Timeform Eyecatcher of the Day
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A big-field handicap in which the form should be view positively, the first three home all making their handicap debuts, and the winner doing it nicely.
Cuban Court also shaped with plenty of promise on his return from seven weeks off and having his first start since undergoing a breathing operation.
He returned to the sort of form which saw him finish second in a novice over the same course and distance in December, while leaving the impression that he has the potential to progress further when moving up in trip, doing all of his best work at the finish.
Cuban Court has clearly been allotted a fair mark and is one to be interested in next time, particularly over a longer trip.
Timeform Eyecatcher: Saturday
THEATRE MAN
Runner-up, 2m4f handicap chase, Cheltenham, Saturday 27 January
This was a strong renewal of the Timeform Novices' Handicap chase and it looks form to take a positive view of, the winner clearly progressive and heading for Grade 1 company next, while Theatre Man continues to shape well over fences and is another to keep on the right side.
He is yet to win over fences, but he has looked like a sure-fire future winner in this sphere on all three starts, doing all of his best work at the finish dropped in trip here.
Theatre Man lost his position as the pace lifted around three from home, having plenty to do jumping two out and still in fourth position at the last. He stayed on well on the run-in, though, to finish never nearer than at the line, and he is very likely something to bet on next time in something similar.
ISSAM traded at 1.1 in-running on Betfair in the Hampton Court Handicap Hurdle at Sandown on Friday but was reeled in up the hill in a slow-motion finish. Still, he showed enough to be of interest going forward.
Tom Symonds' horse has been generally progressive since landing on these shores from France and he took another step forward here, shaping like the best horse in the race at the weights as he travelled well off a strong pace.
The gallop took its toll in the end, while he idled too after being left alone thanks to the fall of Lord Of Cheshire at the last, but he shouldn't judged too harshly for that and he remains one to keep on the right side of in the immediate future.
Timeform Eyecatcher: Thursday
CHANTRY HOUSE
4th, 3m1f handicap hurdle, Huntingdon, Thursday 25 January
Eyes are now on fourth place finishers in Pertemps Qualifiers given that's the minimum requirement for qualification for the Final and Nicky Henderson's CHANTRY HOUSE will have gone into plenty of notebooks for the Festival after his Huntingdon fourth on Thursday.
Rated 10lb lower over hurdles than he is over fences, it should be remembered he is a Cheltenham Festival Grade 1 winner after he took the 2021 Turners Novices' Chase and this was good evidence he could play a major role in the Pertemps handicap hurdle in March.
James Bowen didn't give the 10-year-old a hard race while ensuring his participation in the Final and it was no surprise to see him clipped into a best-price 14/1 for the race on the back of this run.
Timeform Eyecatcher: Wednesday
HENRY GRAY
2nd, 2m3f novices' handicap chase, Catterick, Wednesday 23 January
There has to be a race in HENRY GRAY judging by his performance in second at Catterick.
Donald McCain's horse traded at 1.4 in-running on Betfair after cruising into the lead and he looked likely to collect his first win under Rules until Noche Negra's strong late run proved too much for him.
He helped set the gallop here and that probably cost him at the business end, but there were plenty of positives to take from the performance.
He looks set to run off a similar mark next time and a first win under Rules looks likely sooner rather than later.
Chris Gordon is struggling for winners this season but there is hope he can bounce back in the second half of the campaign and I'D LIKE TO KNOW looks like one of the horses who can lead the charge.
The seven-year-old former pointer always looked destined to tackle a fence and it was no surprise he was fast-tracked to the bigger obstacles after just one start in handicap hurdles.
As expected, he improved significantly for being sent chasing, this fencing debut at Newbury on Tuesday a clear career-best as he gave the more experienced course & distance winner Issar D'Airy a real fright, running him to a short head, the pair 23 lengths clear of the third.
There are quite clearly chases to be won with this horse, either by sticking to two miles or by going out in trip, even after the handicapper has had his say next Tuesday.
Amiwithani has a smart pedigree - she is closely related to very smart GM Hopkins - and she showed much improved form to make a winning handicap debut.
She had caught the eye over seven furlongs at Southwell earlier in the month and, as expected, she relished the step up to a significanty longer trip, justifying strong support in the style of a horse a fair way ahead of her mark.
Admittedly, it wasn't the strongest race, but she went with plenty of enthusiasm, and displayed a better turn of foot than her two rivals, quickening up well to lead inside the final furlong and having plenty in hand at the line.
It is worth remembering that she cost €200,000 as a yearling, is open to further improvement, and is just the type who could rack up a sequence in the coming weeks.
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