Baron Noir did us proud at Cheltenham, and so did The Doyen Chief

March 13

Alan fired all three of his Cheltenham bullets on the opening day of this year’s NH Festival, and, while he never went to Prestbury Park on Tuesday expecting a winner, it was certainly not all doom and gloom, with Baron Noir belying his odds of 33-1 when running e terrific race to finish fourth in the meeting’s curtain-raiser, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Baron Nour won two bumpers before switching to jumping in November, but he had already added two victories over timber to his CV before producing a magnificent effort to make the frame in what was a very hot renewal of the Supreme.

Tom Bellamy said:”We all knew that Baron Noir was a good horse with a big future, and he did not let us down at Cheltenham. Fingers crossed, there is plenty more to come.”

And, while Tom later finished only ninth on The Doyen Chief in the Ultima Handicap Chase, he was delighted how well the Kempton specialist ran, reflecting that, as always, the nine-year-old jumped super and was on the heels of the leaders going to the third last, looking as if, like Baron Noir, he had distinct place prospects.

From 11 races over fences, The Doyen Chief has won four, finished second three times and third twice, and he only just missed making the frame when he ran at Cheltenham’s pre-Christmas meeting last December. He has been a credit to his owners, Masterson Holdings Ltd, and it will be his official ninth birthday next Tuesday, so all of us at Barbury take our hats off to him.

Annie Hathaway, who started at 150-1 when finishing an encouraging third at Huntingdon on her second run over hurdles, will be a short-priced favourite in the opener at Doncaster today.

Alan knows Annie Hathaway’s family well, the mare being a half-sister to Midnightreferendum, with whom he won five races. She proved useful as a bumper, hurdler and a chaser, so, hopefully, Annie can get the job done on Town Moor for Philip Armson.

Tom Bellamy is on duty at Fakenham, Ludlow third Ghost Dancing making her first appearance in a handicap, while Nap Hand, who made a pleasing return when finishing fourth on the all-weather at Kempton last month, has a solid chance back over hurdles, having already made his mark at that sphere when winning at Stratford last summer.