Ekbalco

Another super day's sport at the foot of Cleeve Hill - with lots of animals to go in the notebook for the future.
Blue Riband to Menorah of course and we may look back on this as the hurdling performance of the season - the 8/1 on offer re. the Champion looks at least 2 points too big - with the prospect of better ground come the Spring sure to suit and with an already established penchant for the track - he looks the first play in the Champion market and a big play at that.
Another to particularly note back in the field was Lush Life who ran a lovely seasonal opening and will be primed next time, hopefully over fences where he could go right to the very top.
Gauvain surprised in the big Chase and it will be interesting to see how he is now campaigned for the rest of the season from the trainer of the moment Nick Williams.Forpady is now starting to look doggy and it would be no surprise to see blinkers applied - on these terms he really should have won this race.
The opening nov chase was blinder and won in convincing style by Ghizao who'll be back for the Arkle.Captain Chris jumped well on the stiffest of debuts over fences,though strikes me as the type of horse to fall between two stools - not enough speed for the Arkle and not enough stamina for the Sun Alliance.
The concluding Bumper contained some lovely types - the winner Rock on Ruby looks a fab prospect at all codes of the game and the Henderson horse Cucumber Run will certainly more than pay his way.

Elsewhere our usual profit machine of the In-Running Steeplechase Inside Track at Fontwell paid off in spades with Kappelhoff and PeS securing the golden rail.
Tullymure Dew had to do no more than jump round,but is a lovely chasing type and could run up a sequence that ends in a decent handicap chase somewhere.

In Ireland Solwhit was good and is back on track and the winner of the big novice chase,The gr8johnbrowne, looks a beautiful jumping machine that can mop up these staying Irish big money novice chase before getting turned over at short odds at Chelters come March.

Just having a Shepherds Pie this evening with baby carrots and pumpy peas followed by a Rhoobarb Crumble made by Mrs.McGuffie from the Post Office.
The usual Old Speckled and San Pellegrino of course.

Eat well.