Well Ballycassidy did not get much of a rest as it was asked to concede weight against useful opposition when lined up to contest the Gd2 Weatherbys Bank Towton Novices' at Wetherby, Feb 7. The ground was soft which was a major worry as its form was on fast ground. It never looked happy, eventually being pulled up when tailed off. Regardless of the ground it had a tall order at the weights in a race which produced an impressive winner in the shape of Royal Emperor. The Sue Smith trained gelding took control of the race with a circuit to go when the early leader, stable companion Simply Supreme crashed out at the eighth. Having shown itself to be a relentless galloper over hurdles last season it was no surprise to see it staying out in front, eventually coming home clear by twenty lengths from Native Emperor. Its jumping here was much better than at Warwick, Jan 10 where it finally bowed at out the third last when struggling to keep tabs on the useful d'Argent. The ground then was much quicker than advertised and almost certainly did not help. Connections have realised that the ground needs to be soft and will only consider the Sun Alliance if conditions are favourable. It is accepted that the horse ran well on good ground in the staying handicap hurdle, however, if the experience was painful. The likelihood of it being willing to let itself down on similar ground again would be low. Simply Supreme with an official mark 20lb inferior to the winner was a surprising contender in this race at level weights. Possibly a handicap will be found for it now. Being a headstrong front runner it is not an easy ride, particularly as it is so much better on soft ground.

On Feb 21, d'Argent was not given an easy final prep race for Cheltenham when pitted against experience campaigners such as Whats Up Boys and Exit Swinger in a listed Chase at Wincanton. The ground was faster than the official good, d'Argent set off to make the running but did not jump well, ran poorly finishing a well beaten fifth. It was not a case of being outclassed by more experienced rivals as the time was poor. The race was won by Exit Swinger who had the greater two mile speed, ridden perfectly by Ruby Walsh just off the pace on the inside. As with Royal Emperor, d'Argent is a Roselier, I would partly blame the going. Also the field were preceded by a vehicle mounted camera for a large part of the race. It did appear to be looking at this vehicle rather than concentrating on the fences. Personally I think they are dangerous over jumps simply because of the obstacles involved. Hopefully d'Argent has come out of the race okay and may still take its place in the Sun Alliance. One has to remember that its fine looking win at Warwick was flattering to an extent. Since finishing a never near second in that race Tyneandthyneagain has won two handicaps, the Skybet (Great Yorkshire), Jan 31 and The Eider, Feb 21. Slower ground in those two races helped.

Nil Desperandum put itself in contention for major honours with a win in the Gd1 Pierse Group Drinmore Novice. Always travelling well it won easily, literally sprinting away from the rest of the field on the flat. One would hope that it would have no problem with staying 3m, decent ground, on that evidence. Prior to that, it had just got up to win on its chasing debut. Beating the useful Central House by the minimum margin at Punchestown, Nov 15. News in January that it had injured itself and may not turn up at Cheltenham in March was another blow.

Pizarro winner from Rosslea and Hi Cloy of the 3m Gd1 William Neville & Sons at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting picked up another Gd1 prize at the venue, when just getting up close home to overhaul Mossy Green in the Dr P J Moriarty Novice, on Feb 8. On this evidence there is no doubt that the former Cheltenham "Bumper" winner needs at least 3m these days to be at its best. Plans are to contest the Sun Alliance, the competition there should be a lot hotter and it will do well to make the frame. Hi Cloy ran another sound race to be third again. This trip suits better than further at present in terms of stamina. It may well have gone closer to winning here, appearing to be short of room on the flat. No Stewards' Inquiry was called so I may have imagined it. Direct Bearing was a disappointment over a trip that should have suited.

Having landed a gamble with a very easy success in a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham, Nov 15, Therealbandit had its attentions turned to chasing. It returned to the Prestbury track on Dec 12 to easily beat a useful if not top class field of novices. Its jumping was sound, never putting a foot wrong. talk was of the Gold Cup already. On New Year's Day it was back at the track to easily dispose a more modest field with ease. No doubt the hype surrounding the horse had scared off any meaningful opposition.

The M Pipe trained/D Johnson owned horse was put in at the deep end for its next outing the Pillar Property Chase, at Cheltenham once again, on Jan 24. This Gd2 race is not a novice chase. It is recognised as a serious trial for the Gold Cup. With no penalties to carry it was getting weight from all of its rivals and acquitted itself well until falling 4 out. It is a matter of opinion of how it would have fared from there. The winner is an out and out galloper who revels in the mud. Who despite conceding 7lb to the Pipe horse I believe would have won in any case. My rating of 152 is a reasoned guess. One could argue, that if Therealbandit does turn up at Cheltenham to contest the Gold Cup this year, Tony McCoy believed he had plenty of horse left and would have won. The fact remains that it will probably have to find more than a stone to beat Best Mate if the Dual Gold Cup winner runs to form. With Strong Flow and probably Nil Desperandum out of the Sun Alliance through injury. That race seems the best option.

To complicate matters Our Vic, with the same connections as Therealbandit, followed up an easy novice win at Exeter with another easy win in the Gd2 Amlin Plus Reynoldstown. It was given a confidently smooth ride by Timmy Murphy (A P was sidelined with a multiple fractured cheekbone). Racing on the outside of the field the winner tended to jump slightly left though not alarmingly. It was allowed to take it up two out and pulled away for a six length win over Rosslea and Double Honour without ever getting out of second gear. Bearing in mind the tendency to jump left, Cheltenham should suit better and 154+ looks within range. Not much between Our Vic and Therealbandit on what we have seen so far. The former may well prove to be the better horse it has time on its side.

Given a fine ride by Richard McGrath, Simply Supreme made all to beat a useful field at Wetherby, Jan 26. The slow ground must have helped. Stamina was not a problem, it looked fresh enough to go round again. One to keep on the right side of, when it is muddy. A flatter track may suit its front running style better than Cheltenham.

Puntal beat a select field for an ordinary novice on at Ascot, Jan 31. The soft ground and determined assistance from Tony McCoy was in its favour as Keltic Bard certainly displayed the better turn of foot but did not get home on the ground.

Fitted with a first time visor Puntal contested the Gd1 Scilly Isles Novices' at Sandown Feb 7, the race proved to be an anti climax with the Pipe trained runner racing off like a bat of hell. predictably it ran out of steam well before the finish being headed at the ninth it plodded home a distant fifth. major disappointment of the race was the eighth fence fall of the promising Ladalko, who was still lobbing along well within itself at the time. That fence also saw the independent fall of See You Sometime. Which caused Tikram and One Nation to be hampered, effectively putting them out of contention. The winner Patricksnineteenth still created a favourable impression with its jumping even if the time was not good as one would hope. It should continue to improve. Runner up L'Aventure, a decent winner the week before on testing going, did not look too willing here. The mare may have been feeling the effects of that race but is one to be cautious about.

Thisthatandtother who scored an easy victory in the Gd2 Extraman Trophy at Sandown, Dec 6, was rested until late February for its next outing at Wincanton, Feb 21. It duly won easily against two rivals putting up a decent time in the process. The winner was perfect at every fence. The ground was fast which puts extra pressure on the jumping, particularly the three fences in the straight. Having gone past front runner, Kalca Mome, three out, the winner was travelling faster at these fences then, than at any other time in the race. Rated only 2lb inferior to Azertyuiop when winning the same race last season, Thisthatandtother is the horse to beat in the Arkle.

Jim had been not quite getting home in its races run on soft ground though putting up respectable efforts in defeat. On better ground at Naas, Feb 22 it kept on well to hold off Boneyarrow in winning a Gd2.