Goshen

So far, Goshen has made just one appearance at the Cheltenham Festival, where he was sent off heavily-backed 5/2 favourite for the Triumph Hurdle in 2020 after wide-margin wins, all at long odds-on, at Fontwell, Sandown and Ascot. Indeed, the four-year-old gelding appeared set for another when approaching the final flight in the Triumph Hurdle with a commanding, 10-length lead. However, he failed to pick up when asked to do so by jockey Jamie Moore and made what, under different circumstances, might have been just an awkward, untidy mistake. Worse was to follow, though; on landing, his off-back and off-fore legs became tangled together, albeit momentarily, and his back legs skidded, unbalancing Moore sufficiently to send him crashing to the Prestbury Park turf.

Despite that heartbreaking defeat, Goshen still finished his first season over hurdles with a Timeform Annual Rating of 161p – identical to Epatante, winner of the Champion Hurdle – and is currently quoted as 8/1 co-second favourite for 2021 renewal of the two-mile hurdling championship. Goshen ran twice on the Flat in 2020, at Haydock in September and Goodwood in October, and was beaten favourite on both occasions. He missed intended engagements at Wincanton and Ascot in November, as the result of unsuitable going and an unsatisfactory scope, but was reported 'absolutely fine' by trainer Gary Moore. All being well, Goshen could start his 2020/21 hurdling campaign in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle in late November or, failing that, in the International Hurdle at Cheltenham the following month.