1st February 2021
EKLAT DE RIRE, an imposing French-bred put in an impeccable round of jumping for Rachael Blackmore in the G3 Novice chase at Naas yesterday, staying strongly all the way to the line to win by almost 2l from Escaria Ten, with Pencilfulloflead, giving 8lb to the first two, 3rd. De Bromhead said: “He’s deadly to jump and is improving all the time, you couldn’t ask for any more than that. He’s a heavy-topped horse and we probably wouldn’t want it too good. He stays and jumps. I had discussed it with the owners and we said if everything went well today we would probably aim for the Festival Novices’ Chase, and hopefully, that’s what will happen. I think he deserves to take his chance.” He is now 14s from 20 (8/1 NRNB) for both this and the National Hunt Chase.
28th January 2021
6yo COKO BEACH was the youngest horse in Gowran’s testing Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase and the grey won impressively in what is regarded as one of the toughest handicaps of the season. The last six-year-old to win the Thyestes was Djakadam in 2015 and he went on to be 2nd to Coneygree in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. However, Gordon Elliott has suggested that his preferred target is the National Hunt Chase. Elliott said: “The blinkers definitely sharpened him up. He jumped brilliant and Jack [Kennedy] gave him a great ride. You would imagine the National Hunt Chase might suit him so we’ll have a look at that now.” 16/1 places – 10/1 NRNB