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Cheltenham October Meeting eye-catchers: five horses to follow
By Nic Doggett
Last Updated: Sun 25 Oct 2026
Free Racing TV Country Gilet!
Nic Doggett was watching all the action at Cheltenham this weekend and picks five eye-catcher from the two-day meeting.
Friday
SOUL ICON
3rd, squareintheair.com Handicap Chase, 2m
Perhaps with the exception of winner JPR One, I suspect not too many of the field in this handicap chase would be able to give Amiloc a run for his money on the Flat, but that's what Soul Icon did at Salisbury on his previous start last month.
He was quite well fancied for this two-mile contest, but just found the trip a little too sharp for his return to fences, running on well up the hill having made his ground well out wide.
The Keiran Burke-trained nine-year-old holds no secrets from the handicapper, but he's fairly treated and has a fine strike-rate over hurdles (if returning to that sphere at some point where his mark is lower).
SCOTT'S LEGACY
7th, Oddschecker Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2), 2m
Winner Kingofthefrontier was the great story of this race formerly known as the Sharp, with the rain helping this strong-staying sort trained by John Dawson, but the performance of Scott's Legacy also caught my eye.
A big drifter before the off, despite having a looked a horse of some potential when winning at Newton Abbot, the mount of Sam Twiston-Davies failed to get competitive having been held up off the pace - tactics that were at odds with how he won last month.
It's worth noting that his bumper flop (sent off 11-10 fav on debut) came on soft ground, so he's worth forgiving this effort when back on a sound surface and with his sights lowered a bit.
Saturday
AS LEGENDS HAVE IT
4th, William Hill Epic Boosts Novices' Limited Handicap Chase, 2m4f
As Legends Have It was third behind Jeriko Du Reponet in a Kirkistown four-year-old point-to-point back in 2023 and has since made up into a straightforward chaser, no surprise that he's been able to better his fairly modest hurdling form since going over the bigger obstacles.
Though he clearly stays well, the pick of his efforts have come on flatter tracks and the hill seemed to find him out when weakening into fourth behind O'Moore Park at Cheltenham on Saturday.
Aside from that, and quite a serious mistake at the seventh, it was a very pleasing return to action and one which suggests he's a horse to back next time out, especially with his sights slightly lowered (eligible for much easier races).
DERRYHASSEN PADDY
3rd, William Hill Price Boosts "Chasing Excellence" Novices' Chase, 3m1f
Derryhassen Paddy is all about stamina, but Saturday's race wasn't enough of a test for the Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore-trained seven-year-old who was third in the 2025 Albert Bartlett.
He only had one start last season – second at Ayr on his chasing debut where he didn't jump well – and Derek Fox was clearly at pains to get this big, strapping sort into a rhythm on Saturday with a very patient ride.
The duo may have gone a bit closer if not for slipping off the final bend having made some decent headway, but in all likelihood they would have been second.
Very much proven on testing ground, he looks sure to pick up a small race in the north/Scotland before being more of a force later in the season, especially when the mud is flying.
LA LUNA ARTISTA
4th, Masterson Holdings Hurdle, 2m
North Shore ran out an impressive winner of a race that has been won by some quite illustrious names in the past, though it's unlikely that any of these will hit the heights of the likes of Dodging Bullets (2012) or Tiger Roll (2014).
However, the performance of La Luna Artista caught my eye.
Carrying a penalty for her Grade Two win at Kempton last season, she was ridden with a bit more restraint than all of those who finished ahead of her, travelling well until two out where a slow jump halted her progress somewhat.
She wasn't given a hard time once defeat was inevitable, and it reminded me of her run when fourth at the track last year prior to that Kempton success.
A nimble sort, look out for her at a more speed-favouring venue, especially when not burdened with a penalty.
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