Five horses who caught the eye at Cheltenham's Showcase Meeting

Nayati was victorious following a three-year absence at Perth in September off a rating of 122 and backed that effort up when a never-nearer third off a 5lb higher mark in this extended two-mile contest.

Donald McCain’s eight-year-old raced a shade keenly in last but fared best of those held up, with the first two home both racing prominently throughout, and shaped better than the bare result suggests.

Although he has raced predominantly over this trip, this effort suggests Nayati is worth a try over further again, and he has won off a rating of 128 in the past.

Given he was a consistent performer and won three of his 13 starts during 2019, he looks capable of making up for lost time this season.

The fact Gordon Elliott ran Music Drive in the Champion Bumper, which he finished a respectable eighth in, last season hints that this youngster is held in high regard by connections, and he recorded a workmanlike victory on his hurdling debut at Galway this month.

He did look as though he would improve for the outing beforehand there, though, and he was unlucky not to finish closer in this class two contest.

The five-year-old travelled well until the turn for home where he appeared to become outpaced as Mofasa and The Wounded Knee upped the tempo, but he stuck to his task well under pressure and was closing on that pair towards the finish, with a mistake at the last not helping his cause, either.

This outing certainly suggests a step up in trip will suit this point-to-point winner, and his jumping should improve with experience. I will be surprised if he is not seen over further on his next start, and Music Drive remains with plenty of potential.

Despite not recording a victory from seven starts, this mare ran to a fairly high level over hurdles and fences in France before joining Joseph O’Brien in September, and showed she has a touch of class when scoring at Killarney on her Irish debut where she lost plenty of ground jumping, and hanging, right throughout the race.

It was no shock to see connections up her in class following that effort, and while she faced a stiff task against two Grade One winners here, she shaped with bundles of promise to finish third having raced exuberantly throughout.

Admittedly, she was in receipt of more than a stone from her two main rivals – Pied Piper and Knight Salute – and she did have the tendency to jump out to her right again, but this outing signalled she could develop into a useful performer this season, especially in races against her own sex.

Bella Scintilla also stayed further than two miles in France, which opens up plenty of options for her, too, and I expect connections will be keen to gain some black type sooner rather than later.

Editeur Du Gite enjoyed a productive campaign last season which included two victories at Cheltenham prior to finishing fourth in the Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival.

Gary Moore’s gelding is suited by front-running tactics – he has made all in each of his four victories over fences – so it was a slight surprise to see him restrained here, although that may have been due to two other front-runners being in the line-up.

He has also stripped fitter following his previous seasonal debut efforts, and the way he shaped, plus the fact he was weak in the betting, suggests he will come on considerably for this outing. Gary Moore also said his eight-year-old “does benefit from a run” when discussing his chances beforehand.

Editeur Du Gite found Grade One company too hot on his final start last season, but he was a thoroughly progressive handicapper before that, and while he will remain above his last winning mark when reassessed, it will be disappointing if he isn’t capable of being competitive in valuable handicaps again this season.

This six-year-old has progressed nicely throughout his career winning seven of his 16 starts under rules and produced an eye-catching run on his return to action here.

Jonjo O’Neill’s grey travelled well into the race before he became outpaced after the omitted third-last hurdle where the lack of a recent run probably started to take its toll, but found his second wind to stay on into third.

This run will have blown the cobwebs away, and it is wise to believe there is more to come from An Tailliur who could be aimed at the Pertemps Final in March, which he has now qualified for.

He does have the option of going chasing, but he isn’t the biggest, and three-mile handicap hurdles look ideal for him.