Grey Dawning goes down fighting

Top 40 entry Grey Dawning was an impressive winner in a Graduation chase at Haydock last month on his second start over fences. Reappearing less than three weeks later in the two and a half miles novice chase at Cheltenham on Friday, the grey was unlucky not to follow up after a crucial mistake at the penultimate fence. Conceding upwards of three pounds all round, Dan Skelton's runner didn't jump with the same fluency as on his previous start but was going well in behind the leaders turning for home. Pulled to the outside, he was within half a length of the front running Ginny's Destiny when crashing through the second last losing his momentum in the process. Despite staying on well on the run-in, Paul Nicholls winner had gone beyond recall and three parts of a length separated the pair. It will be interesting to see where Grey Dawning heads next with his trainer suggesting the Grade 2 Hampton Novices' Chase at Warwick (13th January) would be his target immediately after his Haydock win. However, the six year old has endured three hard races in 35 days. Longer-term, a return to three miles won't go amiss. 

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