Following an outstanding weekend at Sandown with Gary and Josh Moore, Salver is now potentially aiming for the Kauto Star Novice Chase at Kempton. The father-and-son duo celebrated four victories over the two days of the Tingle Creek event, with Salver earning high praise after decisively winning the Esher Novice Chase by 12 lengths on his first three-mile attempt.
Salver, who is a half-brother to Willie Mullins’ top performer Saldiar and finished third behind Magiborough in the 2024 Triumph Hurdle, may return to Grade 1 racing on Boxing Day. Josh Moore commented, “I hope the rain continues to fall. While a slow track might not be ideal, it certainly brings out the best in him. After his third place in the Triumph Hurdle, I told the owner he was suited for three miles, so it was always in our minds that he would excel at the longer distance. He was a big, raw horse from a young age, so we always had high hopes.”
Another standout from the Lower Beeding team was Mactoad, who impressed on his British debut the same day as Salver. The Moores are considering entering the Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow on December 27—a race they won with Salver in 2023—and plan to stay active during the busy festive period. Moore added, “He might run at Chepstow the day after Boxing Day. We’ll decide by the end of the week if it’s too soon, but that is our main plan. He was very impressive at Sandown, but let’s see how he performs next time.”
Fan Take: This exciting news highlights the emergence of promising talent like Salver and Mactoad, injecting fresh energy into the horse racing scene. For fans, these potential showdowns at Grade 1 events over the holiday season offer thrilling prospects and a glimpse into the future stars of the sport.
