Chosen Mate takes Grade 2 honours

It was yet another
weekend that provided graded success for Tattersalls Cheltenham graduates with
Chosen Mate taking the “Paddy Power Onside App” Grade 2 Novice Hurdle for
Gordon Elliott and The Northern Four Racing Partnership.

The son of Well
Chosen was only narrowly denied by the well regarded Sinoria on his latest
start when second in the Listed Novice Hurdle at Punchestown two weeks ago. He showed
the benefit of that experience yesterday when prevailing by the shortest of margins
despite looking set for a decisive success at the final flight.

He was purchased for just
£32,000 out of the November Sale by Mouse O’Ryan from Colin McKeever’s
Loughanmore Farm operation after winning his Maiden point-to-point at
Loughbrickland in October and now looks set to take his chance at the Aintree
Grand National Meeting in April.

On Saturday at Newcastle Lust
For Glory booked her ticket to Cheltenham when sauntering to victory under
James Bowen for Nicky Henderson and owners Grech and Parkin. She was produced
to win her point-to-point by Denis Murphy’s Ballyboy Stables and purchased by
Highflyer Bloodstock for £240,000.

Yesterday at Carlisle another
Ballyboy Stables graduate obliged with Lough Derg Farmer recording a 17 length
success in the Novices’ Handicap Chase.

Whatswrongwithyou cemented
his place at the head of the ante-post market for the Grand Annual at the
Cheltenham Festival when coming home unchallenged in the Novices’ Chase at
Fontwell for Nicky Henderson. He was sold by Paurick O’Connor for £44,000 to
Highflyer Bloodstock at the 2015 April Sale.

Kings Monarch got off the
mark over fences for Kerry Lee in the opening race at the Sussex venue when clearing
away to win by 21 lengths. The son of Schiaparelli was produced to win his
maiden point-to-point and sold by Donnchadh Doyle’s Monbeg Stables.

In the concluding bumper
Hugos Other Horse a half-brother to the great Cue Card stepped up on his debut
effort to open his account under rules for Paul Nicholls. The son of Gold Well
was purchased by Tom Malone off Brook Farm for £80,000 at the 2017 November
renewal.