Cheltenham beckons for Barton

Exciting novice chaser Barton could head straight for the Cheltenham Festival following his impressive display at Newcastle on Saturday, it emerged today.

The Tim Easterby-trained nine-year-old, who carries the colours of Gosforth Park chairman Sir Stanley Clarke, landed the Grade Two Cantor Index `Dipper` Novices` Chase by 30 lengths to earn a possible tilt at the Irish Independent Challenge Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival, for which William Hill make him an 8-1 chance.

Apart from one mistake Barton jumped impeccably but finished with blood dribbling from his near-fore foot after losing the shoe.

'He`s fine this morning. He just had a nasty little cut but it`s all right now,' the Malton trainer said.

'He won well. He`s a different class - just class. He just gallops and it`ll take a hell of a horse to get past him.

'We might not run him again. We might just wait for Cheltenham.

'He doesn`t need much more practise the way he jumps.

'It`s great, he`s really hit form.'

Easterby was also on the mark with Turgeonev in the feature Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot.

Turgeonev received a 20-1 quote from Ladbrokes and Corals for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Festival after the grey`s four-length success over Wave Rock.

But the trainer played down Turgeonev`s victory.

He said: 'Whatever the handicapper says or does it wasn`t a Queen Mother race. There were flaws in them all. There weren`t any up and coming young horses like him and he was racing off his new rating.'

'It was the right race for him,' Easterby went on. 'It isn`t very often they work out when you get these things into your head at the start of the season.

'We`ve always thought he was a very good horse. A very good horse to train. He`s an exciting prospect.'

No decision has been made on Turgeonev`s next outing or his Cheltenham target.

And Easterby added: 'It`s a case of getting them to Cheltenham right on the day. It`s getting them there healthy and well.'

Coral`s Arkle betting: 4-1 Seebald, 6-1 Barton, Fondmort, Moscow Flyer, 12-1 Armaturk, Blue Royal, Grimes, Youlneverwalkalone, 14-1 Asador, Europa, Katarino, Royal Auclair, St Pirran, Mr Cool, 16-1 Colonel Yeager, Hit And Run, 20-1 bar.

Coral`s Queen Mother betting: 5-2 Edredon Bleu, 100-30 Flagship Uberalles, 7-1 Native Upmanship, 8-1 Fadalko, 10-1 Tiutchev, Wahiba Sands, Knife Edge, 14-1 Geos, 16-1 Young Devereaux, Direct Route, 20-1 Turgeonev, 22-1 bar.