Today’s Quotes

2.20

Jonbon

10yo b.g. gelding by Walk In The Park (IRE) ex Star Face (FR) (Saint Des Saints (FR))

Shloer Steeple Chase (Registered As The Cheltenham Steeple Chase) (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1) over 2m • £56,950

I think we’re definitely more forward than we were this time last year, and he’s in very good form. The ground is obviously quite a big talking point but I’ve been in regular conversation with John Pullin (Clerk of the Course) and he’s trying to start the meeting on as slow a ground as he can make it, but that’s easier said than done especially because there hasn’t been as much rain as forecast and the temperature is set to get to minus which could make things difficult from an irrigation point of view; but it should still be a safe surface. Harry Cobden has been in a couple of times and jumped five fences on him which always flicks his switch into race mode and he enjoyed a gallop around Kempton a couple of weeks ago, so I couldn’t be happier with him. Cheltenham takes us nicely into the Tingle Creek and then we’ll probably look towards Ascot again for the two Grade Ones he won there last season. He is still a very high class horse and I’m incredibly proud of everything he’s achieved; to not finish out of the first two in every race he’s had is remarkable and his zest for life and racing is definitely not waning so I see no reason why he can’t enjoy another fruitful campaign.

2.20

Mighty Bandit

6yo br.g. gelding by Order Of St George (IRE) ex Akalara (IRE) (Masterofthehorse (IRE))

Shloer Steeple Chase (Registered As The Cheltenham Steeple Chase) (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1) over 2m • £56,950

2.55

Ga Law

10yo b.g. gelding by Sinndar (IRE) ex Law (FR) (Lute Antique (FR))

Jilly Cooper Veterans' Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 2) over 2m4f • £18,210

Having won the Grade 2 Rising Stars Novice Chase at Wincanton, he missed a year with an injury. He bounced back in tremendous form to win the Paddy Power Gold Cup in 2022. He won a £100,000 handicap at Cheltenham in January 2024 and was second in the Grade 2 Oaksey Chase that spring. He has since been in the grip of the handicapper but has still been second in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, third in the Oaksey Chase and was third in the Charlie Hall last autumn. The handicapper is beginning to relent and we should be able to take advantage now that we are veteran chassing this season.

4.00

Shallow Bowles

6yo b.m. mare by Sholokhov (IRE) ex Zahra's Place (GB) (Zaha (CAN))

Valda Energy Novices' Handicap Hurdle Race (GBB Race) (Class 3) over 2m½f • £10,892