Fiddlerontheroof & Envoi Allen Could Be Big Winners At Cheltenham

Fiddlerontheroof was hugely impressive when winning the Tolworth Hurdle.

Fiddlerontheroof
The Tolworth had been the plan for him for a while. He was impressive when he won at Sandown on his previous start and he built on that again. It was a very, very good performance in a race that looked to have plenty of strength in depth to it.

Son Of Camas had been a good winner of a novice hurdle in Newbury and he had Grade 2 winning form as well.

Fiddlerontheroof has options, looking towards the big festivals later in the season – especially Cheltenham.

He’ll definitely have entries in both the Supreme Novices’ and the Neptune.

He’s a horse with a lot of ability and he’s going in the right direction. He’s got a lot stronger than when I rode him first time this season.

Eldorado Allen
I got a very good feel off Eldorado Allen. He’s a very, very nice horse. That was only, realistically, his second ever start over hurdles. He won first time out at Sandown and then on his second start he got badly hampered and unseated his rider at the first or second hurdle.

That was a really impressive performance off a mark of 145 and after a long lay-off. He’s going to have an entry in the Tote Gold Trophy at Newbury on the 8th February.

If he can build on his win yesterday, he would have to have a huge chance.

Johnbb was disappointing in the handicap chase. He had won on soft ground before but this was a different kettle of fish, it was very tacky ground. He just felt to me like his legs were tied together. I’d put a line through that because he has done that before on tacky ground over hurdles.

Envoi Allen

Envoi Allen could be the next big star in the National Hunt game. It will be interesting to see what route Gordon goes with him at Cheltenham. He was very, very impressive at Naas yesterday. He ran a strong race from start to finish and he doesn’t seem to have many flaws. He’s not the kind of horse that will go and win a race by 15 or 20 lengths, he just does what he has to do.

Gordon has a decision to make about when it comes to Cheltenham with him.

He could keep novices with novices and go in the Ballymore but we’ve got a nice team of novices with Colin Tizzard so I’m hoping he goes with the Champion Hurdle!

If he does line up in the Ballymore I don’t think there will be a big field. I don’t think there’s a huge strength in depth to the English 2 & 1/2m novices, Thyme Hill will probably go 3m and a lot will try to avoid Envoi Allen as well.

Cash Back
Cash Back was impressive for Willie Mullins in the 2m novice chase at Naas. He jumped really well, he’s a good gallopper and a good stayer as well. I’d imagine Cash Back’s next target will be to take on Notebook at Leopardstown in the Dublin Racing Festival.

Lostintranslation
He’s had a wind operation, he’s walking at the moment and he will start cantering next week. That was the job that needed doing for him and the vet has been through him with a fine tooth comb and they’re very happy with everything else.

He’ll be ok, we’ll put a line through the King George and he’ll probably have a prep run at Newbury. He wouldn’t be the first horse to flop at the King George and go on and win a Gold Cup.