Round up

The entries for some of the novice races at the Cheltenham Festival were published on Tuesday afternoon. They included the Turners Novices' Hurdle on day two and amongst those were Top 40 entry Starzand. Unfortunately, the Philip Hobbs and Johnson White trained fluffed his lines and may have ruled himself out of the Festival following his lacklustre effort at Leicester during the same afternoon. The return to two and a half miles in the opening novice hurdle was expected to suit but he came under pressure soon after the second last and faded tamely on the run-in. Beaten nearly thirteen lengths, the race almost certainly came too soon after his previous outing at Ffos Las only twelve days earlier. It was always going to be a gamble running back so quickly - he can't have had an easy race on testing ground at the Welsh track. While it is conceivable his connections are thinking in terms of the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle, he still needs to have one more run before mid March - the new rules brought in a couple of years ago means the runners must have had five outings over hurdles beforehand. 

Talking of novice races, Cheltenham's trials meeting on Saturday rounds off with a Grade 2 novice hurdle, which could have a bearing on things in March. There are 20 entries at the five day stage, including the exciting pair Act of Innocence and Taurus Bay. Surely ITV have missed a trick not covering it during their coverage - instead they have chosen to show the cross country race earlier in the afternoon, which is of limited interest for most jumping enthusiasts.

More irritating during the last few days were trainer Barry Connell's remarks regarding the Clarence House Chase at Ascot. The Irish handler described the Grade 1 two mile event as 'a mickey mouse' race, which is hugely disrespectful to those involved. Time will tell whether it has a major bearing on the outcome of the Queen Mother Champion Chase in March but that is no reason to belittle those horses who lined up - Jonbon and Il Etait Temps have won 17 Grade 1 races between them, Gidleigh Park and Thistle Ask are dual Grade 2 winners, while the latter has progressed 45lb in five races since joining Dan Skelton. Connell has done well during his career as an owner and trainer - 10 Grade 1 winners and 5 Cheltenham Festival successes. They include last year's Champion Chase courtesy of Marine Nationale. Fingers crossed there is a different name on the trophy in two months time.