O’Moore Park has Martin Keighley dreaming of bigger things Martin Keighley is eyeing a return to Cheltenham for the Paddy Power Gold Cup after seeing former Willie Mullins inmate O’Moore Park land the William Hill Epic Boosts Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase. Third to Caldwell Potter here during the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, the nine-year-old is 25-1 for the feature of the November Meeting having struck at the same odds to lead home a one-three for the local handler under Sean Bowen. Keighley said: “He’s always run a good race at Cheltenham and obviously likes the place. He’s already entered in the Paddy Power Gold Cup (entries are revealed on Tuesday) and will definitely come back here for that. He just seems to love Cheltenham and the trip suits, so we will give it a go.” Prolific point-to-point winner Woodstock Octo (9-2) made it seven on the spin – but a first under rules – when showing strong staying prowess for Ben Jones and Kayleigh Woollacott in the William Hill Extra Places Every Day Novices’ Hurdle. He is another who could return to Gloucestershire before Christmas, with his handler admitting a move up in class for something like December’s Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle may have to come under consideration. Woollacott said: “He’s brilliant and he was a big, weak, raw horse when we bought him who has done nothing but improve. He wants three miles which is why we are here and we thought we’d have a go and see what happens. “We knew he would stay and jump and we knew he was genuine and if there were any holes in anyone else we knew he would stay. But we have never had to turn on the taps in the pointing field so we knew we would find out where we are and this is a nice surprise. “The owner wanted to go back pointing, but we won’t be doing that! We might have to look at the Grade Two here in December or something similar, he goes on softer ground and the stamina draws out the best from him.” Thinking even further ahead is Jonjo and AJ O’Neill after 11-4 favourite Seaniecon came home strongly to book an early ticket for March in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle. AJ O’Neill said: “Jonjo (O’Neill Jr, jockey) is riding like a man possessed at the moment and once he gets to the front he’s a very hard man to get past. “Coming back here for the final looks an obvious aim for him and he ran very well at Punchestown last season. “He’ll have a few options, but these staying handicap hurdles suit him well and if there’s a few nice days in him before the Festival, then we might get impatient.” The Henry De Bromhead-trained Butch Cassidy justified 2-1 favouritism to stride clear and win the William Hill Price Boosts “Chasing Excellence” Novices’ Chase. The John Magnier-owned six-year-old was completing a hat-trick in the hands of Darragh O’Keeffe and galloped to a 14-length triumph. O’Keeffe said: “His last three runs have really clicked it together. I pulled him up at Fairyhouse at a good meeting there in April and he never jumped a fence or got into any rhythm, but in fairness they’ve played around with him at home and he just seems to have found that mojo. “He’s been well-placed now after putting three wins together and hopefully he can climb up the ranks again. “Off the bend when we got racing he came alive. I felt like when I jumped the second-last that I was coming to win. I knew from the last to the winning line he finds plenty for you.”
