Course specialist Gore Point extended his summer of excellence with a corking success under top weight in a two-mile Class 3 Limited Handicap Chase at Newton Abbot on Monday in the colours of Mark Pendarves.
He was pretty much ignored in the market as the outsider of four after a blip last time when I ran him too quickly after his previous course triumph but there was only going to be one winner once Harry Cobden produced him full of running going to the second last fence.
Gore Point was winning his fifth steeplechase of the season with four coming at Newton Abbot.
He now has eight career victories, six of them at the left-handed Devon course that seems to suit him so well.
He gained his first success over fences off a mark of 96 at Stratford late in June, was winning off 125 on Monday and is sure to be raised again once the handicapper has his say.
We might raise our sights with him now with a £100,000 two-mile handicap at the first Cheltenham meeting an option with the Rising Stars Chase at Wincanton and the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter other alternatives if the ground remains on the quick side until then.
Gore Point has done very well for a horse who tended to be a bit keen early in his career and on occasions folded at the end of his races.
He also had some dark days when he fell twice over hurdles.
But he has matured now, and is much easier in every way in the yard and on the gallops which is down to the patience of his owner and our team at home.
You could say he is a perfect two-mile chaser with conditions in his favour.
