Timeform Notebook: Focus on Festival Novices

The opening race of the week, the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, saw My Tent Or Yours sent off as a warm favourite on the back of a highly-impressive success in the Betfair Hurdle. However, Nicky Henderson's charge, despite tanking along for much of the way, could not overhaul Champagne Fever up the hill, finishing a highly-creditable second in what may prove to be a vintage renewal. My Tent Or Yours ran to a similar level as he had done at Newbury - the prevailing feeling prior to the race being that such a performance would suffice- but he ran into another top-class, not to mention ultra-game, horse in the shape of Champagne Fever. Jezki, who was coming into the race unbeaten as a hurdler, was close up in third, the front three pulling well clear of a host of talented, promising novice hurdlers. 

Despite tasting defeat, My Tent Or Yours still looks more than capable of making an impact in top-level events next season, the Champion Hurdle surely his ultimate objective should connections spurn a crack at chasing. In the short term, his strong-travelling style is likely to be seen to great effect at Aintree, where he is likely to hold exceptional claims in the Top Novices' Hurdle, a race won by Darlan last year, while, looking further ahead, he ought to be difficult to beat in any race where the emphasis is on speed, the Christmas Hurdle an obvious mid-season target next term. His response to pressure, particularly on testing tracks against top-class opponents, remains his Achilles' heel, this not the first time he has found less than expected off the bridle, but with another year under his belt, and the chance to mature over summer, My Tent Or Yours will provide a formidable challenge for the very best hurdlers.

Mouse Morris may have left Cheltenham last week without a winner, but his three contenders, Baily Green, Rule The World and First Lieutenant, all performed with credit, finishing second in their respective races. Looking ahead to next year, Rule The World, the horse that finished second to The New One in the Neptune Novices' Hurdle, could provide Morris with his best shot of securing Cheltenham glory, the RSA chase an obvious target for a horse that looks destined to come into his own over fences. The Willie Mullins-trained Pont Alexandre was supposedly the week's Irish banker, but it was the progressive Rule the World, a Grade 2 winner on his most recent start, that fared best of the Irish contingent, travelling strongly and keeping on well in the closing stages without being able to match the explosive turn of foot shown by The New One. 

For a horse that has already shown he is effective over three miles, the sedate early gallop was probably against Rule The World, at least in comparison to the winner, who will probably be aimed at the Champion Hurdle such is the speed he displayed. That makes his effort in coming second appear even better than on first inspection and the lightly-raced six-year-old is surely open to further improvement. Morris has proven that he knows how to target a horse at Cheltenham and should Rule The World display an aptitude for fencing he will be many punters' idea of the RSA winner come the Festival.

Another potential RSA Chase prospect for next year could well be Nigel Twiston-Davies' African Gold, a gallant second in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle behind At Fishers Cross. Progressive over hurdles, African Gold was seeking to complete the five-timer at Cheltenham but simply ran into a better horse under the conditions, the winner's form looking strong following The New One's triumph on Wednesday. There were plenty of positives to take from African Gold's performance and he once again jumped well, travelled fluently, and seemed to appreciate the step up to three miles, sticking on resolutely up the hill. He certainly has the size and scope to make a chaser and his straightforward attitude is certainly an advantage. Considering his trainer's refreshing attitude to regularly running his horses, African Gold could turn up to next year's RSA with plenty of experience under his belt, something which has proven a positive in that often-attritional affair. 

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