IT looks a bit of a ‘what now?’ for what looked an extremely talented bunch of 2024 novice chasers.

With Fact To File and Spillane’s Tower fighting out the finish of the John Durkan, it looked like takeover time for the younger guns.

But with Spillane’s Tower and Corbetts Cross not landing a blow at Kempton, Monty’s Star underwhelming at Tramore, Aintree Grade 1 winner Inothewayurthinkin making no real show in his two outings so far and Gaelic Warrior and Found A Fifty beaten at Leopardstown (albeit both had excuses), that takeover has stalled.

I felt strongly and wrote here after Punchestown that Spillane’s Tower was a poor King George favourite, into a deep race first time in a Grade 1 in Britain and so it proved.

This was a big ask for a young horse, who did his Grade 1 winning on home soil at the end of last season and had never run ‘in the deep end’ at Cheltenham.

He could still improve again and the Durkan was still a good run, but it looks like the two J.P. McManus chasers each ran in the wrong races. Fact To File would have been interesting on the pace at Kempton, albeit Spillane’s Tower would only have been second at best at Leopardstown.

It’s also interesting to see if Walk In The Park, the current dominant sire in this country, can go on to produce solid, staying, Gold Cup-winning chasers.

His best sons, Jonbon, Douvan, Min were all brilliant at the middle distance range.

Spillane’s Tower, Monty’s Star and Inothewayurthinkin were among the top staying novice chasers of last season and now need to step up to the top three-mile plus level.

It was also a nice return to older times to see one of the former top sires, the deceased Kayf Tara, one of the last Sadler’s Wells sons, have two of the Grade 1-winning novice hurdlers in Romeo Coolio and The New Lion to represent him, in this increasing French-bred sire dominated field.

THERE was almost too much to keep track of over the last week and a few riders performed as well as their equine star partners.

Sean Bowen gets honourable mention away from the big meetings for perseverance on Heard That at Huntingdon on Thursday, after again never giving up at Uttoxeter on Eaton Anne.

Paul Townend got things spot on on Banbridge and that horse’s usual rider J.J. Slevin judged it perfectly to surprise on Solness and bring Home By The Lee to master Bob Olinger in the staying hurdle.

But Keilan Woods’ kid gloves riding Harper’s Brook at Wetherby on St Stephen’s Day takes the honours for restraint, patience and more patience.

Richstranger*@ChrisGartner2

Delivered an almighty last jump when required & then the cruising speed to draw away so effortlessly. A quite sensational horse blessed with the class, attitude, and jumping ability. When you consider how many times he’s been asked to go to the dance at the top level. Deadly. [On Galopin Des Champs]

Andy Cummins@Handy_Andy96

Jerry trying to beat the fog in the race prior was even better. “I should get a good run at them here”

Jerry rattles off every horse in the field before

The crowd got a laugh out of it too. It added a unique atmosphere to a sub par viewing spectacle. Never change, Jerry! [Jerry Hannon goes full speed at a break in the fog]

Ed Chamberlin@chamberlinsport

14,000 at Kempton yesterday. 956,000 watched on ITV. Both up on last year. Some brilliant horses. A good day.

Michael Looby@michaellooby2

The 5 G1s won by 4 IRE and 1 GB bred today and all ex Irish pointers, not all gloom and doom.Interestingly the 5 ran in 8 pts between them which resulted in 2 wins! [St Stephen’s Day successes]