Cheltenham Countdown: More Of That looks generous price for RSA glory
The latter extended his then unbeaten record when inflicting a first defeat on Annie Power when winning the World Hurdle of 2014, but his career hit the buffers the following November when he was a beaten favourite in a modest Grade Two Hurdle at Newbury.
It took almost an entire year before he reappeared, but it was worth waiting for as he proved too good for As De Mee on his chasing debut, at Cheltenham.
Back at the same course a month late, he readily accounted for two rivals, headed by Sametegal.
While neither race was unduly taxing, they were ideal outings for a horse seeking to rebuild his career following such a lengthy absence.
He hasn’t been seen since that run in December but that is of no concern ahead of next Wednesday’s race as he won the World Hurdle off an almost identical break.
Two runs at Cheltenham could hardly constitute a better test of his jumping, which was very accomplished in the main, and clever when necessary.
Bar the fact he spent time on the side-line, there isn’t a downside to this horse, and however promising No More Heroes, he’ll have to be exceptional to beat the Jonjo O’Neill-trained runner.
No More Heroes has also been most impressive in three runs over fences, looking a natural.
He was unlucky in the Albert Bartlett of 2015, but the form of that race looks decidedly ordinary at this stage, and that leaves a couple of concerns.
Firstly, even if he hadn’t found trouble and had won, he wouldn’t have been particularly impressive, and secondly, it casts doubt on his ability to produce his very best at this track, on ground unlikely to be too testing.
Of course, the other side of the coin is that he has always looked likely to improve as a chaser, and two Grade Ones from just three runs provide ample evidence it has already happened.
The Gordon Elliott-trained runner is a tremendous prospect but there’s no escaping the fact he was inferior to More Of That over hurdles, and may need more time to bridge that gap over fences.
Blaklion and Seeyouatmidnight are good, solid horses, but lack the same brilliance as the market leaders. If there’s one behind the front two in the betting which could run well it is Vyta Du Roc, who beat Minella Rocco at Ascot last time out.
That was a fine step forward on his previous chasing form, and his attitude and jumping, which were exemplary then, should ensure he is the one to pick up the pieces should No More Heroes and More Of That fail to fire.
However, the front two are very exciting prospects, capable of developing into Gold Cup contenders for 2017, and More Of That can come out on top on this occasion. Odds of 5-2 look very fair.
- I’m not sure I want to hang my hat on medium or long-range weather forecasts, but if they are to be believed then we can expect temperatures between 12 and 14 degrees for the four days of the Festival.
The temperature is expected to go below freezing on a couple of the nights during the meeting, and that could also have an impact on conditions.
As it is currently being given as ‘good-to-soft’, we can make reasonable assumption that, unless the weather takes a turn for the worst, the going won’t be much worse than currently advertised, which is what we have come to expect at this meeting.
