Saturday analysis: Ben Linfoot on Cloth Cap and an RSA Chase poser

Saturday Reports

• Cloth Cap makes all in Trophy
• Epatante tanks to Fighting win
• Sparkling start for Monkfish
• Next Destination delivers

It took 3m2f to sort them out, but really, the 2020 Ladbrokes Trophy was won at the first five fences. CLOTH CAP and Aye Right dominated right from the off, and by the fifth they were in a rhythm that the majority of the rest of the field just couldn’t cope with.

The Tizzard challenge ended at the ninth, as Mister Malarky fell while stablemate Copperhead pulled up. Potterman fell at the open ditch down the back straight and Vinndication went at the fifth last. Good horses, but they couldn’t cope with this test.

Aye Right was excellent. He jumped well in a prominent position and battled hard to beat The Conditional, who travelled well, for second. He’s versatile regarding ground conditions and, off a mark of 150, he just bumped into one, failing to give a stone to the winner.

Ten lengths clear at the line, Cloth Cap was worth every inch of the official verdict. He was simply brilliant, making most of his light weight under an aggressive ride from Tom Scudamore, who saw a stride with his willing partner when he put in an exhilarating leap at the fourth last.

That extended his advantage and it increased at every fence in the straight. Five lengths clear with another brilliant leap at the final fence, he doubled his lead on the run-in to record a third Ladbrokes Trophy for owner Trevor Hemmings, after Trabolgan and Many Clouds, and a first for trainer Jonjo O’Neill.

The latter horse famously won the Grand National in the same season and that will likely be the task for Cloth Cap now.

Many Clouds won the then Hennessy off 151 and followed up at Aintree off 160, but Cloth Cap was punching from the other end of the handicap at Newbury, winning on Saturday off 136. If he’s not a stone higher on Tuesday morning he’ll certainly be nudging 150, but at least connections shouldn’t have to worry about him making the cut for the National.

Obviously future tasks will be much tougher now, but he relished the forcing tactics in the cheekpieces, he’s clearly at his best on good ground and he stays well, too, with a third in the Scottish National on his CV, so there’s plenty going for him ahead of a National bid. Cut to a general 25/1, he’ll have his takers at that price.

Aye Right and The Conditional are thriving horses and could be National-bound, too, but both have to prove their stamina for that test and slightly bigger quotes about them for Aintree are less tempting than Cloth Cap’s.

The Hollow Ginge crept into things from off the pace and he did the best of those that were held up, although he led home several that were more patiently ridden with Beware The Bear doing what he does in this race, picking up the pieces, including Adrlethen, who was fourth two out but weakened in the closing stages.

Kildisart stayed on but couldn’t go with them when things got serious at the cross fence, while Black Op was trying hard to tag onto the coat-tails of the leaders at that point only for his efforts to tell as he weakened after two from home.

La Bague Au Roi usually races prominently but was taken off her feet at the start, making mistakes at the first couple of fences. Richard Johnson was forced into a patient ride after that and she made good headway until another mistake at the fourth last took the wind out of her sails. She weakened again into eighth, splitting Kildisart and Black Op.

Secret Investor, sent off joint-favourite with Vinndication, was last of the finishers, a mistake four out, when in fourth, ending his challenge.

The other one worthy of a mention is Two For Gold. He ran prominently on the inside for a long way and was still fourth at the cross fence, albeit under pressure, but he emptied in the straight and was pulled up two out. Only seven, this was perhaps too much too soon and there will be other days for him.

Would you rather - Monkfish 4/1 or Next Destination 12/1 for the RSA Chase?

On the one hand it’s madness, isn’t it? Horse is 4/1 for Grade One novice chase at the Cheltenham Festival after one run over fences against out-of-their-depth rivals over a trip three furlongs shorter than the quoted for race which is in OVER THREE MONTHS’ TIME.

But on the other hand MONKFISH has Festival form, having won what is looking like a red-hot Albert Bartlett, he jumped beautifully like a natural at Fairyhouse – giving the broadest of hints he’ll be even better over fences – and he’s trained by Willie ‘The Most Successful Trainer In Cheltenham Festival History’ Mullins.

So you can see why the bookies are running for cover. Connections will be delighted, there is no doubt. Clearly, they have a very talented novice chaser on their hands and Monkfish looks a live one to win a Grade One in Ireland over the Christmas period or at the Dublin Racing Festival or both.

But I think, even if you forced me to have an RSA Chase bet today, it wouldn't be on him, as I would rather see him go and do it against top-class opposition and face another price cut. After all, even if he goes and wins a Grade One next, how much shorter can he realistically get before March? It seems his Grade One qualities are already heavily factored into his price.

About two hours after Monkfish laid down an RSA Chase marker former stablemate NEXT DESTINATION threw his hat into the ring for the same race after winning on his own chasing debut for Paul Nicholls in the Ladbrokes John Francome Novices’ Chase at Newbury, a Grade Two, and a good one, as well.

Kalooki, rated 147, looked very good when he won on his chasing debut at the same track by 12 lengths on November 5 and he could only manage a seven-and-three-quarter-length third here, while the 145-rated Hold The Note, an experienced chaser and a Cheltenham Festival third over fences, was beaten over 13 lengths in fourth.

There’s no getting away from an excellent chasing debut from Next Destination, then, and a very good run from Nick Williams’ One For The Team, who was beaten one-and-a-quarter lengths in second.

Next Destination jumped well and stayed well and handled good ground well – these were undoubtedly the fastest conditions he’s ever faced - and he was impressive given this was his first go over fences against good opposition, but even more so considering it was just his second run on the back of 920 days off the track.

Keeping him sound will be key, which is also something to factor in, but the obvious next step is the Grade One Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day and if he wins that then double-figure RSA Chase quotes will be a thing of the past.

So with good Cheltenham Festival form himself – fourth in the Champion Bumper, third in Samcro’s Ballymore – the general 12/1 (he’s 20/1 with Hills, a punchy view and a bet at that price) looks more appealing than those skinny, if perfectly understandable, Monkfish quotes.