gave 25/1 shot Pilgrims Bay one of the greatest rides of the season to claim the BetBright Handicap Chase. In a typically competitive renewal of the Grade Three handicap chase, Neil Mulholland’s charge cruised into contention but has to be delivered late in his races and was quite simply delivered to perfection by Best as he scored by half-a-length.
Irish Prophecy lands bumper
In what looked a decent bumper, Irish Prophecy trained by Emma Lavelle was an impressive winner of the two-mile contest, getting the better of Nicky Henderson’s Champ by two and a half-lengths. He looks a horse to keep a close eye on.
Newcastle – Mystree and The Nipper impress
Mysteree travelled well throughout the extended four-miles Eider Chase and stayed on strongly in the closing stages under Robbie Dunne to bag the handicap prize for trainer Michael Scudamore at odds of 10/1.
Warren Greatex’s The Nipper was also a seriously impressive winner with a facile success in a three runner contest.
Other winners
Sir Michael Stoute’s Convey was a gutsy winner of Lingfield’s Winter Derby under an inspired Andrea Atzeni ride, whilst at Chepstow Jonjo O’Neill looked to have released a decent sort in the shape of Lad Of Luck who took the concluding bumper at Chepstow by 11 lengths. He could be one to watch.
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