Kalif Du Berlais is set to swerve Cheltenham despite maintaining his unbeaten record in the Coral Adonis Juvenile Hurdle.
The 10/11 favourite was given an almighty scare in the Grade Two contest by Givemefive, only overhauling his rival on the run-in and the 7/2 runner-up rallying bravely after that to go down by a half-a-length.
Winning rider Harry Cobden told ITV Racing: “I think we went an even enough gallop, we didn’t go mad, but I didn’t feel I was going that easily jumping the last down the back and he took a bit of cajoling but he jumped the second last well and winged the last.
“He’s still a bit of a baby, he’s hung left and right up the run-in and he’s jumped a bit to his left. There’s lots and lots of improvement to come. He’s massive, all of 16.3 and is a real chasing type.
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Trainer Paul Nicholls added: “He toughed it out, he gave them all weight. Whether we rode him right I don’t know, I’ll see what Harry says but he’s very much a horse for the future and we’ll look after him. I was thrilled with that.
“He’s had a hard race today, so I’d say he won’t run in the Triumph. Aintree is a possibility I suppose if we’re happy, but he’s won three from three now and if he didn’t run again this season it wouldn’t be the end of the world. He’s a horse we need to look after.”
Options open for promising runner-up
Harry Derham may also look away from Cheltenham with Givemefive, who McDowell owns in partnership with multiple major winner Brooks Koepka.
“He’s run a brilliant race,” said Derham. “Paul (O’Brien, jockey) and I spoke about it last night and the plan went perfectly and we just said if Cobden gets by us after the last, then so be it. I’m extremely proud of my horse’s run and he did everything right but just came second.
“Maybe (we’ll go to Cheltenham) but there’s a Grade Two at Fairyhouse two weeks later that makes appeal to me. There’s loads of options for him.
“I know that horse and he’s very genuine. I imagine he’ll be very tired and the lads can’t go to Cheltenham. There will be loads of very fresh and well-handicapped horses in the Fred Winter and he won’t be fresh and he won’t be well handicapped, so we might swerve that and go elsewhere. He’s a horse with a bright future and we’re looking forward to what’s to come.”
Double tops for Ditcheat team
Nicholls and Cobden completed a double in the Play Coral Racing-Super-Series For Free Handicap Chase with Golden Son (10/1), who ran on strongly to land the spoils after the last.
“We half-fancied him a little bit today and you can put a line through his last two runs,” said the champion trainer.
“Cheekpieces just focussed his mind a fraction and he stays well and it was a good ride for a big prize. I thought that was the right race for him today rather than the Pendil and it’s good to get him back. There’s quite a valuable race back here in three weeks time and he’ll probably come back for that. He’ll improve and keep improving and that was very good.”
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