Johns Spirit can hand Jonjo O’Neill a second victory in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham today. The Jackdaws Castle team won the race with Exotic Dancer back in 2006 and Johns Spirit has been the subject of much interest in the ante-post markets.
It can often be folly to latch on to a ‘talking horse’ like this, but the Christopher Johnston-owned gelding boasts by far one of the most interesting profiles in the race. Johns Spirit tipped away quietly last season, without ever really suggesting he would be a genuine top-notcher. That said, connections must have been heartened, at least to a certain degree, by his display at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
O'Neill's inmate travelled well for a long way, but he made a bad mistake four fences from home which effectively ended his challenge. That gaffe might have left its mark as he was subsequently never really a factor at Ayr and Aintree in April.
Meek spring
Johns Spirit's meek spring left the handicapper no option but to drop him 4lb, which was duly seized upon on his seasonal bow over this course and distance in October when he jumped fluidly before stretching three and a half lengths clear.
Progress is often the name of the game in the Paddy Power and, unlike many of his exposed-looking rivals at Cheltenham, he is surely open to even more improvement this winter. Just as important is the prospect of good ground at Cheltenham as connections have insisted a decent surface is crucial if he is to show to his best form.
Johns Spirit has gone up 10lb for his Cheltenham cakewalk last month, but he remains on a most appealing of weight of 10st 9lb and is also the same age as O'Neill's sole Paddy Power winner, Exotic Dancer. It is fair comment to suggest he will never a get an opportunity like this again.
Royal Irish Hussar can take the next step along the ladder by winning the JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial. The former Ballydoyle resident has impressed in two starts over jumps for Nicky Henderson and was a particularly classy 14-length scorer in a Listed heat at Wetherby last weekend.
n Two familiar Irish names combined to close the day as Ruby Walsh did the business on Tony Martin's well-backed 15/8 favourite Quick Jack in the concluding novices' handicap hurdle at Cheltenham yesterday.