IT’S been a while since I posted the horses who have caught my eye on course, so it’s time for a bit of a recap, with some of the better horses having made recent comebacks and some appealing as likely to progress with the benefit of a run.

Very few of these fit the bill of dark horses, but all should offer value both close at hand and in the medium to long term.

Betfair Exchange Graduation Chase

Hillcrest was returning from a huge absence, when making a respectable chase debut behind Trelawne in a hot contest. He had clearly done a fair bit of work at home, but this huge unit can’t have been fully wound-up given his size and that absence and he showed more than enough to think he will go on to much better things as a chaser.

The caveat is whether he will emerge from this run without any complications, and it goes without saying that he’s not an ante-post proposition.

Hillcrest jumped adequately on the whole, but lost his position after a bad mistake at the 11th fence. He did rally after that, but the effort of getting back in the race told in the end, and he faded into fourth.

He is the type who will jump better only when fully fit and I’d expect him to improve markedly, assuming he stands training.

Newton Novice Hurdle (Grade 2)

Country Mile, as is almost always the case with Dan Skelton’s at present, was very fit, but he was very relaxed in the paddock and was noted travelling well in the race itself, before being tapped for toe when Roadlesstravelled produced a better jump at the last flight.

Country Mile made an error there and was unable to get back at the winner, but gave the impression that he will be better when the ground is a little less testing, given how fluently he moved through the race, while his background and pedigree suggest that another half mile will suit.

He’s by the same sire as Skelton’s Langer Dan and it would be no surprise to see him campaigned with spring handicaps in mind, notwithstanding the current requirement for novices to have four runs for the better races in that division.

Shloer Chase (Grade 2)

Edwardstone needed the run the most, as was the case last year and while he could finish only third to Jonbon, he wasn’t beaten far and only lost second place in the last 50 yards. There is obviously no improvement to come from Edwardstone, but the general assumption is that he must be on the downgrade at the age of 10.

I’ve not seen any sign of decline for all he’s never quite scaled the heights required to win a Champion Chase.

Because he will be priced up with that expected decline in mind, he will provide value in all bar the Championship events and, now that Alan King has discovered that he does not stay two and a half miles, his campaign maps itself out, with the Tingle Creek and Game Spirit sure to be on his agenda, although I’d love to see him given a chance to concede weight in a high-class handicap.

Whether King will consider that is doubtful, but he’d surely be seen to better effect in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham in March than having another crack at the Champion Chase.

Paddy Power Arkle Trial (Grade 2)

Western Zephyr has plenty of experience over fences and proved no match for easy winner L’Eau Du Sud, but he’s definitely worth following in handicaps, being an assured jumper with the physique to keep improving for a while.

He’s a proper chaser on looks and goes about his job with real gusto. It’s a blessing in disguise that connections have found out that he’s short of Arkle class, and he will make hay when racing against exposed handicappers.

I particularly liked the way he was willing to battle off Lookaway for second up the hill and, like London buses, it appears Grand Annual horses are coming along in twos. In truth, there will be plenty for him before Cheltenham in March and he will be worth following, as long as he’s kept out of graded company.

Listed Bumper

Block Rockin Beats beat the winner here in October, but Fortune De Mer and Harry Skelton got revenge, with the rider keeping his mount under wraps for as long as possible.

Most people would have eyes only for the winner, but I think Oliver Signy’s runner-up is a smashing prospect for jumps, having something more about him than most bumper winners of his age group.

The son of Sageburg is out of a Luso mare and got off the mark at the third attempt between the flags in March. While outpaced by the winner here, he once again showed the battling qualities that saw him regain the lead, after being passed here in October.

That attitude will be seen to better effect in races over obstacles and over further and the sooner Block Rockin Beats sees a hurdle the better.