Tanya Stevenson's Ante-Post Previews February 13th

As I type, I'm on my way to Liverpool for a day out, a bit of escapism, after the intensity of the weekend, which included a power-packed Sunday including the climax of the Phoenix Open Golf rolled into the Super Bowl.

Absorbing sport, and so too was Newbury on Saturday. Shishkin and Edwardstone gave their fans hope to cling to for their respective engagements come March and they shortened in the ante-post markets with betting sites for the Cheltenham Festival in a month's time.

Highlights for me were Making Headway, who will no doubt be seen at Aintree with a huge opportunity if ridden so positively again.

I’ve watched replays of the Betfair Hurdle numerous times to see if anything is worthy to take note of.

Nico de Boinville has already rightly been given the plaudits for his ride on winner Iberico Lord, others who should be applauded are Harry Skelton on L’Eau Du Sud.

Heidi Palin was excellent on Faivoir, she kept him up with the pace and he was still in contention approaching the last, to finish fifth was a triumph and connections will be thrilled as Faivoir will try and be the first horse to win the race twice.

But the gem to etch in the notebook was Doddiethegreat. I had to watch the race a few times just to check the act of escapism performed just to get fourth. 

I can’t believe he got that close. There were three horses with similar pale blue colours, so to track him wasn't easy.

When they eventually set off Doddiethegreat was pitched in last, he overreached at the first down the back straight and then went on to make a niggly error at the next two flights, all the while losing distance with those at the front.

He was still last as they turned out on the back straight, but it was at that point that James Bowen brought him wide. As they turned for home, although towards the rear he was in line with eventual winner and stable companion Iberico Lord.

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Coming stand side appeared to be the sensible option at the time, until they approached the second last, which was in between Aurigny Mill and Donnacha.

The latter was a big unit that just blocked and checked Doddiegreat’s path at a crucial point.

Once James Bowen tried to negotiate round that obstacle he found his way through, but was then hampered by a wandering Ocastle Des Mottes approaching the last.

Both incidents didn’t help Doddiethegreat and he just got over each of the last two flights.

From coming down the stand side as they turned for home, James Bowen had to bob and weave and was now on the far side once more but the acceleration from the last hurdle to the line to obtain fourth was quite astonishing.

The plaudits for Nico were very helpful if looking for the future.

Doddiethegreat only returned from a 746-day absence back in November at Ascot, in the aftermath Nicky Henderson mentioned that he is being trained for the Scottish Champion Hurdle.

He then went on to be an excellent second at Cheltenham to Go Dante in December and would have reversed form with that rival by some margin with a clearer run.

This I hope was his final run before Ayr as it seemed the perfect trial for that examination. I would like nothing more than to see this plan come together.

Hordes of press went to the Willie Mullins open day on Monday to glean what they could and pass on their findings, but still nothing was given away.

Little more is known about Ballyburn’s target, much speculation will ensue and will no doubt continue through Festival Preview season which is almost upon us.

It does not harm utilising any spare time watching replays of races to get a feel of the strength of the races in line with the stable form at the time.

I’ve mentioned the sports fest I had on Sunday evening but the racing was great during the day.

A fun meeting at Exeter attended by lots and lots of students enhanced the atmosphere and I’ve since learned a few had picked 200/1 outsider Absolute Steel with horse racing betting sites.

Brace yourselves for student days at Wincanton and Haydock on Saturday this week, fingers crossed the weather isn’t as bad as forecast.

I was gutted how Galia Des Liteaux ran at Exeter in the Listed Mares Chase, Dan Skelton continues to be having a quiet spell. Back to the drawing board for the National.

However, moving attention across to Navan there might have been a festival winner on show.

The Boyne Hurdle saw Hiddenvalley Lake give Henry de Bromhead a first win in the race, Galvin ran a stormer in fourth and accentuated his chances for the Cross Country and indeed Aintree. He had no right to run that well.

Just before that, in the Apples Jade Mares Novices Hurdle, Brighterdaysahead stamped her authority emphatically, sending a message to all that she is not a rival to be trifled with, she has four engagements at this stage for Cheltenham and would have a massive chance for all of them.

I guess Gordon Elliott will opt for the Mares Novices Hurdle on Thursday, especially as she is owned by the sponsors.

It was also reported, in the aftermath that she had missed an intended engagement due to a few niggly issues, so by inference there will be some improvement to come.

While all the hullabaloo centres, for now, surrounding the Willie Mullins conveyor belt of winners, don’t miss out there are Brighterdaysahead.