Our Trackside Live team are providing parade ring updates from the New Year's Day meeting at Cheltenham.
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Verdict
Glengouly best. Just Over Land liked at a bigger price
Parade ring updates
9 Just Over Land - in good order, well defined, big chested gelding.
4 Riskintheground - stockily built sort but looks heavy compared to other yard representatives over last few days.
7 Moon d'Orange - looked spot on when winning here last year and hasn’t presented quite the same since. Slim and narrow gelding who does tend to look well.
2 Matata - wears red hood and can be quirky, fit and well although we’ve probably sighted him looking better in the last year or so.
5 Il Ridoto - probably the preferred of the two Nicholls horses on appearance; no major concerns on either but he’s looking better than we’ve seen him for a while.
3 Twinjets - purposeful walk, good rib definition, well muscled behind.
6 Grandeur D'Ame - Alan King’s horses have been making appeal today; look in good order, similar comments apply.
8 Glengouly - impressed with appearance and demeanour, great shine to coat for the time of year, looks well in himself.
1 Jungle Boogie - looks in good order on first start after long break and for new yard, likeable.
Full result
1. HERAKLES WESTWOOD 11/2
2. Katate Dori 7/1
3. New Order 5/1
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Winning reaction
Warren Greatrex: "He's been in really good form. The horses have been brilliant all season. He deserved that and he gave him a great ride. He just wants a free run; Sean when he came in on the last day half kicked himself because he didn't really know him and he said 'I should have kept on at him down the hill' because he hits a bit of a flat spot and he said 'then I flew home after thinking I would be beaten quite a way'. So, today was just to make sure we had a clear run but he's some jumper, he's very honest and he stays forever."
Verdict
Good standard of fitness across the field, no strong opinions. Jasmin De Grugy probably best, Excello to outrun expectations.
Parade ring updates
8 New Order - a little strong but no concerns, fit.
4 Katate Dori - very heavy set and stocky, typical for him.
1 Does He Know - going straight through to paddock and out, very fit but clearly quirky.
7 Jasmin De Grugy - big strong gelding, not much to dislike, well defined.
3 Herakles Westwood - wears red hood but together and calm; lengthy sort, looks in fair order.
2 Shannon Royale - quite a short coupled and together gelding, balanced, fine.
6 Inch House - well defined across body; plenty to like.
5 Excello - stockily built grey who can look heavy; best presentation we’ve seen for a while with him.
Full result
1. MIAMI MAGIC 13/2
2. Regent's Stroll 6/4 favourite
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Discover Sporting Life Plus BenefitsWinning reaction
Charlie Hammond: "When he ran at Uttoxeter he was so wrong, I was beat going down to the first that day; I know Alnilam went very fast but I was never comfortable from the minute I set off so I came back to Stu and said 'this is a write-off, today's nowhere near him'. Then we went to Kempton and because he jumped like he jumped at Uttoxeter, it just took him a bit longer to get into the motion of things which was fine. I felt going up in trip would really suit him, he's bred for three miles, all his brothers get three and a quarter mile, and I thought if we could get two and a half it would give him the chance to go a stride slower earlier.
"He's got plenty of boot, we saw that last year over hurdles, but I just think when we were over two miles over fences, when he was in tight it was happening a bit fast for him but over two and a half, you saw today, he was good long and he was good in tight and I didn't even give him a smack, he was very good from the back of the last. He showed that little bit of class that we all saw last year, it's nice to have him back on track. He jumped brilliantly on the whole, a bit big and a bit too much time in the air but I think that will come with practice. Fair play to Stu and the owners, they spent their money on him trying to find what the problems were and they've found them; he looks the horse we hoped we might have this year now."
Verdict
Regent's Stroll best, Knight Of Allen to outrun expectations.
Parade ring updates
3 Regent's Stroll (below also) - improved character than earlier in the season when switched to the paddock, measured and calm.
3 Regent's Stroll - pre-parade: two handlers but taking proceedings well. Switch to paddock will be key.
5 Miami Magic - moves well and has always had a nice way about him, fine.
1 Eagle Fang - stockily built gelding, always looks a little heavy through the ribs, good shine to coat and clearly in good order.
2 Knight Of Allen - smaller gelding, nice way about him, team couldn’t have got him much fitter, tight over ribs.
4 Califet En Vol - easy moving gelding, grown into himself and strengthened this season, plenty to like.
Full result
1. STEP AHEAD 3/1
2. Just Golden 5/4 favourite
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Discover Sporting Life Plus BenefitsWinning reaction
Ciaran Gethings: "It kind of did go to plan. We knew that there would be competition for the lead and I was very much happy to go forward over the first couple and then when Paul ended up going on, he was relaxed in second; it's wherever he's relaxed is important whether it's in front or third and fourth. When Paul's horse made a mistake I was able to get across and just fill him up everywhere.
"I knew it was close and watching the replay it was very close but I was quite confident I was never getting passed, he always felt like he was finding a bit. He's a clever horse, he keeps a bit up his sleeve but he's very, very genuine; I think he's a very good horse. He probably will be running over three miles before long but early on in the race is crucial because he has to just relax, even over three miles he'll need to relax like he did today, but his jumping is a big asset to him. He's a horse with a big future fingers crossed."
Verdict
Nothing wrong with the top of the market, Kiwi Rush preferred.
Parade ring updates
7 Step Ahead (below also) - getting quite excited now.
7 Step Ahead - red hood and lightly on toes with two handlers, well defined and fit.
5 Minella Mission - will come forward for the run, deep girthed gelding.
2 Handin Manypockets - small gelding, light framed and fit, taking proceedings well.
3 Just Golden - more of a hurdling type than a lot of these, slim, agile, fit.
4 Kiwi Rush - has a bit of quality, not lacking for size but athletic an slim. Likeable.
8 Walk Tall - really big gelding, playing with his tongue and very relaxed in paddock, no fitness questions.
6 Neon Dream - big chasing type, ‘a leg in each corner’, typical Getaway, fit enough to do himself justice after a long break.
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