Will Monty’s Star be a guiding light in the Cotswolds?

The rain is general all over England and horses are falling, ever falling by the wayside. Despite the mirk and gloom however the Brown Advisory Novice’s Chase still has a sharp look to it with three of this generation’s finest locking horns in Prestbury Park.

Tempest Belle may never made the track but her early career as a broodmare produced a highlight. Monalee (Gr.1, Gr.2, Gr.3 W, Gold Cup 4th) showed the promise of the mare’s back-page when in his novice season being runner up in a Gr.2 and Gr.1 at and bagging a Gr.3 event. In his Novice Chase campaign he ran in the RSA as was, finishing an honourable second to the prodigious Presenting Percy. From there he had many memorable trysts in open company including downing perennial Grand National hero Any Second Now.  Gr1. success came in Leopardstown ahead of subsequent dual Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo. While Al Boum proved to be unconquerable in the Cotswolds Monalee was a smashing 3 mile chaser in his own right.

 

    Years later and Tempest Belle seems to have produced another potential stellar produce. Starting life on a quiet afternoon in a Lingfield Point-to-Point, Monty’s Star approached the last head and head with the eventual winner. Unfortunately he clipped through the fence and was eased down to the line in second. Eight lengths back that day was the admirable Paul Nicholls trained 139 rated chaser Makin’yourmindup.    

From there Monty’s Star moved in to training with Henry De Bromhead who gave him a gentle introduction. Backed off the boards in a Novice Gr.3 the still maiden Star put elder, well touted rivals to the sword all three finishing 25 lengths clear of the third. He went on to run in last year’s Albert Bartlett where things did not go to plan being pulled up. Stay Away Fay being an impressive winner with Three Card Brag in behind.

Now in to his novice chase year Monty’s Star was defeated by Three Card Brag in his first chase start into third in a race won by potential Gold Cup horse Corbett’s Cross. He subsequently has shown improvement by kicking Three Card Brag out of the way in Punchestown on new year’s eve. The next logical set was to be Cheltenham bound.

Back in Prestbury Park now he comes full of potential improvement on the cards. It is three miles, a chase, on soft, as on the first day in Lingfield. Stay Away Fay, the winner that day is back for more. Let’s see how the last fence goes today.