THE Grade 2 Dovecote is perhaps not the strongest pattern class novice run in recent weeks, but the first five home had all won their most recent start, and what it lacked in star appeal, it made up for in competitiveness, at least on paper.

That Chris Gordon’s Highway One O Two, who provided the middle leg of a riding treble for Tom Cannon, should win by a commanding four and three-quarter lengths then is testament to the strides he’s made. He made all the running to slam West Cork (Dan/Harry Skelton) and Kid Commando (Anthony Honeyball/Aidan Coleman), with the rest of the field 10 lengths or more adrift. The winner was not missed in the betting, and returned at 4/1.

Target

The winner is not entered at Cheltenham, and victory here has gained him a big rise in the weights which would require him to carry top weight of 11st 12lb in the Imperial Cup at Sandown, which had been his intended target.

That has seen a change of heart, and Gordon is happy to miss Sandown and go to the Grade 1 Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree in April, which will enable him to freshen up his exciting young hurdler. Keen in a hood, he was given a fine ride by Tom Cannon to stop him wasting his energy, and Gordon is hopeful that he will learn to relax, noting that the son of Shirocco is thoroughly laid back on the home gallops.

Malarky back to form under super-sub O’Neill

COLIN Tizzard has plenty of ammunition for Cheltenham next month, although a couple of his stable stars need to bounce back from setbacks.

He must have been pleased to see last year’s RSA Chase fourth, Mister Malarky return to his best to win the feature handicap chase at odds of 9/1 under a well-judged ride from Jonjo O’Neill jr, who has benefited more than most from the enforced absence of Richard Johnson, and looks a challenger for leading rider honours in seasons to come.

Mister Malarky jumped a little stickily in the early stages, and had to be kept up to his work to maintain a prominent pitch behind the leaders, but he soon warmed up, and was produced to challenge at the entrance to the home straight, from where he kept on just too strongly for the Paul Nicholls duo Black Corton (Bryony Frost) and Sametegal (Bryan Carver), prevailing by two lengths and half a length, with the novice Whatmore plugging into fourth from off the pace.

The winner had flopped on his return at Ascot and again at that track in December, but he ran creditably in the Ladbrokes Trophy, and seems a better horse on spring ground. Whether he will get ideal conditions for his bid to win the Ultima at next month’s Cheltenham Festival remains to be seen, but a 4lb rise for this win is fair, especially in light of his best form last season.

Black Corton caught the eye in second, as he was forced very wide in the early stages, and then Bryony Frost had to take back on him, which would not be the tactics which see him at his best, so the way he rallied for second was encouraging, and despite his lofty rating, he’s not at all badly treated on this evidence, albeit having gone up 2lb in defeat here.