Shantou Village won the Neptune Novices Investment Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday, winning by 15 lengths from Champers On Ice and Penglai Pavilion. Whilst excuses could have been made for both (Yard Fitness – Champers on Ice, Going – Penglai Pavilion) we can’t help but have been impressed for this unbeaten gelding trained by Neil Mulholland. He has now won a 3 mile point to point, a 2m NHF, a 2m4f hurdle and now a 2m5f hurdle in impressive fashion.

He is by Shantou and out of Village Queen (King’s Theatre) and therefore he has the breeding to suggest that a step up to 3 miles for the Albert Bartlett wouldn’t be a bad idea. Shantou Progeny have a 9% strike rate over 2m5f hurdles with a 13% strike rate over 3m. Whilst this increase may not seem that much, with Shantou Village already showing he has a lot of ability any increase could be really significant. Despite already winning easily at Cheltenham he may well have beaten horses who didn’t like Cheltenham however the King’s Theatre in Village Queen is highly significant as they have a great record at Cheltenham (25% strike rate in Novice and Graded hurdles) so the course probably suited as well.

Out of Shantou he won’t be seen to his best until he tackles a fence (17.75% over fences compared to 13.45% over hurdles) and he could well be a Gold Cup horse of the future, however he is likely to come back for trials day before running at the festival. Connections feel he is still green and also ‘may be better over further’ so the Albert Bartlett looks a very good option at the moment.

Shantou Village can be backed at 14/1 for both the Neptune Novices Hurdle and Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival with the latter looking most likely.