Gerri Colombe

Gerri Colombe just went down by a short head in the Brown Advisory Novice Chase on Wednesday. Quickly into a nice racing and jumping rhythm for Jordan Gainford, in a share of third place behind the leader The Real Whacker, he still travelled well as they raced down the hill towards the third last fence. He came under a ride on landing over the third last though, and the leaders got away from him a little. He wasn’t travelling as well as The Real Whacker or Bronn, who had raced in first and second places respectively from early, on the run to the home turn, and he landed over the second last fence about four lengths behind the leader. He stayed on really strongly from there though. He got in a little tight to the final fence, which obviously didn’t help, but he finished off his race really strongly, getting to within a short head of The Real Whacker by the time he got to the winning line. He was in front two strides past the winning line.

He lost his unbeaten record, but only just, and it was still a massive run by Gordon Elliott’s horse, a career best. He is all stamina, but he has pace and class as well, and he is a real live Gold Cup prospect for next season. As long as everything goes well between now and then, the step up to an extended three and a quarter miles will suit, as will the fact that the Gold Cup is run on the New Course, which is more of a stamina course than the Old Course. He had the pace to win a Grade 1 Scilly Isles Chase over two and a half miles at Sandown on good to soft ground, but this was the longest trip over which he had ever raced, and he put up a career best. He will be of obvious interest if he goes to Aintree or Punchestown, but he will be of greatest interest if he arrives at Cheltenham next year on Gold Cup day at concert pitch.
Cheltenham, 15^th March 2023