One of the major hard luck stories of the Cheltenham festival was the Gary Moore trained Goshen, who looked certain to take the Grade One Triumph Hurdle on the Friday of the festival but fell at the final flight when 10 lengths clear.
However, Moore is looking forwards and not backwards and overall he knows he has a huge talent in his ranks that he will be targeting at the Champion Hurdle for next season's festival.
Goshen came from the flat and was a smart runner gaining a mark of 88, which could see him go back there before the Cheltenham festival with the Cesarewitch at Newmarket a clear target.
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— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 13, 2020
Can you believe it?
Goshen looks set for a brilliant JCB Triumph Hurdle victory, but it's Burning Victory for Ireland in a quite remarkable conclusion at @CheltenhamRaces #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/fHIulH3Vik
(Credit At The Races) Moore said:Goshen is absolutely fine, thank goodness.
“You always worry when they end up stood on two legs like he did, but he’s eaten up every day since and he’s been out for exercise this morning.
“It was disappointing, what happened – but it’s done now, and we move on. It looks like we’ve got a very good horse on our hands going forward, so that’s the positive to take out of it.”
Moore added: “We’ll have a look at Punchestown or Auteuil for Goshen, or I might just go straight back on the Flat with him. He’s rated 88 on the Flat, and it would be a shame not to try and make the most of it.
“I think he is a Champion Hurdle horse, and that’s how I’ll be training him. He could go back on the Flat first, but what I do know is he’ll be in a field during June and July when the grass is at it’s best.”