GOSH NO FALL GUY
Moore’s star can rejoin Champion trail
GOSHEN can throw down the gauntlet to Champion Hurdler Epatante with a comeback success in the Unibet International Hurdle (3.00) at Cheltenham.
Last March, the jumping world gasped in disbelief as Gary Moore’s son of Authorized, with the Triumph Hurdle at his mercy, stumbled on landing at the final flight and unseated the trainer’s son Jamie.
It was a cruel end to a juvenile hurdles campaign that promised so much.
Goshen won his first three starts over obstacles by an aggregate of 68 lengths and, despite two defeats on the Flat during the autumn, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t continue his upward curve this winter and make up into a contender for Champion Hurdle honours next spring.
Jockey Harry Skelton, who had the best afternoon of his career with a Grade 1 double at Sandown Park last Saturday – capped by Politologue in the Tingle Creek Chase – teams up with ASHTOWN LAD in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (2.25).
The six- year- old, trained like Henry VIII Novices’ Chase victor Allmankind by Skelton’s brother Dan, impressed with scores at Wetherby and Uttoxeter on his last two outings, and has the potential to step up to Grade 2 level.
After a return-to-action sixth at Wetherby in October, MIAH GRACE ran a half-length second to Mario De Pail at the same track a month later – and another step forward would see the Jedd O’Keeffe trainee make the shake-up for the Close Brothers Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (3.35).
On the Doncaster card, MANOFTHEMOUNTAIN is given another chance in the bet365 Handicap Chase (3.15).
A distant fourth to Frodon at Cheltenham in October represented a rare below-par run for the Emma Lavelle-saddled son of Mahler, who had won all four completed chase starts previously. He is best judged on his return-toaction triumph at Bangor in September.
The ex- French- trained racer made the perfect start to his career in Britain at Exeter 20 days ago, so MONMIRAL looks a worthy favourite as he steps up in class for the bet365 Summit Juvenile Hurdle (2.40).
Five promising rookies – all trained in the South – assemble for the Grade 2 bet365 December Novices’ Chase ( 2.05), with preference for Colin Tizzard’s battling Exeter scorer OF ALL THE G IN JOINTS.