This is a subscriber-only article
It looks like you're browsing in private mode
TWO weeks ago, Mouse Morris came to Britain and left with the Grade 2 bet365 Charlie Hall Chase trophy in his suitcase.
Thirteen days after that memorable success with Gentlemansgame, the legendary trainer did something similar in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase as Foxy Jacks (Gavin Brouder) powered home to win at the Cheltenham November Meeting.
Having unseated Ricky Doyle around the same course at the Cheltenham Festival in March, the nine-year-old came back to Gloucestershire with vengeance to beat the fast-finishing Latenightpass (Dan Skelton/Miss Gina Andrews) and Didero Vallis (Venetia Williams/Charlie Deutsch).
Determined
As the field turned into the racecourse proper with two obstacles left to take, the now well-experienced chaser held a clear advantage over his rivals with fellow Irish challengers Delta Work and Galvin beginning to struggle.
Despite his lead over the second last, the son of Fame And Glory, who had been in front since the sixth fence, had Latenightpass, a horse who had been conserving energy at the rear of the field, still to deal with.
As the pair flew over the last, Foxy Jacks jumped the final flight more towards the parade ring, but up the run-in he stuck on nicely to give the 5lb claimer his first success in the shadows of Cleeve Hill.
“It was very tenacious, he’s not simple but got a great ride, he jumped super,” said Morris of the 9/1 scorer.
“I thought he was in great shape coming here, but there are 30 fences to jump and jumping is not what he is noted for. These sort of races change his mind a little. I don’t think weight matters to this fella, it is just getting him on his day. He belongs to great people who love the craic and we will go where we can have some fun.”
Never jumped
Gordon Elliott reported on Delta Work: “Keith (Donoghue) actually said for the second half of the race he never jumped which he usually does and he was a bit sore pulling up. So we will have to see how he is.
“Galvin (eighth) ran very well, he just hated the ground and we’re very happy. March is the plan and it will probably be one run over hurdles and that is it.”
Foxy Jacks has an official rating of 149 in Britain, so eyes are naturally drawn to the Cheltenham Festival and whether he can mix it up with the big guns in the Glenfarclas Chase in four months’ time.
Although he put 17 and nearly 21 lengths between himself, Delta Work, and Galvin respectively, both of the Gordon Elliott-trained pair were carrying considerably more weight than was the winner here.
Furthermore, both Foxy Jacks and Delta Work had the benefit of race fitness on their side, something that Galvin did not.
However, almost akin to Galopin Des Champs in the 2022 Grade 1 Turners Novices’ Chase, Tizzard’s six-year-old failed to put out the full landing gear and unseated his jockey three strides after the fence.
This left Homme Public (Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero/Henry Brooke) as the fortunate leader, something he held onto as he fended off the challenge of Petit Tonnerre (Jonjo O’Neill/Jonjo O’Neill Jnr) to win, with Irish raider Mighty Tom (Cian Collins/Danny Gilligan) a remote third.
Unlucky
Although nothing should be taken away from the eventual winner – after all, jumping is the name of the game – it’s the unfortunate JPR One who remains the one to take out of the contest.
With an impressive Newton Abbot chasing debut under his belt, the son of Court Cave was inch-perfect over 12 of the 13 fences as he attempted to make all on his third start at Prestbury Park.
Tizzard said “That’s racing. Luckily the horse and Brendan are all right and he looked like he was going to win very impressively. He jumped from fence to fence and jumped the last well but just crumpled a little bit. We know we’ve got a horse to go to war with.”
Despite giving the first couple of fences plenty of air, unlike Homme Public skimming through the top, he improved his technique throughout.
The Grade 1 Henry VII Novices’ Chase on Tingle Creek Day at Sandown has been suggested by Tizzard as a potential next step for his improving novice, though he also pondered if a “confidence booster” may be required instead.
Well-bred Missile surprises
If the market was to be believed for the Grade 2 Trustatrader Novices’ Hurdle, Captain Teague (Paul Nicholls/Harry Cobden) looked to be set for an easy success, and as the field travelled down the famous Cheltenham hill into the home straight, this possibility was turning into a reality.
However, as they thundered towards the second-last, a horse in green silks, with a starting price of 22/1, posed a real threat to favourite backers.
That threat became a reality as Minella Missile (22/1, Evan Williams/Adam Wedge) stayed on best of them all to land a 100th career victory for prominent owner Janet Davies, with Captain Teague passing the line in second and The Big Doyen (Peter Fahey/Keith Donoghue) a valiant third.
No fluke
Although Captain Teague didn’t do too much wrong and brought both Grade 1 and Grade 2 form to the table, nothing can be taken away from the winner.
The Beat Hollow half-brother to Jonjo O’Neill’s Monbeg Genuis raced at the rear of the field for the majority of the two miles and five furlong contest and pinged over each hurdle, stalking the race leaders with intent.
At the top of the hill, jockey Wedge made the bold decision to pull his mount wide while the remainder of the pack stayed rooted to the far side.
As both The Big Doyen and Captain Teague took a wide line into the bend, Minella Missile clipped the corner’s apex, putting him in a good position to win.
Special Horse
Not only was the £37,000 purchase a special win for his owner, but he also gave trainer Williams his first Cheltenham victory of the last two seasons.
Post-race, the boss of Fingerpost Farm said he loves a horse who can “drop in and quicken” and could be stepped up in trip with minimal trouble.
As with many horses under the helm of Williams, fences will be his ultimate aim. However, in a race that looked decent on paper before the flag dropped, he won convincingly and shouldn’t be underestimated on his next assignment.
The concluding Valda Energy Novices’ Handicap Hurdle went to the Nicky Henderson-trained 2/1 favourite Impose Toi under Nico de Boinville
SHARING OPTIONS: