Saturday At Cheltenham

12.10 - I was most impressed with Hinterland at the Paddy Power meeting and would expect him to follow up in this. He travelled and jumped with great fluency and, if he can settle a little better, then there looks to be much more to come. He looks a very smart recruit and looks by far the best juvenile seen yet this year. 4/7 was much better than I was expecting. Highly Efficient was rated 90+ on the flat and was 3rd in the Irish November Handicap but he faces a formidable opponent on his hurdling debut.

12.45 - An intriguing race with a few potentially smart chasing prospects. Mossley and Champion Court were both decent over hurdles placing 2nd and 4th behind Bobs Worth in the Albert Bartlett at the Festival. Join Together won a 3m novice at the Paddy Power meeting but this looks more competitive. I think this race looks to be between Mossley and Champion Court. Both were good over hurdles and look like filling their potential over fences as well. Champion Court has the benefit of 3 chasing runs and that might prove decisive, especially as Mossley was far from perfect on his first start. Champion Court ran a good race behind Grand Crus last time and faces nothing of his calibre here and the step up to 3m will suit. He is just preferred over the Henderson charge but either could win it.

1.20 - Tanks For That won well at the course last time and will be dangerous off a 9lb higher mark. He is one who has disappointed after running well first time up and looks worth opposing. Astracad is an interesting contender for Nigel Twiston-Davies and would be a fitting winner in the Mould's famous green and white colours. He might have bee targeted at this race and is worthy of respect. Havingotascoobydo missed the cut in the big race and comes here instead. Connections believe a step up in trip will suit but he ran well behind Tanks For That last time. He's gone up 5lb but remains open to plenty of improvement. I have it between those three, as does the market, with marginal preference for Havingotascoobydo.

1.55 - A difficult race to work out. American Spin has been beaten 3 times in 4 hurdles races and surely more is needed to win this graded event. Deireadh Re won first time up and then finished 2nd at Ascot last time, shaping as if the return to 3m will suit. Rev It Up has won two novice races, staying on dourly on both occasions, but would surely prefer a bit more cut. Sea Of Thunder steps up markedly in trip after running at around 2m but has won two points in Ireland over 3m. Stamina a question mark but one that might be answered. Brass Tax was understandably no match for the smart Simonsig last time but was weakening at the death there and the step up in trip not sure to suit. Halley is the interesting one having won the 4yo Chase Championship in France last time (Long Run and Kauto Stone were the last two winners). He is rated 148 over fences and if he can transfer that form to hurdles he will take all the beating in this with the highest rated of these on just 129. A difficult race to be too confident about but he might be more than worth a shot at the prices (4/1) even though all his form is on softer ground.

2.30 - A very competitive affair with a field of 17 going to post. 

Woolcombe Folly - Top weight off a mark of 164 and this will be a big ask. Ryan Mahon takes off 3lbs but this is his first try at the trip and has questions to answer after disappointing last time. The winner that day did boost the form by winning the Peterborough Chase on Thursday. Others preferred.

Great Endeavour - An easy winner of the Paddy Power and a 10lb rise wouldn't necessarily be enough to stop him. Could easily go well again but has run in the Hennessy since, when looking the likely winner before his stamina gave, and it will be a big ask for him to take this competitive affair on the back of those two efforts. Not dismissed though.

Medermit - Won the Haldon Gold Cup after benefitting from the final fence departure of Captain Chris. Has since been a well beaten 3rd behind Master Minded and Somersby. I'm not convinced that form is the strongest, especially after Somersby disappointed in the Peterborough on Thursday. A mark of 157 looks plenty high enough and I think there will be a few better weighted down the bottom. Yet to win in 6 visits to the track.

Roberto Goldback - Irish challenger and this his first start in a handicap. Been running well in graded races but looks to face a stiff ask in this, especially with the ground maybe a little livelier than he would like.

Ghizao - Won two good novice chases last season before disappointing in the Arkle and then finding only Finian's Rainbow too good at Aintree. Poor showing on his return when 4th behind Medermit and needs to improve significantly on that effort to figure here. Supposedly enjoys a bit of cut and ground not expected to be much worse than good. Choice of Ruby Walsh and must be respected but others look to have stronger claims.

I'msingingtheblues - A tough and consistent performer, already winning a good 2m handicap at Ascot and running 4th in the Tingle Creek last weekend. Yet to win at further than 2m and will need a career best to take this.

Calgary Bay - Only 8th behind Great Endeavour in the Paddy Power and hard to see him getting any closer. Last win, a long time ago, was over 3m and suspect he might find a few with too much pace at this trip. Seems an unlikely runner with this his 2nd preference.

