Cheltenham Festival pointers we learned from the weekend's horse racing action

There was plenty of quality action on Saturday and Sunday

Another fantastic weekend of jump racing action and plenty of clues for the Cheltenham Festival.

The highlight must be Defi Du Seuil holding off the remarkable Un De Sceaux to win the Tingle Creek - this year's Champion Chase could be a compelling watch.

And at Punchestown on Sunday, Min was given a scare by Hardline but his class prevailed in the John Durkan Chase.

Here is what we learned with a view to the Cheltenham Festival in March:

Perfect pipe opener for Presenting Percy

A lot was made of Presenting Percy's preparations for last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup.

But it is easy to forget that the winner Al Boum Photo only had a single run too before the Cotswolds albeit his was over fences.

The rain has returned this year though and Presenting Percy looked to have retained if not all of his ability when a strong finishing third to Min over two and half miles in the John Durkan Chase on Sunday.

Pat Kelly's horse is likely going to rock up at Leopardstown at Christmas and could confirm himself as the most talented staying chaser around.

Go back to his RSA Chase win a few seasons back and in a distant third that day was Elegant Escape with Frodon even further back in fifth - form that continues to be franked.

The 14/1 on offer in places for the Gold Cup looks very good each-way value.

Glenloe must be watched closely

Remember Glenloe in the 2018 Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle?

The JP McManus horse was very well backed into favouritism and travelled like the winner before a last flight blunder saw him beaten a nose behind subsequent Grade 1 winner Delta Work.

Since then he has barely made a ripple on the track after changing his attention to fences.

It was definitely eye-catching though how he came a never threatening third, jumping soundly and running a good race, in the Foxrock Handicap Chase at Navan on Saturday.

The suspicion is that he is being primed for a big handicap chase and that may well be at the Cheltenham Festival - watch him closely.

Goshen could be a bit special

It could be premature to be getting involved in the Triumph Hurdle market at this early stage with the likes of Nicky Henderson and Willie Mullins likely to have a few tricks up their sleeves.

But the startling performances of Goshen can't be ignored. The three-year-old has won his last five races on the flat and over hurdles and the winning margins have been 12, 9, 7, 23 and 34 lengths respectively.

The latest 34-length win came last Friday at Sandown despite travelling very keenly and not hurdling with much fleuncy.

You can question the level of opposition but there is clearly a big engine there and the 10/1 about the Triumph Hurdle could be a big price come March.

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