Racing: Easterby considers Cheltenham options

Tim Easterby has two exciting Cheltenham prospects on his hands after the latest successes of Barton and Turgeonev.

Exciting novice chaser Barton could head straight for the Cheltenham Festival and the Arkle Trophy following his impressive display at Newcastle.

Apart from one mistake Barton jumped impeccably but finished with blood dribbling from his near-fore foot after losing a shoe.

‘‘He’s fine. He just had a nasty little cut but it’s all right now,’’ the Malton trainer said.

‘‘He won well. He’s a different class. He just gallops and it’ll take a hell of a horse to get past him. We might not run him again. We might just wait for Cheltenham.’’

Easterby was also on the mark with Turgeonev in the feature Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot.

Turgeonev received a 20-1 quote from Ladbrokes and Coral for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Festival but the trainer played down Turgeonev’s victory.

He said: ‘‘Whatever the handicapper says or does it wasn’t a Queen Mother race. There were flaws in them all. There weren’t any up and coming young horses like him and he was racing off his new rating.

‘‘We’ve always thought he was a very good horse. A very good horse to train. He’s an exciting prospect.’’