John's got the Spirit for Glory
A fixture which ignites the steeplechasing season into full cry, Cheltenham's Open Meeting often provides performances from stars of the future as well as the returning superstars.
Headed by the Paddy Power Gold Cup, this three day meeting has often produced Cheltenham Gold Cup contenders of the past alongside the exciting novice hurdling and chasing prospects and this year's was no exception.
A lightly weighted individual, John's Spirit continued to progress at a rate of knots with a last-to-first victory in Saturday's showpiece, the Paddy Power Gold Cup, and earmark himself as a potential Ryanair Chase horse, if continuing to progress throughout the next stages of this intriguing season.
Settled in rear throughout the early stages of the race, John's Spirit scythed his way through the pack at his own pace, hitting the front with one fence to go as his rivals began to struggle. Powering over the final fence, John's Spirit's finishing effort could not be matched by the heavily-weighted Hidden Cyclone - who bounced back with a performance from the top draw considering the weight - but would have to hold off the late charge of the steeplechasing-maiden Colour Squadron.
"He loves this place and everything goes right for him here" said winning trainer, Jonjo O'Neill, "He is a more relaxed horse at home this year so it is brilliant to see him win this. We'll probably come back here [in December], but we'll see what the handicapper does - he can't do much, we only won a neck.".
John's Spirit has returned this season as a foot perfect, revitalised chasing prospect whom has impressed with each start thus far. Despite being an intriguing prospect last season, with his season topped by a strong second place behind Venetia Williams' Katenko, the dizzy heights of steeplechasing's top table seemed to be a considerable distance away from his grasp. This season the six year old has continued to progress, seemingly with dead aim on a place amongst the elite.
However, whilst a victory in Saturday's Paddy Power Gold Cup has not nearly established his place at that level quite yet, and taking into account his racing weight was considerably low in this handicap contest, the lightly-raced chasing prospect has impressed when storming up the Cheltenham hill on both starts this season and would remain an intriguing prospect in the Championship races at the later stage of the season.
Raised just eight pounds by the handicapper for his Paddy Power Gold Cup victory, John's Spirit was seen to idle when hitting the front in this event and his perfect partnership with Richie McClernon is one which could provide a huge level of reasoning for the improvement of Jonjo O'Neill's star.
A regular fixture at the O'Neill yard, McClernon is consistent, hard working and reliable, shown none more so than when using every bone in his body to coax Alfie Sherrin to victory at the Cheltenham Festival a few years back.
One would hope that the partnership with John's Spirit can eventually give McClernon that top level victory he so richly deserves.