Update from Ten to follow pre - cheltenham - Thu 10/03/2016 Plus runner update

Hollies Pearl is running at Haydock park tomorrow 

Champagne West was sent off favourite for one of the last big handicap chases before Cheltenham, the Bet Bright Chase, over 3 miles at Kempton late last month. Having fallen on his previous start at Cheltenham, Tom O’Brien took over here but his jumping was never really that slick and he failed to get into the race at all before fading tamely out of contention. The truth is he is running out of excuses and, although clearly though capable of much better, he’s not a horse you could back with any degree of certainty. Very few races at the level at which he operates are won by dodgy jumpers and the only hope he has is that returning to a left handed track suits him better.

Ruben Cotter also made his seasonal reappearance in the same race and his trainer’s pre race comments that he felt he was not ready were a little surprising as he had had the race as his target all season. He jumped pretty well held up but couldn’t make ground at a track where those tactics are notoriously difficult in big fields and trailed in well beaten. The fact that Nichols and his owner chose to keep a fragile 10 year old in training and go for this race indicates they rate him highly and he’ll presumably get more chances this spring. He seemed to jump very well in last year’s Topham behind a very well handicapped winner and could be interesting there with more time between his races this time.

Anibale Fly ran in a 2 mile handicap hurdle at Leopardstown and was also sent off favorite. He was held up in a race where it paid to race prominently but did finish full of running and gave the impression he was capable of winning races from his current mark. Not entered for Cheltenham, his best form last year was at Fairyhouse and he will be of interest in a handicap at the Irish National meeting especially over further than the minimum trip. His owner’s horses generally find plenty of improvement in the spring and there’s certainly time for him to bag a couple of races before the season is out.

Hollies Pearl ran in a Listed Mares’ Hurdle over 3 miles at Doncaster at the weekend and looked the winner when appearing to be travelling well behind turning into the long straight. She came off the bridle before the third last and eventually finished out on her feet, clearly failing to stay in the rain softened ground. For me she is a 2 miler and has a killer turn of foot which she should be able to use to good effect from her current mark but connections seem reluctant to try although there will be an opportunity at Aintree, where she put up her best performance last year and we are approaching the time of year when her stable traditionally hits form.