Sanctuaire can step up in class

RACING:

The latest horses to catch the eye of Chronicle racing correspondent KEITH McHUGH all ran at last week’s Cheltenham Festival and are expected to make their mark if turning out again this spring.

They are:

CAROLE’S LEGACY (trained by Nicky Henderson): A decent novice hurdler last season, this tough mare ran a blinding race to be second in the David Nicholson Hurdle, splitting top Irish performers Quevega and Voler La Vedette.

This was by far her best performance over timber and the chances are that she is improving fast and capable of improvement when returned to steeplechasing.

The EBF Mares Final at Newbury is a possibility and she would surely take the world of beating if turning up for that and able to translate her hurdling improvement to fences.

DEE EE WILLIAMS (Nick Gifford): Third to Thousand Stars in the County Hurdle, this gelding’s finishing position tells only half the story.

Chasing the trailblazing Marodima, Dee Ee Williams found himself stranded in front two hurdles from home and, as the pack bore down on him, it was to his eternal credit that he stuck on gallantly for a place.

I formed the opinion that he might have won but for racing so prominently and, providing the handicapper is not too harsh, Dee Ee Williams can land a nice hurdling prize over two miles on his preferred sound surface.

FIULIN (Evan Williams): This former decent Flat race performer was making only his second start over timber in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, but ran a stormer to finish seventh to Menorah.

He had some decent young hurdlers behind and victory in an imminent run-of-the-mill novice event looks a formality.

Failing that, his novice status may be preserved until next season when, with another summer under his belt, he could take high rank.

OH CRICK (Alan King): This tough and determined gelding did not stay when beaten over two and a half miles at Ascot last month and the return to two miles for the Champion Chase saw him in a better light even though he was unable to strike a blow at the leaders.

Running on well up the hill, Oh Crick finished fifth to Big Zeb and a return to handicap company, possibly at Aintree, could see him make an impact.

He has few miles on the clock this season, should be fresher than most and, on his two efforts over two miles this term, looks to be improving.

OTHERMIX (Tom George): Featured in this column when second at Kempton last month, Othermix produced another storming effort to be second to Copper Bleu in the Jewson’ Novices’ Chase.

Admittedly, the cat is out of the bag as to his true ability, but this grey is definitely on an upward curve and could well make his mark off his revised handicap mark now that he has got his jumping act together.

RIVERSIDE THEATRE (Nicky Henderson): Well fancied for the Arkle Chase after two victories at Newbury and Kempton, Riverside Theatre ran an extraordinary race.

He looked likely to be tailed off at halfway, but suddenly found his stride in the last half mile and fairly sprinted up the hill to finish on the heels of the first four, headed by Sizing Europe.

It may be that the undulating course was against him after wins on flat tracks, but it could also be that he needs further and he would be of obvious interest if he were to run in the two-and-half mile novice event at Aintree on a track which would surely suit.

SANCTUAIRE (Paul Nicholls): Arguably the easiest winner of the entire week, Sanctuaire is surely better than a handicapper and can prove the point before the end of the season.

He simply toyed with the strongly-fancied Notus De La Tour in the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle, making a mockery of a handicap mark of 127.

If he were to step up in grade for the four-year-old conditions hurdle at Aintree, I would expect him to take all the beating because, in my view, the runners in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham were an ordinary lot.

SIR HARRY ORMESHER (Alan King): A winner at Doncaster on his previous start, Sir Harry Ormesher never threatened to win the Coral Cup but did enough to suggest a decent prize is in him.

A come-from-behind performer, he was always going to find life difficult on the lively ground given the final positions of horses running prominently, but he finished well and all is not lost.

I also feel a step up to three miles is well worth a try and there is a suitable handicap at Aintree where the flat track would not place too much demand on his stamina.