ARBRE DE VIE

Among the host of Mullins also-rans there are sure to be many who rise to better things in the months ahead. Chief among them was Arbre De Vie, fourth in the Albert Bartlett Novices. He appeared to find the distance stretching him in the final three furlongs having travelled smoothly throughout. His run was eye-catching and particularly if you remember a similar run in this race by another in the same colours in 2010 - a horse called Arvika Legionniere.

JOSSES HILL

Barry Geraghty had held the opinion that Josses Hill, who had been unconvincing in his jumping to date over fences, would be suited by a faster pace in the Arkle which would make him jump better.

He was in some ways justified but the horse made a bad mistake at the first ditch where he stood off too far though he showed tremendous scope to get over. It did him no favours and Geraghty was niggling throughout. Though he was well beaten, he certainly looks a horse with a future and this was an improvement on his previous chase form. He was quite possibly in the wrong race as he certainly has the size, scope and looks of a horse suited by further.

Next year’s Ryanair, a race Henderson won with Fondmort and Riverside Theatre and was second with Ma Filleule last week, might be just up his street.

HOLYWELL

A feature of the 2015 season has been the high quality of second season chasers with successes at the top level for the class of 2014 including Many Clouds, Road To Riches, Carlingford Lough, Don Cossack and Uxizandre. Holywell has added just one minor win to his tally his year but his Gold Cup run was noteworthy.

He began last year as just a handicapper and progressed to be one of the highest rated with a Grade 1 win at Aintree. The overnight rain on Thursday at Cheltenham probably hindered him most of the Gold Cup runners while it advanced the prospects of Coneygree and Djakadam.

His run in finishing nine and a half lengths behind Coneygree was a career best.

His 2014 form was boosted too with Ma Filleule proving Grade 1 standard in the Ryanair. On the better ground he prefers, Holywell will prove a tough opponent for Siviniaco Conti at Aintree.

WINDSOR PARK

No one could have predicted after last year’s Neptune Novices Hurdle that its winner Faugheen would return in 2015 as a short-priced favourite for the Champion Hurdle. Windsor Park is quoted at 16/1 in some Champion betting markets but he shouldn’t be ruled out. He was trained to perfection for the Neptune, overcoming previously sloppy jumping to make most and win well by three and three-quarter lengths from two Grade 1 winners.

As a son of Galileo out of a Mr Prospector mare, speed for two miles should be no problem. Istabraq, Hardy Eustace, Rock on Ruby and Faugheen all came from the Neptune to Champion success.

He is obviously a very exciting dual-purpose horse and capable of a big win in Cup races on the flat. Rite Of Passage may have been too injury prone to risk over hurdles but Vintage Crop ran in the Champion Hurdle for Dermot Weld.

Davy Russell said afterwards, “it’s his hobby” but you know the master of Rosewell takes his hobbies pretty seriously.