Season over for Pandorama
Noel Meade had been concerned about the quickening ground at Prestbury Park and while Pandorama performed with credit to finish seventh, the trainer felt conditions did not suit.
“He’s sore enough at the minute and it will be a week or two before we know exactly how he’s come out of the race,” said Meade.
“He’s definitely finished for the season and we’ll just have to monitor him for the next fortnight and see.
“He ran a good race considering the ground was too quick for him.”
Meade’s Realt Dubh performed admirably to finish third in Tuesday’s Arkle Trophy and he is likely to see the racecourse again before the season is out.
“He ran a very good race and we have no excuses, he was just beaten by better horses,” Meade continued.
“I’d say he’ll go again somewhere. He’ll either go to Punchestown for the two-mile novice or to Fairyhouse for the Powers Gold Cup over two and a half miles.
“A lot will depend on the ground.”
* TIMEFORM has rated Long Run on 184 following the horse’s win in the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday, making him the highest-rated jumps horse in training.
This figure is well ahead of a normal winner of the race but comes at a time when top-notch chase performances have been more common than usual.
The second and third Denman and Kauto Star are now rated 177 and 168 respectively, having been 183 and 191 in their prime.
The other big-race winners at the Cheltenham Festival have been rated as follows: Champion Hurdle winner Hurricane Fly 168 (highest in race since 169-rated Rooster Booster in 2003); Champion Chase winner Sizing Europe 171 (best since 179-rated Master Minded in 2008); and Big Buck’s remains on 174+, having not had to run to his very best in winning the World Hurdle for third year in row, the steady gallop stopping him from producing the sort of performance of which he’s surely well capable.
Meanwhile, Don’t Push It is bang on course to bid for back-to-back victories in the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on April 10 following his eyecatching run at the Cheltenham Festival.
Despite finishing out of the money in 10th place behind Buena Vista in the Pertemps Final over hurdles and at a trip way short of the Aintree marathon, it was a performance that delighted connections.
“Everything’s fine. He’s come out of the race good and we are looking forward to going back to Aintree again” said Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus.
“He ran well, he got a little bit outpaced at the top of the hill and he ran on again. You’d have to be happy with him. All roads lead to Aintree, that’s the plan.”
Paul Nicholls has confirmed Daryl Jacob will keep the ride on What A Friend in the Grand National.
The eight-year-old, part-owned by Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, ran the race of his life under Jacob to be fourth in Friday’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Don’t Push It, trained by Jonjo O’Neill and ridden by Tony McCoy, is generally available at 16-1 for the world’s greatest steeplechase on April 9.
Get Me Out Of Here is set to seek compensation at Aintree next month following his gallant effort at Cheltenham.
The Jonjo O’Neill-trained seven-year-old put in his best performance of the season when touched off on the line by Final Approach in the County Hurdle and will be given the opportunity to go one better on Merseyside.
“He’s fine and he ran a great race,” said Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus.
“It was grand to see him return to form like that and that wind op has hopefully done its job.
“He jumped well, travelled well and was unlucky to get beat so close on the line. Hopefully he’ll carry on the good work at Liverpool, where he has a couple of entries.”
