Ross Millar: Weekend reflection and three tips for Monday

I was anticipating that this would be a bumper column with some graded action from Sandown as well as two-days of action from the Dublin Racing Festival (DRF) to report on. 

However, torrential rain necessitated in the switching of Leopardstown’s Saturdays card to Monday. I’m continually impressed with how seamlessly Ireland seem to be able to reschedule fixtures.

Sunday at the DRF provided some tremendous action and additionally some real intrigue for the Cheltenham Festival. 

Many people’s idea of a ‘banker’ Final Demand was bitterly disappointing. His jumping, which had been foot-perfect and assured on his chase debut, was poor. He looked cumbersome when in deep and twisted when fired into a few by Paul Townend. 

Maybe a valid excuse will surface or maybe it was the surface itself that didn’t suit, either way he needs to find improvement before March. 

The winner Kaid D’Authie showed noticeable improvement in first time cheekpieces with trainer Wille Mullins suggesting this version resembled far more accurately the horse he’d been seeing on the gallops at Closutton. He adds another layer of complexity to the Brown Advisory picture. 

Cheekpieces also illicit improvement from Majborough. His jumping had been a handicap to his undeniable engine since switching to fences last season but fitted with headgear for the first time he was bold and accurate at his fences, with the only semblance of a mistake coming when meeting the second last on a long stride. 

He was impressive here but will he be able to repeat the feat if getting spring ground on the Old Course in the Champion Chase? 

At this stage I’d be wary of his ability to back this jumping performance up. Well-backed favourite Marine Nationale could never land a blow and again gives the impression that he’s a horse that requires races to fall just right to be seen at his best. 

Two-top class mares fought out the Irish Champion Hurdle, with Brighterdaysahead exacting revenge from Christmas as she reversed the form with runner-up Lossiemouth. 

This result surely means Willie Mullins mare will swerve the Champion Hurdle and instead bid to retain her Mares’s Hurdle title. 

I’m sure Brighterdaysahead trainer, Gordon Elliott feels they have unfinished business with the Champion Hurdle as she reportedly returned sore when well beaten in it last season. However, I’m not convinced that Cheltenham suits her as well as Leopardstown and will oppose her in March. 

The feature race from Sandown was the Grade One Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase.

Both Paul Townend and Jack Kennedy rerouted from the abandoned Leopardstown to partner Kitzbuhel and Kala Conti respectively. Both may well have wished they had saved the airfare. 

Kitzbuhel had impressed many with his win at Kempton last time out and his jumping figures made for impressive reading. 

I’d suggested after that race that his technique wasn’t all that sound and that I’d oppose him on that basis at Cheltenham. I wish I’d heeded my own advice here! 

His flamboyant jumping from Kempton appeared erratic on this occasion and he gave his partner no chance when diving into the middle of fence six, giving him a departing kick for good measure. 

Kennedy has rightly enjoyed plenty of praise for his riding this season but had a spin that I’m sure he’ll be keen to forget on Kala Conti, as he made an ill-judged move when trying to go up eventual winner, Sixmilebridge’s inside, jockey Kielan Woods rightly shut the door and seasoned watchers of Sandown will know that on testing ground you simply cannot afford to sacrifice momentum at that stage. 

Sixmilebridge took a while to warm to his jumping task but once he did he produced by far the best round of jumping in the field and stayed on powerfully up the hill with Kielan Woods notably emotional when crossing the line and in his post race-interviews. 

A lengthy ban for whip-rule infringements coupled, I suspect, with his alliance to the Megson family, resulted in him losing his position as No 1 rider to Ben Pauling. 

While he might currently lack some fire-power he isn’t lacking for talent. He’s excellent to an obstacle (a trait I value highly) and as he showed on Saturday has great race awareness. This timely Grade One win should remind trainers of his availability with plenty of spares up for grabs at the spring Festivals. 

Afterwards, winning trainer Fergal O’Brien suggested it would be the Arkle or the Browns Advisory next, suggesting a preference for the latter. 

Though I’d urge him to reconsider the handicapper surely can’t be too heavy with the handicap mark of Sixmilebridge, who was rated 149 beforehand, and it was apparent in his interviews that Wood’s felt his jumping got better as the tempo of the race increased, surely then a tilt for the Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap off a mark in the low 150s would give O’Brien his best chance of that elusive first Cheltenham Festival winner? 

On Monday Racing TV will have jumps action from both Leopardstown and Kempton, I have selections from both tracks. 

I hope I’m not going to live to regret this. I followed Don’t Tell Su over a cliff last season, when I continually viewed him as a well-handicapped horse, I fear encouraging a few of you to jump with me. 

He entered this season firmly locked in the ‘Do Not Touch’ file. Yet, given how well trainer Nicky Henderson has done with the Gordon and Su Hall recruits he’s inherited from previous trainer Paul Nicholls and given how well Don’t Tell Su shaped on his seasonal return, I find myself compelled to give him one more chance. 

I’m sure he’s significantly better than this mark of 117 and this track and trip should suit. 

He’s been in my notebook since catching my eye finishing strongly in last season’s Fred Winter Hurdle having been badly hampered.

I felt a step up in trip would bring about further improvement and that opinion was hardened after his last start where he stayed on late over 2m4f in a Listed contest. Josh Williamson is a new addition to the conditional ranks and is good value for his 5lb. 

My heart will be with reigning champion Galopin Des Champs. However, while I can forgive him getting tired on his comeback run in the Savill’s Chase I was concerned by how relaxed he looked through the early stages as he usually strains the reins on his first start of the season. 

Maybe he’s growing ever sensible or maybe Father Time is catching up. At a short price I’d rather not pay to find out. 

In opposition, I think I Am Maximus offers value as an each-way selection. 

He ran well to be second in the Savills when finishing second and this slower ground will ensure that his unorthodox jumping is put under minimal pressure. With his stamina assured, I expect him to finish strongly under Jack Kennedy.