Cheltenham choice for Barters Hill

Tackling three miles for the first time, trainer Ben Pauling’s stable star – the mount of David Bass – showed characteristic grit to stretch his unbeaten record to seven races.

Though the Willie Mullins-trained raider Up For Review could not live with Barters Hill – this protracted struggle played into the hands of the pursuers who were closing at the end – Pauling is still not ruling out dropping back in distance for the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

However, he did concede that he was mightily impressed with the Alan King-trained Yanworth in the Neptune trial at Cheltenham over the weekend and he is unlikely to let Barters Hill take him on unless conditions are extremely testing.

“He didn’t race lazily and didn’t hit his flat spot that he can do (at Doncaster). That was probably because the Mullins team decided the way to beat him was to take him on for the lead, and it actually kept him very honest the whole way,” said Pauling.

“If I told you a 100-1 shot (Ami Desbois, third) was going to beat Up For Review, you’d tell me it was a muddling race and I think because they’ve gone so hard so early, it ended up being a funny result.

“The front two have almost cut each others throats a little bit and given the others a tow into the race, but Barters Hill found what’s necessary to win whereas Up For Review has fallen by the wayside.

“I’m definitely in the camp that it’s much more likely he’s going to go three miles at Cheltenham. I’ve entered him in both races because I’m still determined that if it does come up ridiculously soft at Cheltenham, two-mile-five in the Neptune would be far enough.

“The Albert Bartlett is just under three miles and the Neptune is just over two-five, so we’re talking about a difference of a furlong and a half. It’s really not that much of a difference.

“I was very impressed by Yanworth at the weekend – he was effortless. He looks to me like he might be that champion hurdler lurking in the Neptune. I think we would be vulnerable to a horse like that.”

Brian Ellison is looking forward to stepping Always Resolute up in class for the Sky Bet Supreme Scottish Trial Novices’ Hurdle at Musselburgh on Sunday.

The five-year-old was an effortless winner on his hurdling debut at Catterick and was in the process of defying a penalty in easy style when he came down at the final flight back at the North Yorkshire track on January 14.

The Malton handler saw enough there to believe he would not be out of place against some smart youngsters, with the likes of Nicky Henderson, Paul Nicholls and Dan Skelton all set to have runners at the Scottish track.

“He is basically a very good jumper. When he ran last time, I think if Danny (Cook, jockey) had sat quiet on him rather than ask him for a big one at the last, he would have been okay,” said Ellison.

“The horse has done well since he joined us and he will be getting an entry for Cheltenham, although I think he may be more of a horse for Aintree in the long-run. We will see how he gets this weekend.”

Trainer Philip Hobbs has paid tribute to Captain Chris after his stable star’s enforced retirement.

The 12-year-old won nine of his 23 starts, earning over £400,000 in career prize-money.

The career of the 2011 Arkle winner, owned by Grahame and Diana Whateley, was halted by leg problems.

Twice placed in Kempton’s King George, Hobbs added: “After Rooster Booster he was the best horse we’ve ever had here, it was phenomenal how good he was at his very best.”

Road To Riches is the star name among 10 horses confirmed for Saturday’s Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

Noel Meade’s stable star has not been seen in competitive action since November, but is likely to be a hot favourite for his return to action after the Willie Mullins-trained pair of Don Poli and Vautour were taken out.

The race will determine whether Road To Riches is a genuine Cheltenham Gold Cup contender.