Check out the latest Timeform Eyecatchers and add them to your free My Stable tracker.
Timeform Eyecatcher: Thursday
FEET OF A DANCER
Fourth, 3m handicap hurdle, Cheltenham, Thursday 13 March
Feet Of A Dancer had shaped well when 4½ lengths third to Win Some Lose Some at Leopardstown last time and made plenty of appeal for 2021's winning yard in the Pertemps Final. She was unable to provide the yard with the first leg of a double but surely have gone close to emulating her stable's 2021 winner of this Mrs Milner under different circumstances.
Feet Of A Dancer moved into the frame under tactics near the other end of the spectrum after she'd got there rather too soon behind Win Some Lose Some in the Leopardstown qualifier - she still had loads to do out wide two out here, and turned in with more than a dozen ahead of her but sustained her run well enough away from ground to take fourth after the last.
Though not the most imposing physically, there's still a good handicap with her name on it, while it's worth noting how effective she seems when fresh (form figures off a break now 11134).
Timeform Eyecatcher: Wednesday
FINAL DEMAND
Third, 2m5f G1 novice hurdle, Cheltenham, Wednesday 12 March
The trio at the head of the betting for the Turners Novices’ Hurdle (Baring Bingham) were all unbeaten over hurdles, making for a fascinating race, and the same three duly finished clear of the rest, all three of them remaining with bright futures.
Best backed of the three was Final Demand, impressive on his previous start in a Grade 1 at the Dublin Racing Festival, but he was less experienced than his two main rivals and that may have been the main factor in his defeat. But he still shaped with plenty of promise, leading approaching the last but headed when not fluent there and finishing third behind The New Lion and The Yellow Clay, beaten five and a half lengths behind the winner.
The most imposing of the three principals, Final Demand is very much a novice chaser to note next season but in the shorter term he’ll be a major player in whichever race he contests at Punchestown.
Timeform Eyecatcher: Tuesday
NOW IS THE HOUR
Fell, 3¾m novice handicap chase, Cheltenham, Wednesday 11 March
Now Is The Hour would have finished a good second at worst had he not fallen at the second-last fence when only a couple of lengths behind the eventual winner, Haiti Couleurs, and he looks capable of landing a good-quality handicap chase.
Now Is The Hour was making only his fifth start over fences, and his first in handicap company, and he took a step forward on his previous outings in this sphere, catching the eye with how well he travelled under a patient ride.
He showed over hurdles, notably when running out a wide-margin winner of a three-mile Grade 2 on heavy ground at Haydock, that he is blessed with plenty of stamina, but this effort demonstrated that he's not just a slogger.
The pace lifted notably off the home turn in this handicap hurdle, and Sunninghill certainly deserves a bit of extra credit over official the result considering he came from a less-than-ideal position.
He had shown plenty in his previous starts and he confirmed that promise after 11 weeks off to open his account in this sphere. Sunninghell found plenty to see of a trio who were ridden more prominently, shaken up on the home turn to move into a more prominent position and finding plenty to lead in the final 100 yards.
He was comfortably on top at the finish and looks a horse to be positive about now he's up and running.
More from Sporting Life
Safer gambling
We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.
Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.
