Expert Analysis

This was a fast run race in the early stages before Ciaran Gethings on the leader eased off leaving the stands with a circuit to go. The pace was then increased again from three out to the winning post. These suppositions are supported by fence to fence time comparisons with Jordans Cross who won the opening race over the same distance and further substantiated by the attheraces.com sectional times.

DONNACHA He raced prominently throughout which was probably an advantage given the way the race was run. The leaders were able to fill up leaving the stands before kicking on again running down the hill making it more difficult for the holdup horses to get competitive.

We might only see him once more this season in either the Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury in early March or back here in the middle of March. If he is kept to an intermediate trip he will need testing conditions to give him his best chance of being competitive. On a good to soft surface we might even see him rerouted to the Ultima Handicap chase on the opening day of the festival. That said, the ground here was probably no worse than good to soft. The handicapper has certainly given him another chance by only raising him 4lbs to his new 136 rating.

JAGWAR Despite a slightly scruffy leap at the final fence, he still had plenty of time to get past the leader if he was good enough. We will understand more about the quality of this form after the winner has competed on a soft surface again and/or this runner up has performed in whichever race he is heading for in March. He has only been raised 3lbs for this performance which seems extremely lenient to say the least. Consequently, I suppose his new 152 rating still leaves the handicap route in March as an option.

TRIPLE TRADE I would suggest there was an element of him being a little fortunate to inherit a dead heat for third after Javert Allen tired badly from the last to the line.

JAVERT ALLEN His exuberant way of racing from the front, perhaps, made life difficult for him from the second last fence to the winning line on this course. On similar ground but on a course with a less severe finish, he could be more convincing over this sort of distance. If so, I hope to see him prove to be a well-handicapped horse sooner rather than later. At this moment in time he appears to be more of a Grand Annual type rather than one for the Plate.

BOOSTER BOB I am far from sure he was suited to the undulations of this course. His jumping lacked fluency and his best form has been earned on flat tracks thus far. Moreover, I do not think he finished in front of very much that ran a race.

MOON D’ORANGE Not for the first time he failed to convince in the jumping department at Cheltenham.

UNCLE BERT This was a disappointing performance, not least because he appeared pre-race to have more in his favour compared to many of his rivals.

BOOMBAWN He was running in completely unsuitable conditions and will presumably be dropped in the handicap on his way to whatever spring targets his connections have in mind for him.

PRAIRIE WOLF I doubt we will see him race away from the north anytime soon after this underwhelming display.

RISKINTHEGROUND After drifting ominously in the betting he ran no race at all and will presumably be the second Dan Skelton horse in this premier handicap to be dropped by the handicapper on his way to a spring target.