Open Meeting Overview

Three days of top quality action at Cheltenham this week really signal the start of the jumps season proper. There will be big names out in force at Prestbury Park throughout the weekend. It is action that must not be missed because there will be Festival clues a plenty.

Friday

The undoubted highlight is the final Novice Chase over 2m4f. Cue Card bids to follow up from his fencing debut success but he will face a tough opponent in the shape of the David Pipe trained Grand Crus. Also in the mix are the well regarded Champion Court, Dualla Lord, Sybarite, Vino Griego and Zaynar. As far as i'm concerned the contest is spoiled from a betting point of view by the fact that there are only 7 runners. With just the two places up for grabs the EW value is limited. I think Champion Court is a promising chaser and i think he would have been a decent EW bet against the front two if there were 3 places available. As it is, i think it may be best to sit back and watch. It should be a terrific encounter.

The only Graded action on the card is the 2m Novice Hurdle. This features the hugely exciting Steps To Freedom from the stable of Jessica Harrington. He won the Aintree Champion Bumper in good style from the highly regarded Montbazon (more of him later). He has since made a seamless transition to hurdles, taking a Maiden Hurdle and a Grade 3 against more experienced rivals. He should prove a tough nut to crack in this heat. Leading the challenge is Prospect Wells from Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls' stable. He was a Listed performer on the flat, and whilst it has been reported that he wasn't a natural over the obstacles at first, he was convincing winner first time up at Chepstow last month. Ericht makes his hurdling debut in this and he is reported to be one of Nicky Henderson's better hurdling prospects. He will need to be to take this against some rivals with valuable experience under their belt.

Earlier in the card the smart hurdler Crack Away Jack makes his debut for Paul Nicholls. He lost his way a little last season but if he returned to his best hurdles form (rated 163) he would run away with this off a mark of 142. Hopefully he can return to winning ways here.

Garde Champetre will be considered banker material by many in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase. The fact that this is a non-handicap race gives him a huge advantage. He is comfortably the highest rated and will take all the beating if he's on song.

Saturday

The big race is the Paddy Power Gold Cup featuring a maximum field of 20. As competitive as ever there are any number holding strong claims and it is difficult to rule out any with complete confidence. I have done a separate post for the big one.

The stellar Saturday card starts with the first big Juvenile Hurdle of the season. 12 months ago Sam Winner ran away with this contest before going on to finish 4th in the Triumph in March. This time Hinterland (currently 20/1 second favourite for the Triumph) represents Paul Nicholls. He already has a Listed hurdle success in France to his name and he is well thought of. It would be no surprise to see him take this on the road to bigger things down the line. That said he has plenty of decent types in opposition, including Listed winner Secret Edge, so is unlikely to have things all his own way.

Another interesting contender for the Walsh/Nicholls combination is Oscargo in the 3m Listed Handicap Hurdle. He beat better fancied stablemate Harry The Viking first time up last season. That rival has since gone on to score in a Maiden Hurdle at Chepstow last month and it is interesting firstly that Nicholls pitches him into handicap company and that Walsh gets down to the minimum weight to ride him. Assuming he doesn't carry overweight it will be Ruby's lowest riding weight in the past twelve months. If he makes the effort you can be sure that he is expecting the reward. As you would expect it is a competitive race and there will any number with chances.

The last race on the card looks another filled with chasing potential. Restless Harry is set to make his fencing debut after taking the John Smith's Hurdle at Wetherby in impressive fashion. Join Together bids to get his chasing career back on track after hitting the deck first time up. Saint Are, a Grade 1 winner at Aintree over hurdles tries to get break his maiden over fences after a promising second to Champion Court at Aintree.

Sunday

A superb Novice Chase starts the days action with Al Ferof set to make his fencing debut under Ruby Walsh. What will take him on is uncertain at this stage but it is sure to be an informative race nevertheless.

The Nicholls/Walsh combo will be hoping to make it a quickfire double as they team up with Tataniano in the Shloer Chase over 2m. He looked right back to his best when running away with a handicap on his seasonal reappearance at Chepstow and he must be fancied to take this provided he is in the same form. Stablemate Woolcombe Folly is probably best of the remainder but was only 3rd, admittedly giving weight, in the Chepstow race and it is hard to envisage him turning the form around without Tataniano disappointing. It must be remembered that Tataniano has been something of an enigma and has been prone to run the odd stinker in the past, including when only 3rd in this race 12 months ago when well fancied. He must have good ground and that looks to be in his favour on this occasion. The progressive West With The Wind and last seasons winner Gauvain look best of the rest.

Next up is the Greatwood, the second big handicap of the weekend. This race can quite often throw up a Champion Hurdle contender, as it did with Menorah 12 months ago. Full preview on a separate thread.

The next race is a little tricky to decipher at this stage with the final declarations not yet made. It looks open with a few progressive types looking to keep their runs going.

Fingal Bay hits the track for the second time this season after making a striking impression in the Grade 2 Persian War Novices Hurdle at Chepstow. He is held in high regard and after that impressive victory it is easy to see why. Who will take him on is an unknown but you can be sure that whoever beats him will be very smart.

The final race is the Listed Bumper. Alan King has saved his highly regarded Montbazon for this race. He found only Steps To Freedom too good in the Aintree Bumper but that rival has done the form no harm since, triumphing in two hurdle races (including a Grade 3 against older horses). Those two came a little clear from the rest and it would be a disappointment if Montbazon could not take this prize en route to taking high rank in the novice hurdling division later in the season.