Cheltenham Sales Graduates to the fore on weekend of November Meeting
The 2020 Cheltenham November Meeting kicked off on Friday and Cheltenham Sales graduates were to the fore once more.
Does He Know ran out the impressive winner of the Grade 2 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle for Kim Bailey and the “Yes He Does Syndicate.” The rapidly improving son of Alkaased won his English Maiden point to point at Charm Park on his debut for Cherry and Jacqueline Coward before selling to Aiden Murphy and Kim Bailey at the 2019 April Sale for £38,000.
In the concluding Handicap Hurdle on Friday the David Jeffreys trained Lively Citizen showed an excellent attitude to triumph and looks a progressive sort for connections. He was sold by Eugene O’Sullivan at the 2019 May Sale for £48,000 to Marcus Collie.
On Saturday Storm Control made all in the Conditional Jockeys’ and Amateur Riders’ 3m 1f Handicap Chase for Richard Patrick and Kerry Lee. Stepping up in trip for the first time he got into a lovely rhythm in front and stayed on strongly up the hill to register a game success. He was sold by Monbeg Stables’ Sean Doyle to Kerry Lee for £130,000.
On The Blind Side reverted back to hurdles and made the transition a winning one under Nico de Boinville when battling to victory after the last in the Listed Handicap Hurdle for Nicky Henderson. He was purchased by Highflyer Bloodstock for £205,000 from Glenview Stables at the 2017 February Sale.
Asterion Forlonge made the perfect start to his chasing career for Willie Mullins on Saturday at Punchestown. The striking son of Coastal Path, a Grade 1 winner over hurdles looks set to take high rank in the Novice Chase division this year. He was purchased by Harold Kirk for £290,000 from Pat Doyle at the 2018 February Sale.
At Uttoxeter What About Time made all the running and kept on well in the opening Maiden Hurdle for Charlie Longsdon under Will Kennedy. He was sold by Monbeg Stable’s Sean Doyle for £36,000 at last year’s December Sale.
Carrolls Milan got off the mark over the larger obstacles when winning the Mares’ Novices’ Chase for Fergal O’Brien and the Gud Times Partnership. She was sold by Jenny Roche for £20,000 at the 2017 renewal of the December Sale.
Yesterday at Cheltenham Ramses De Teille recorded his seventh victory for David Pipe in the Grade 3 Handicap Chase and now looks set for another tilt at the Welsh National over the Christmas period. The grey son of Martaline was produced and sold by Colin Bowe’s Milestone Stables at the 2016 April Sale.
At Punchestown the very exciting Hollow Games marked himself down as a top notch young prospect for Gordon Elliott and Noel and Valerie Moran. The four-year-old son of Beat Hollow travelled notably well throughout and powered away in the home straight to win the concluding bumper as he liked. He was sold by James Doyle’s Baltimore Stables for £255,000 at this year’s Festival Sale.