Galvin

Galvin ran a big race to finish second in the Northern Trust Company Novices’ Handicap Chase. Held up early on, he didn’t have an ideal run through. He made a mistake at the first fence, and he was hampered at the third last fence when making ground. He still travelled well around the home turn and made nice ground around the outside for Davy Russell, looming up as a big danger. He just couldn’t catch Imperial Aura, a well-handicapped and talented horse who had a good run through the race, but he chased him all the way to the line, and the pair of them finished well clear.

Gordon Elliott’s horse hasn’t won over fences yet but, a progressive novice hurdler last season, he has progressed nicely this season too over fences. This was the best performance of his life by a fair way and, still only six, there should be more to come. He will still be a novice next season, and he could be an exciting second-season novice. He could be a horse for next year’s Grade 1 Marsh Chase.

Cheltenham 10^th March, 2020