Timeform Horses In Focus: Three to watch from the Cheltenham Open Meeting

/ Timeform / 17 November 2009 / Leave a Comment

This trio are worth keeping an eye on as the jumps season develops and could make a splash at the Festival proper next March, say Timeform

The Cheltenham Paddy Power meeting offered plenty of encouraging performances with a view to future leading races, but the display of Loosen My Load when landing the Grade 2 Sharp Novices' Hurdle was particularly eye-catching. The Henry de Bromhead-trained five-year-old came into the event with a progressive profile, having landed two bumpers and a novice hurdle, before finishing second in a Grade 3 event at Tipperary.

The son of Dushyantor quickened clear off a slow pace to deny another useful Irish rival, Some Present (by half a length), having idled when hitting the front. A big, strapping sort, Loosen My Load will be a top prospect when sent over fences, but on the basis of this form, he look set to be one of the leading novice hurdlers this season.

One horse who looks set to be a top prospect over fences this season is the Ian Williams-trained Weird Al, at least judged by a highly promising display when winning the Steel Plate and Sections Novices' Chase at Cheltenham on Friday. The lightly-raced six-year-old had shown plenty of promise in two previous starts, including when landing a novice hurdle at Warwick in November last season. However, a serious ailment had befallen him since, making this chasing debut only his third career outing, therefore showing the potential that Weird Al must possess in winning such a competitive event so early in his career. Weird Al stayed on strongly to deny the useful Knockara Beau close home and looks set to take a leading role in this sphere if able stay healthy.

In ending the four-run winning spree of leading juvenile hurdler Barizan, the Nick Williams-trained Pistolet Noir produced the most promising display in that discipline this season when winning the Grade 2 Juvenile Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday. On only his second outing, Pistolet Noir improved significantly to beat the aforementioned Barizan impressively by nine lengths, while still displaying signs of inexperience when in front. The French-bred gelding looks set to take high rank amongst the juvenile hurdling division this season.