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.