Cheltenham Review

Philip Hobbs dominated the finish of the Pertemps qualifier with Golden Doyen edging out his stablemate For Good Measure by a short head. In terms of the future, the runner-up looks the better prospect and it would be no surprise to see him return for the final in the spring. The five year old, who is a full-brother to former stablemate and sixteen times winner Balthazar King, was progressive over hurdles last term winning twice and looks open to even more improvement this season. His older sibling got better with age and, while his future probably lies over fences, he can win a decent staying handicap hurdle in the meantime. Rated 132, he is set for another rise but looks capable of defying it.

Sceau Royal was an impressive winner of the four year old hurdle displaying a telling turn of foot after the final flight. A smart juvenile last winter, he wasn't at his best at either Cheltenham or Aintree in the spring but he certainly bounced back to form here. His high cruising speed and change of gear are his biggest assets and it will be interesting to see if he is given an entry in the Greatwood Hurdle over the same course and distance next month.

There was a sad postscript to the two mile handicap chase with last year's winner Boondooma suffering a fatal injury. A five times winner for Dr Richard Newland having arrived from Ireland, he was pulled up halfway down the backstraight. It is a bitter blow for everyone concerned.