Ratings Update: Cheltenham Trials Day reaction

Cheltenham's Trials Day card featured some leading Festival contenders, including East India Dock (147p from 144p) who made it three out of three over hurdles with a wide-margin win in the Triumph Hurdle Trial.

East India Dock had already headed the ratings for the juvenile division following his emphatic victory in a similar event at Cheltenham's November meeting and he cemented his position as the one to beat on form in the Triumph Hurdle. His ten-length defeat of Stencil (133 from 130), who was 18 lengths clear of the third, earned him a Timeform rating of 147p and puts him 11 lb clear of the next highest-rated juvenile in Britain or Ireland, Hello Neighbour (136p).

Triumph Hurdle favourite Lulamba (129P) created a superb impression on his first start for Nicky Henderson at Ascot and has the Timeform Large P to show he's capable of much better form when required. However, East India Dock sets a high standard on form and is already rated higher than typical winner of the Triumph Hurdle as the average Timeform performance rating of a winner in the last ten years is around 145. The only horse in the last five editions of the Triumph Hurdle to be rated higher than East India Dock going into the race was Goshen, who was rated 148p in 2020.

The other significant performance from a ratings viewpoint on Trials Day came in the Grade 2 novice hurdle which was won by the much-improved Sixmilebridge (141p from 123p). Sixmilebridge was facing by far his stiffest test over hurdles following wins in a Leicester maiden and a Huntingdon novice but he looked a smart prospect as he inflicted a first defeat on Potters Charm. Admittedly, Potters Charm, the winner of the Grade 1 Formby Novices' Hurdle, wasn't quite at his best, but it was still impressive how Sixmilebridge fended him off and forged eight and a half lengths clear up the run-in. The only novice hurdlers rated higher this season are Romeo Coolio (150p), The Yellow Clay (147p) and The New Lion (143P).

There was also an improved effort from Jagwar (143p from 138p) who won the Timeform Novices' Handicap Chase and, given his progressive profile, is likely to be high on the shortlist for the similar event which is back on the Festival programme this year, or for the Festival Plate. His well-backed stablemate Billytherealbigred (remains 130p) jumped well in the lead but Jagwar picked him off with something to spare after impressing with how he travelled.

Constitution Hill (remains 177) was the headline name on the card but didn't have to be anywhere near his best to win a slowly run International Hurdle with plenty in hand, while L'Homme Presse (remains 167) also didn't have to repeat the pick of his efforts to make the most of a good opportunity in the Cotswold Chase.

The other graded race on the card, the Cleeve Hurdle, was won by Gowel Road (146 from 144) who snapped a long losing run with a game display. It may have been his first win since he landed a novice chase at Ascot more than two years ago, but he had finished runner-up on his four previous starts this season (all over hurdles at Cheltenham) and he didn't need to find much improvement to come out on top.

Reaction from Ireland

The pick of the action in Ireland came at Gowran Park where the prestigious Thyestes Handicap Chase took centre stage. Nick Rockett (161 from 152p) had a big weight to carry off his mark of 152 but he produced a high-class and game effort to overhaul Velvet Elvis (148 from 142) - who has been very lightly raced since joining Gavin Cromwell - with the pair well clear. Nick Rockett's performance has been rated as one of the best in the race this century.

Rocky's Diamond (149) and Quai de Bourbon (148p from 140p) also impressed on the card, with the former winning the Galmoy Hurdle to confirm there was no fluke about his third-place finish in the Savills Hurdle, while the latter built on a promising chasing debut to get off the mark at the second attempt over fences. He kept going well to fend off talented stablemate Chapeau de Soleil (147p from 141p) and is likely to improve for a stiffer test.

Dancing City (147p from 142p), also trained by Willie Mullins, ran to a similar level when winning a Grade 3 at Naas on Sunday, staying on strongly up the run-in to draw three and a half lengths clear of the penalised Bioluminescence (143p from 132P) who arguably enhanced her Mares' Chase claims in defeat. Dancing City was Timeform's highest-rated staying novice hurdler last season and has yet to show all he has to offer after only two successful starts over fences.

There were a couple of notable performances from Mullins-trained novice hurdlers at Fairyhouse on Saturday. Kawaboomga (134p from 128p) looked worth his place in graded company as he cosily got the better of another bright prospect in William Munny (131p from 126p) with the pair well clear, while Aurora Vega (132p from 123p) enhanced her yard's fine record in the Grade 3 Solerina Novice Hurdle with a convincing victory, running to a similar level as the likes of Allegorie de Vassy and Jade de Grugy in recent years.