Tatenen - Difficult to give him too much of a chance on the book but Mark 'The Couch' Winstanley has put him up at 20/1. He says that Andy Stewart has targeted him at this race in a bid to win the race he sponsors. I find it hard to see him winning but interesting nevertheless.

Quantitiveeasing - Easy to see why he is near the head of the market. Ran well in 2nd in the Paddy Power when staying on strongly, though never a match with the winner. He arrives here with possible improvement but it is hard to see Great Endeavour running any better. The weight pull might allow the places to be reversed and he must be one for the shortlist. Deserted by Champion Jockey AP McCoy.

Roudoudou Ville - An improving sort and could continue on an upward curve. This is a whole lot tougher and he might find a competitive race such as this a bit too much.

Fingeronthepulse - Well beaten in the Paddy Power Gold Cup and hard to see him figuring in this.

Divers - 3rd in the Paddy Power but wasn't finishing the strongest with the 2nd gaining a lot of ground from the back of the last. Ground should be in his favour but I just get the feeling that the Paddy Power was his day. Well fancied and could go well again.

Sunnyhillboy - I quietly fancied him at a decent price and that is now all gone after McCoy chose to ride him. He has always threatened to win one of these big races and perhaps this is the day. If he is well backed you can be quite sure that a big run is expected. Ran 3rd last year and might well improve on that effort.

Matuhi - A Pipe challenger who was brought down when beaten at Galway last time. Not a forlorn hope but others seem to have stronger claims.

Nomecheki - Not completely out of it at the weights. He has twice finished 2nd at around this mark. That said he must put a couple of poor displays behind him. Another Stewart contender and he is sure to be primed for the race, but run last week at Aintree a negative.

Salut Flo - An intriguing contender for David Pipe. Very lightly raced with just the two starts in this country. Looks capable of winning off this mark but this is a tough ask on his first run since April 2010. Dangerous to discount being such an unknown quantity.

Mad Moose - No match for either Cue Card or Bobs Worth last time but this is easier. Rated 144 over hurdles and gets in here of 135. That mark looks within his compass considering he fairly bolted up in a valuable handicap hurdle at Newton Abbot off of 129. Seems to enjoy quick ground and might be an interesting outsider.

Conclusion - Great Endeavour is entitled to go close again if over his recent exertions but that question mark leads me to focus on the two McManus horses. Quantitiveeasing and Sunnyhillboy both hold strong claims and market support behind one or the other would be significant. With the booking of AP, it is hard not to think that Sunnyhillboy is JP's main hope but Barry Geraghty is a more than able deputy aboard the Henderson runner. AP's choice has slightly messed up my selections because both of the McManus horses are now short in the market. I will wait and see how the betting develops tomorrow before getting involved. The other one of interest is Salut Flo who might be another Pipe plot waiting to happen. He gets in off a featherweight and has the potential to be much better than his mark. If he is punted then be sure to jump on the bandwagon. At a much bigger price it is not inconceivable that Mad Moose might outrun his odds. If pushed to select one at this stage it might be Sunnyhillboy. He has threatened to win one of these big handicaps and connections seem very confident. I did quietly fancy him at around 14/1 before AP got on. The current 7/1 is less enticing but any further support would be significant.

3.05 - A really tricky race but a good one nonetheless. Quite a few Champion Hurdle hopefulls take their chance and this will tell as a good deal more. Menorah won this last year and should go well again. Overturn has been in cracking form of late and is dangerous once again. Brampour has started the season in flying form in handicaps but steps up to graded company here. Grandouet has looked smart but trainer feels he may be best at a speedier track. Clerk's Choice was 4th last year but is reported to have improved and wouldn't be completely out of it. Sanctuaire is a bit of an enigma but on a going day might go well. Pittoni was behind the best of the Irish (bar Hurricane Fly) last time and will hopefully tell us where these stand. Stormy Weather is outclassed. Not a race over which I have a strong opinion so a no bet for me. I'd like to see either Grandouet or Brampour go well because the Zarkandar form is starting to gain some strength about it and I await his return with interest. If either Menorah or Overturn win then I think we can rule out these for the Champion with both exposed at the very highest level last season.

3.35 - A decent race but it would be disappointing if Oscar Whisky was unable to atone for his last flight fall at Ascot a few weeks back. Overturn did the form plenty of favours at Newcastle and the Henderson horse can gain compensation here. 4/6 looks more than fair.



Really looking forward to a good day's racing. I'll be there so hopefully the sun will shine to top it all off. I've had some terrible luck of late, and keep knocking on the door but can't seem to get one to win at a decent price. Luck is a fickle thing and it all might change tomorrow. Best of luck to everyone who plays.