Johns Spirit can rise to the occasion and step up to the Plate

David Metcalf | March 16, 2016

Course specialist Johns Spirit weighted to strike in Plate

Johns Spirit comes alive at Cheltenham and looks to hold outstanding claims of landing the Brown Advisory Plate on day three of the Festival (16:10).

The Jonjo O’Neill trained gelding is a three-time winner at the venue, and has also performed well at the Festival to finish fourth in the 2014 running of the Byrne Group Plate off a mark of 148 and a decent sixth in last year’s Ryanair Chase off an official rating of 160.

Johns Spirit has failed to sparkle in three runs this season, but all those have been on unsuitable heavy ground and the going has now come in his favour.

Given a big chance by the handicapper

The nine-year-old also didn’t run too badly late time out at the track when fourth to Annacotty and has since been dropped another 3lb in the weights.

John’s Spirit is now able to race off just 145, his lowest mark in over two years and 2lb less than when last victorious.

It makes the son of Gold Well dangerously well-treated on the pick of his form, and Johns Spirit has also clearly been saved for this contest and had a good record fresh.

Another plus is that he hails from a yard which does particularly well with its chasers and has already tasted success at the meeting with Minella Rocco and had Holywell finish a very good second.