Leave of Absence, ridden by Rex Dingle, proved to be the star turn from our team of runners at Cheltenham’s two day showcase meeting.
Brookie set the tone on Friday with a fine run into third place in the Class 2 £100,000 two mile Chase on Friday.
Crest of Fortune kept up the good work with a pleasing performance by finishing runner up under top weight in the competitive novice handicap Chase that opened the card on Saturday before Easy Love was third in a Class 2 three mile novice hurdle.
Eight of the twenty fences were dolled off because of low sun ahead of the £40,000 Grade 3 novice Chase over three miles and a furlong.
But it made no difference to Leave of Absence who was always prominent, jumping well and led two out on his way to beating Pied Piper by two and a half lengths.
Pied Piper briefly looked to be going best when he moved up to challenge at the foot of the hill but Leave of Absence found plenty and was nicely on top at the line in the colours of Richard and Carol Cheshire.
I’d say things would have been easier for him if all twenty fences were jumped. He’s a strong galloper, has a great attitude, and stays well.
Having been off the track for the best part of two years, Leave of Absence progressed nicely after joining us in three runs last season, winning at Newbury on his final start in March.
He is a novice until the end of November so the plan is to run him in the grade 2 John Francome Novice Chase at Newbury in just over a month’s time.
(Photo credit Megan Dent Photography)
