Galvin
OR:142
Three Mile Chaser
6yo Geld
Trainer:Gordon Elliott
The 6 year old ran out an easy winner at Cheltenham last week showing strong travelling ability with little effort, clean jumping and showed a turn of foot up the Cheltenham hill to dispatch of nearest rival Soldier of Love. Soldier of Love is a four time winner over fences and was left one paced behind Galvin, who looked like he had much more in the tank. Last season at the Cheltenham festival he finished a valent 2nd to impressive winner Imperial Aura over two and a half miles. He received 1lb from the eventual winner but ran on well in behind leaving the remainder of promising horses 9+ lengths behind. His Travelling ability and finishing ability appears to have transferred well to three miles and with no entries to note he is a horse to keep an eye on.
Minella Celebration
OR:140
Three Mile + Chaser
10yo Geld
Trainer:Katy Price
This horse put in a performance last Sunday fitting of a Grand National horse. With no entries to his name yet, he has won 10 out of 35 starts, placing 11 times but looks to have come into his own. At the turn of the year he had some poor results but since has put up a decent run in 2nd place to Burtons Well at Doncaster and wins at Uttoxeter and Aintree, the latter being on soft ground. These results on paper suggest he has great stamina. He’s now had five runs over fences at Aintree and won three finishing in 2nd once. Sametegal and Vieux Lion Rouge were on their unfavoured ground but Vintage Clouds, Joe Farrell and Activial, a faller late on, were all beaten emphatically. He won by 14 lengths and it could have been more. In the last mile Don Poli stretched the race from the front making this race a true test of stamina and this performance suggests this horse can go much further. Although a “veteran’s” handicap, this horse is around his peak at 10 years old and the profile of the other horses warrant interest in the winner. He put in big leaps over the fences, even late on and cruised in the straight with ease. He had a run over the Aintree fences before in 2019 in the Becher Chase finishing in 10th but this performance signifies possible improvement and Minellacelebration is possibly one to watch for the big race in April.
One to Avoid
Allmankind
OR:146
Two Mile Hurdler
4yo Geld
Trainer: Dan Skelton
This horse caught the eye last season after putting up a hattrick of wins before coming 3rd in a memorable Triumph hurdle after making most of the running at a furious pace before running out of steam late in the day. He made his seasonal debut at Cheltenham last week and the spark seemed to be missing. He didn’t set anywhere near the pace that he had done in previous runs and this time he didn’t even get halfway up the straight before falling behind. The nature of this loss would suggest that he can’t repeat his previous performances at this course and we may say a change in distance or possibly plans to avoid the Cheltenham festival this season.
Hawkinsport 