Jordans Cross
Jordans Cross did well to win the opening contest at Cheltenham on Saturday, the Timeform Novices' Handicap Chase. Settled back in the field early on by Sam Twiston-Davies, just a little worse than mid-division, he travelled well through his race and he made nice ground on the run down the hill to move into third place behind Quebecois and Scorcese. The front two were quicker than he was over the second last fence, and they stole a bit of a march, picking up off a moderate pace. He was at least as good as them over the last though and, still about two and a half lengths behind Quebecois as they set off up the run-in, he stayed on strongly to just get up and win by a short head.
This was a race in which you didn't want to be too far off the pace. The winner's finishing speed was over 108% of overall speed, and the second and third home raced in first and second places respectively from flagfall. Jordans Cross did well to win from where he was.
Anthony Honeyball's horse could be unbeaten now over fences had he not come down at the final fence in the novices' handicap chase at Cheltenham's November meeting when he was upsides his stable companion Kdeux Saint Fray, whom he had behind him in fourth place here. In the interim, he went to Doncaster and just got up to get the better of Go West over two miles and three furlongs. He appreciated the step back up to an extended two and a half miles here, and he left the impression that he would do even better with an even greater test of stamina. He will do better now off a stronger pace, or stepped up in trip. The previous five winners of this race all went to the Cheltenham Festival the following March, where they finished, respectively, 12121, and Jordans Cross will be of interest now at the Festival. The Jack Richards Novices' Handicap Chase is the obvious race for him, and that is the race that connections appear to be targeting, but he would also be of interest if he moved into open company and ran in the Plate or the Ultima instead. And we might not see the best of him until he steps up in trip to three miles.
Cheltenham, 24th January 2026
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