Tidal Bay continues unbeaten run at Cheltenham
Tidal Bay continued to look like one of the most accomplished novice chasers on the scene as he stretched his unbeaten record over fences to three.
Only touched off by Massini’s Maguire over hurdles at this year’s Cheltenham Festival, Howard Johnson’s gelding faced a potentially tricky assignment on his return to the track before he surely graces the 2008 keynote meeting.
The 5-6 favourite was safe and sensible in the Boylesports.com Fon-A-Bet Novices’ Chase, in contrast to the extravagant front-runner Gold Medallist, who made an encouraging return from a long absence.
Reaching the second-last fence, Gold Medallist – off for two seasons – had no more to offer and Tidal Bay quickened a comfortable five lengths clear under Denis O’Regan.
Johnson said: “He is a lovely horse but was a bit novicey last time at Carlisle, so we brought him down here to give him some more experience.
“He has jumped well apart from a couple of novicey mistakes and he does want better ground.
“He has a very high cruising speed and it wouldn’t bother him dropping back to two miles.
“I’ll try and give him another race before the Festival, hopefully around the end of January, and he will be entered in both the SunAlliance and the Arkle as an end-to-end gallop will suit him.”
Tidal Bay heads the betting in both events, while other Cheltenham markets were also shaken up during the afternoon.
Franchoek remains just about favourite for the JCB Triumph Hurdle despite defeat to Gordon Elliott’s 10-1 shot Harper Valley in the Boylesports.com Best Odds Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle.
A 1-3 shot here, Franchoek, now carrying the famous silks of JP McManus, attempted to make all the running but Harper Valley travelled beautifully for Tony McCoy and pulled a length and a half clear – despite a game effort from his rival.
The winner, a maiden from two previous starts, was receiving 7lb from Franchoek but was cut to as short as 12-1 for the Triumph.
“Putting blinkers on him sharpened him up but with his size, whatever he does over hurdles will be in preparation for fences,” said Elliott.
“The plan was to come back here for the Fred Winter, but we might have to go for something else now.”
Franchoek’s trainer Alan King reported: “Choc (Robert Thornton) said he felt he could have done with some more help up front.
“I still think he’s good and he could come back here in January or run in the Finale at Chepstow.”
Richard Johnson is evidently feeling no ill-effects from his recently broken metatarsal bones as he produced a relentlessly persuasive ride aboard O’Toole (9-2).
Sam Thomas and Saintsaire made a bold move for home at the top of the hill in the Jenny Mould Memorial Handicap Chase but they began to run out of steam approaching the last fence.
O’Toole had been pushed along from some way out but responded gamely to take victory by three-quarters of a length.
Trainer Philip Hobbs said: “He has had a couple of nice wins in moderate races and they have done his confidence good.
“He has done it well and jumped nicely, but has had a busy time of it lately so he might have a break now.”
Thomas tried the same tactics to no better effect aboard 3-1 favourite Gwanako in the Steeplechase Company Centenary Relkeel Hurdle and his mount was beaten entering the closing stages.
This handed the race to King and Thornton’s Pouvoir (8-1), who had shadowed the leader turning around the final bend and went over the last in front.
The grey, who had been close in three competitive handicaps this season, stormed up the hill for a highly convincing success.
“I am thrilled he’s got his head in front and he’s a proper horse,” said King.
“He’s really come to himself of late. Choc (Thornton) said we should either put him over fences or up him in trip.
“I decided he’ll go over fences next year, we’ve upped him in trip and it’s made all the difference.”
Pouvoir was given a 20-1 quote by the sponsors of the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.
