Ross Millar has three more tips after a super Saturday

Plenty will get written about the performances from this weekend, so I won’t dwell on the details of the victories of Old Park Star, Jonbon and the rest. Instead let’s look forward and see what we might have learnt this weekend that can be of value as we creep closer to the spring festivals. 

Old Park Star looks a monster; mature beyond his years as he jumped with athleticism and intelligence when pulverising a decent looking field in the Rossington Main at Haydock. 

I’d been leaning towards El Cairos after his performance at Leopardstown over Christmas but I’m now fully in the camp of the Nicky Henderson-trained novice. 

He will arrive at Cheltenham with more match practice and with his slick jumping and potent mix of speed and stamina. I’d expect him to draw the sting out of El Cairos under what I anticipate being a positive ride from Nico de Boinville. 

Winston Junior was deeply impressive when sluicing to victory under Harry Cobden in the opening Juvenile Hurdle at Ascot. However he might just have been a touch too impressive, as the handicapper will have his say on Tuesday and I’d be surprised if the rise was anything less than 10lb. That may mean connections will have to steer away from the Fred Winter and instead have a stab at the JCB Triumph Hurdle. 

The Clarence House has produced some fantastic finishes over the years and Saturday’s renewal was no exception. 

Jonbon was struggling to hang on to Thistle Ask and Il Etait Temps as they exited Swinley Bottom, but gradually his tremendous depths of stamina started to come to the fore and with Il Etait Temps faltering before capsizing (thankfully getting to his feet after a nervous wait) he gradually wore down the exuberant leader and won going away. 

I am one of the few that doesn’t buy into the theory that Cheltenham doesn’t suit Jonbon. Instead, I think it’s becoming increasingly clear that he’s a horse that doesn’t like being fired at fences – his one significant error came when James Bowen forced him to the final fence down the back. 

The high early tempo of a Champion Chase means that he’s often at the limit early in the race and errors creep in. 

It seems the Ascot Chase and Ryanair Chase, over further, are now on his agenda, and that looks sensible. He should find it easier to get in a rhythm. 

I’d nominated Thistle Ask as an ante-post bet for the Champion Chase this month and he further enhanced his claims in defeat. His stamina only gave out late on and on the sharper Old Course, and on potentially better ground, he could be hard to peg back. 

Of course, I’m aware that connections feel he might be better right-handed, though I fail to see any evidence of that in his form given his recent and rapid progression. 

Perhaps the Skeltons have seen evidence of this preference at home. 

Philip Hobbs and Johnson White are enjoying a strong season, and Imperial Saint appreciated the unusually sound surface at Haydock in the Peter Marsh Chase. He stayed powerfully to the line and the handicapper cannot be be too harsh. He could find yet more improvement over marathon trips. 

Myretown once again failed to jump fluently and is becoming frustrating. Lucinda Russell now has a big decision to make. He has twice this season jumped poorly for stable jockey Derek Fox, yet under Patrick Wadge he jumped impeccably when winning the Ultima in taking fashion last season. Loyalty is to be admired, particularly in sport where it is often sacrificed too swiftly, but I am all to aware from personal experience that sometimes a rider just doesn’t quite gel with a certain horse. This could be the case for Myretown, and it’s worthy of discussion at the least. 

Monday is a quiet day for National Hunt action, but I’ve found three selections at Lingfield. 

Winner of a bumper last season he’s shaped well in both his hurdle starts, shaping with more promise than his finishing position suggested at Chepstow, when hampered at a crucial time. 

His conqueror at Huntigdon, Glance At Midnight,  chased home Supreme Novice favourite Old Park Star at Cheltenham on his next start, which gives validity to his form. Provided he’s ready to go after a short break he’s well up to winning a maiden of this nature. 

Has been below par in three starts this season but they’ve all been over hurdles and he’s simply better as a chaser. 

This time last season he was staying on third in the Edinburgh National off a mark of 139. 

He’s now down to an appealing mark of 131 and returns to a marathon trip over fences having undergone wind surgery. 

Conventional wisdom is that often second time out after such surgery is often when the benefit is most noticed, but he did win on his first start after a similar procedure in 2023. 

A winning selection this time last week over nearly three miles at Hereford, he’s turned out quickly under a 7lb penalty. 

Given the ease with which he won, it’s perfectly reasonable to think he’ll be given a double-digit rise from the handicapper on Tuesday and as such can be considered well in under the penalty. 

This drop in trip poses a new question but he travelled powerfully last time and looked the winner at every stage. Sean Bowen knows him well and is sure to utilise his proven stamina.