Five eye-catchers at Cheltenham’s Christmas Meeting

Five eye-catchers at Cheltenham’s Christmas Meeting

By Gavin Beech
Last Updated: Mon 16 Dec 2024
Gavin Beech kept a close eye on all the action at the two-day meeting and suggests a handful of horses to keep a close eye on over the weeks ahead
Runners take the second fence of the novices' handicap chase at Cheltenham on Saturday (focusonracing.com). 

Wreckless Eric 

2nd in the Catesby Estates Handicap Hurdle
Friday’s Catesby Estates Handicap Hurdle was dominated by Mirabad, who slipped the field at halfway. The way this race panned out meant that those held up off the pace ultimately had no chance of catching the leader. 
For that reason, the staying-on Wreckless Eric needs to go into the notebook. This progressive hurdler came from off the pace to score at the November Meeting and although he couldn’t emulate that success off an 8lb higher mark, he surely demonstrated that when the right race setup comes along, he can strike again. He still looks on the right side of the assessor. 

Wonderful Eagle 

3rd in the Citipost Handicap Hurdle
On the face of it, Wonderful Eagle’s form has plateaued since his success at Newton Abbot in September but there was a good bit to like about his first try over 3m and there could be more to come. 
He wouldn’t have beaten Long Draw but a mistake at the last, when Micheal Nolan had still to ask him for maximum effort, proved a momentum stopper. 
The way he stayed on up the hill suggests he would have finished a clear second with a better leap at the last, in what looked a competitive event. A rating of 118 means that connections can drop Wonderful Eagle back down in grade, where he can add to his three hurdle successes. 

Quantock Hills 

Dead-heated in the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle
Only immaturity cost Quantock Hills outright victory in the juvenile hurdle on Saturday but that shouldn’t hide the fact that the resurgent Warren Greatrex has a nice young horse on his hands. 
The son of Sageburg went through that race like much the best horse before losing concentration up the hill and being joined on the line by Teriferma. 
At this stage, it’s anyone’s guess what this form is worth but the trainer holds Quantock Hillsin high regard and we’re going to see a better version of him when he gets softer ground. The Fred Winter, back at Cheltenham in March, looks the right race for him at this stage. 

Issar d’Airy 

2nd in the BetMGM Handicap Chase
Issar d’Airy was ultimately no match for the potentially very smart Libberty Hunter but there was still lots to like about his front-running performance. 
The switch to positive tactics in first-time cheekpieces suited this six-year-old, who travelled powerfully on the front end before giving best up the hill. 
Back on a flatter track, he has the ability to take rivals out of their comfort zone at this sort of level. 

Joyeuse 

2nd in the BetMGM Mares' Handicap Hurdle
It’s a stretch to say that Joyeuse would have won with a clear passage but it’s certainly the case that she didn’t get a clear shot at landing the concluding mares’ handicap hurdle on saturday. 
The lightly-raced grey mare travelled strongly under Nico de Boinville but had to concede first run to Wodhood and although she kept on well up the hill behind that rival, she wasn't able to close the gap late on. 
There is clearly a big engine under the bonnet of this five-year-old and, after just four career starts, we’re probably still a long way off seeing the best of her. She looks one to keep onside in big-field handicaps. 
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