All roads lead to Cheltenham for Flemensfirth
17th December 2007
Flemensfirth’s son Tidal Bay (6g Flemensfirth-June’s Bride, by Le Moss) looks a leading contender for one of the Cheltenham Festival novice chases after a scintillating victory at Prestbury Park on Saturday.
Howard Johnson’s charge, who was bought by owner Graham Wylie for 300,000gns at Doncaster in May 2006, strolled home five lengths clear of Gold Medallist to take the Boylesprts.com Fon-A-Bet Novices’ Chase over 2m 5f and looks a leading contender for either the G1 Arkle Chase or longer G1 Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the Festival.
"Maybe he will need another run before I bring him back in March," said Johnson. "He wants good ground and the faster they go the better. I wouldn't be frightened to take him back to two miles for an end-to-end gallop like the Arkle, he just needs a bit more practice."
The Racing Post’s race readers were very impressed with the run, noting: "A very decent renewal of this novice chase which always throws up a nice type for the future and this year will prove no exception as Tidal Bay kept his unbeaten record over fences intact. He was never out of the first two over hurdles and appears like being even better chasing as he has always had the size and scope for this game. He jumped well in the main and showed a good turn of foot when asked to seal the contest and it will take a very decent novice to lower his colours."
Tidal Bay, who was bred by John Dorgan, also won last season’s G2 Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree.
The six-year-old continued an excellent weekend at Cheltenham for Flemensfirth, who also sired the 24-length Cheltenham Business Club Novices’ Chase winner Joe Lively (8g Flemensfirth-Forest Gale, by Strong Gale), now one of the market leaders for the G1 Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the Festival.
"He was bloody awesome," said Joe Lively’s trainer Colin Tizzard after the victory. "He still shows us nothing at home, but we are going to have to start setting him up for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase now."
The G1 Feltham Novices’ Chase at Kempton on December 26 is likely to be next on the agenda for the eight-year-old, who was bred by John O’Callaghan.
Meanwhile Flemensfirth enjoyed his latest G1 success on December 2 when the Noel Meade-trained Muirhead (4g Flemensfirth-Sialoce, by Nikos) maintained his unbeaten record with a victory in the G1 Royal Bond Novices’ Hurdle at Fairyhouse, when beating Cork All Star by a length and three-quarters.
"All roads lead to Cheltenham. I don't really think he'll run over Christmas - we're more likely to give him a break and wait until the New Year. Maybe the Tolworth, or more likely the Deloitte & Touche at Leopardstown in February. I've always loved this horse and I think he'll come on a lot," said Meade of the Catherine Ryan-bred gelding.