Standing dish Percy ready for a Gold run next season

The ground for the majority of the Cheltenham Festival was soft and heavy in places, but on day two – the last day of racing on the Old course – the jockeys stated it was horrible, tacky and hard to get through.

Summerville Boy
Winner, Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, 2m½f, Cheltenham, Tuesday, March 13
The Tolworth winner looked fit and well. For most of the race things seemed to be going well for him in mid-division and his jockey had plenty of horse underneath him as he made a move at the top of the hill, but at the second-last he made a horrible mistake that caused him to lose his backend and he wasn’t very clever again at the last. However, he showed great class and tenacity to come out on top and I see no reason why he cannot prove at least as good over fences, if he doesn’t stay hurdling.

Kalashnikov, a big specimen, looked as if his victory in the Betfair Hurdle may have just taken the edge off of him because he was a bit light and starey in his coat. To his credit, though, he powered through the race and looked all set for glory until he was just overhauled by the winner. He is only five and has a bright future.

The grand-looking Mengli Khan looked in fantastic order and didn’t show any wayward tendencies. He moved up after jumping the third-last and was still full of running with two to jump, but his closing effort just petered out going up the hill. I think he will be better on good ground.

Chasing type Paloma Blue was sporting a pair of earplugs and was way too keen from the start, but it’s a testament to his ability that he was still able to mount a challenge coming around the final bend.
Claimantakinforgan looked grand but the ground was never going to be to his liking. Given his early-season form, he is worth noting when conditions are back in his favour.

Western Ryder looked fine beforehand, but he was already in top gear down the far side and being hampered two out didn’t help his cause either. However, he stormed up the hill to finish sixth and will clearly appreciate a step up to 2m4f.

Lostintranslation is another who should step up in trip. He travelled comfortably out the back and hadn’t been asked a question as the field came down the hill, but he was unable to find a change of pace at the business end.

First Flow, who was a touch too keen, Simply The Betts, Shoal Bay and Slate House will all do better over fences.

Footpad
Winner, Racing Post Arkle, 2m, Cheltenham, Tuesday
This year’s dominant 2m novice chaser produced a silky performance in a race that fell apart. He looked in fabulous order and sat off the ludicrously strong pace, making his only mistake at the sixth. Having soon recovered, he carried on in his pursuit and joined the leaders coming around the final bend before drawing away to a comfortable victory. Willie Mullins has indicated that he could be a future Gold Cup horse but I just hope he gets a bigger test at Punchestown.

Brain Power was able to pick up the pieces in the closing stages and come through for second, but he was no match for the winner.

Petit Mouchoir looked to have come out of his last run well and was not misbehaving in the preliminaries, but he overraced in the early stages and that proved to be his downfall.

Saint Calvados looked in superb order, but he went way too fast and ran himself into the ground.