Warriors Tale

Warriors Tale put up a really nice performance to land the two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase at Newbury last Saturday.

He travelled like the most likely winner from half way down the back straight, his jumping was really good and he eased his way to the front at the top of the home straight. He jumped the last four fences well and, while he only got home by just over a length in the end from old foe Gala Ball, he probably had much more in hand than that. He had been in front from the top of the home straight and he left the impression that he was only just doing enough.

This was another step forward by Paul Nicholls' horse. On his previous run, he had also beaten Gala Ball over Saturday's course and distance but on softer ground, a performance for which the handicapper raised him 7lb, but he made light of that hike. The handicapper had another go at him after Saturday's win, raising him by another 6lb to a mark of 143, but that is still a mark that may under-rate him. Saturday's run was a career-best and he probably had more left to give. Also, he won a novices' chase over three miles at Perth last May, and he stayed three and a quarter miles over hurdles, so there could be more to come from him when he steps back up to three miles now over fences. In the meantime, his trainer mentioned the two-and-a-half-mile listed novices' chase at Ayr as a possible end-of-season target, and he will be of interest if he lines up in that.

25^th March 2017

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