Cheltenham eyecatchers: Five horses to follow from the International Meeting

Race: Third in the Fitzdares Club Loves The Peterborough Chase (1.50, Friday)

Clondaw Castle has taken his form to another level this season and finished a creditable third in the rearranged Peterborough Chase on Friday.

He lost his position mid-way through the race and his jumping wasn’t foot perfect, and I don’t think he is best suited to the new course at Cheltenham.

He was also hampered by the faller, Fanion D’Estruval, at the third last, although it is fair to say it did not make a difference to the result.

His best effort at Prestbury Park was on the old course when he finished fourth in the 2019 Arkle and he has run below-par on his other two starts on the new course.

Tom George’s charge has proved consistent during his career, bar those two efforts, and produced a career-best off a rating of 151 when carrying top weight to victory at Newbury in November.

The eight-year-old will remain on at least a career-high mark but looks to be reaching his peak now and is one to keep on the right side of for the remainder of the season.

Race: Third in the Citipost Handicap Hurdle (3.35, Friday)

2018 County Hurdle winner Mohaayed did not show his true colours last season, but the step up to three miles on his past two starts has seen the eight-year-old bounce back to form.

As a result of a few below-par runs, Mohaayed, who also had a wind op before the start of the season, now finds himself on a rating of 141 having been rated as high as 153 in the past, and his last win came off a rating of 145.

His run at Cheltenham on Friday signalled a return to the winners’ enclosure is not far away as he found himself with plenty of ground to make up turning for home and stayed on strongly to finish a never-nearer third.

It remains to be seen if he will be raised a pound or two for this run, but he would have probably gone close to winning had he been closer to the leaders when beginning to make his challenge.

I expect connections will keep him over this trip this season, and we know he is capable of winning off this mark.

Race: Second in the Jockey Club Cheltenham and Sw Syndicate Novices' Chase (12.40, Saturday)

There was plenty to like about this effort by Nick Mitchell’s charge. Third on his chasing debut, he backed that up with an excellent round of jumping to finish second to Fusil Raffles, who only got on top close home.

Whilst he got an easy time of things out in front, he jumped for fun and perhaps just got outstayed on the run-in.

Clearly well regarded having run in the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival, the lightly-raced five-year-old looks to have a bright future over the larger obstacles and connections may perhaps look to get his head in front now before targeting loftier prizes.

Race: Fell in the Spreadex Handicap Chase (1,15, Saturday)

Zanza looked to be full of running when falling in this contest and would have almost certainly played a part in the finish had he not crumpled on landing.

Thankfully, he looked none the worse for the mishap and deserves to gain compensation this season.

Admittedly, the winner did win easily, but Zanza had jumped relatively well until the third last and had yet to be asked for his effort.

Rated 139 over hurdles, he has already reached that level over fences and he remains unexposed over the larger obstacles.

He does have room for improvement in the jumping department, but has only had four starts over fences and ought to be capable of winning a handicap off a rating of 145.

Race: Second in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup Handicap Chase (1.50, Saturday)

He may have been no match for the well-handicapped winner, Chatham Street Lad, in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup, but this was still an encouraging effort from Midnight Shadow, who travelled well and fared best of the rest off a rating of 148.

A runner-up at Grade One level last season, Sue Smith's charge has won twice at Prestbury Park, including when successful in the Dipper Novices' Chase on New Year's Day, albeit he was a fortuitous winner.

It remains to be seen what the handicapper made of his effort, but he clearly handles the track well and looks the type who could be a live contender for a handicap at the Cheltenham Festival.