Grand National winner Comply or Die makes his reappearance here but I expect, like most Pipe runners, he will need the run. Beat The Boys is chosen as the selection as Twiston-Davies is in great form and in the testing conditions a light weight is a plus. Joe Lively, from my local stable, is best of the rest and was a great novice last season. He could be good enough here but Tizzard isn't in amazing form at the moment so I'll watch him this time out. Opera Mundi has to be respected purely because of the Walsh/Nicholls partnership. Came out all guns blazing when fresh last term but Beat The Boys is chosen to continue his novice form at this higher grade - AR.
Selection: Beat The Boys
Danger 1: Joe Lively
Danger 2: Opera Mundi
Cheltenham 2:35 Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase (Handicap) (Grade 3) (4yo+) 2m4f
The former Mackeson Gold Cup, as some will know it, is the next race up. In the last 10 running’s the favourite has landed the spoils 5 times. The likely favourite at time of writing is Silverburn. The full brother to Denman, trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Ruby Walsh who has had a well publicised breathing operation over the summer. He seems relatively lightly weighted on 10st11lbs, receiving just over a stone from the top weight, and has won over the distance. There is a lot in his favour providing he shows no ill effects from his surgery. Another well thought of is Barbers Shop. Owned by The Queen, he won his last race of last season after narrowly being beaten at the festival on the previous start. He beat Silverburn in a bumper in 2006, then finished behind him in a race last year won by Joe Lively. The new Henderson/Geraghty combination is in fine form this season and the trip and ground shouldn’t be a problem. Carries 1lbs less than Silverburn. The lightly weighted Bible Lord has been the market mover during the week. Only confirmed a run on Thursday, he is now a general 10-1 shot. He carries joint bottom weight of 10st5lbs and is another that shouldn’t have ground or trip worries. His last run was here at Cheltenham when he was beaten into 3rd place by another of the runners in this race, Ouzbeck. Ouzbeck has won 4 out of 5 chases he has contested and was a course and distance winner last time out. Most of his wins and decent runs have been on good ground which is a concern given the projected soft conditions. Imperial Commander has not been seen for nearly a year since trailing home last of 4 in a 25f race. Prior to that he won at this meeting in novice company over course and distance and should he return to that form he has a chance. Others to take note of are Stan and Maljimar. Stan was victorious in Grade 2 company last season and has had one run so far this season. That was a 2nd place finish over a trip on the short side. Maljimar won a Grade 3 last season before unseating in his final start. Ground conditions shouldn’t bother this course and distance winner and with a fairly light weight he could make the frame. I am torn over which of the first two picks gets the nod. Knowing my luck it will be the other that takes it! - VE
Selection: Silverburn
Danger 1: Barbers Shop
Danger 2: Maljimar
Wetherby 2:55 £2.5million totescoop6 Handicap Chase (Class 3) (4yo+,0-130)
A very open handicap chase for horses rated 0 to 130, with the likes of Killard Point and Ice Tea likely to be close to the head of the market. Leading Man is the best horse in the race but he is top weight and from a stable which is on a dreadful run, he has to be opposed. The opposition should come in the form of former course winners Shrewd Investor, Super Road Train and Laertes. Shrewd Investor ran a fair race last time out until weakening 3 out; he looks too high in the handicap and therefore has to be taken on. Super Road Train has some fair form this season, but is one that will be staying on at the finish as he wants further than this. Laertes was very poor on seasonal reappearance when finishing well behind Super Road Train, however he is running on better ground here and is well below his hurdles mark. He can go with the early pace and has stamina in abundance, therefore he is the selection. His main dangers are likely to come from Ice Tea and Rakalackey - JB.
Selection: Laertes
Danger 1: Ice Tea
Danger 2: Rakalackey
The forth leg is this tricky handicap hurdle over 3 miles and a furlong. Fair Along who has been campaigned over both hurdles and fences has another crack at the smaller obstacles, but over an unknown trip for him. It is 3f further than he has ever been before and he carries a fair weight. The 7lbs removed by the claiming jockey will help. Will his class carry him through? Doubts for me. Pride Of Dulcote represents the Nicholls/Walsh team. He won last time out over 3 miles but in nothing like the class of this race. That was his only career victory and has been prone to a mistake or two with Walsh on board. Valerius is the mount of AP McCoy. This Irish raider has a win over this distance and a 2nd place finish behind another runner in this race last time out. On that occasion he was beaten by Diablo. Both were on the same weight that day and both are matched again here. Everything points to Diablo being in front of Valerius again too. Powerstation won’t be inconvenienced by the soft going but carrying top weight may be too much even with a 5lbs claim removed. The Sliotar from the David Pipe yard has wins on soft but not at this level. Has won over 25f but Cheltenham on soft is very different from Southwell on good to firm. On a breeding point this race features a half brother to Azamour in the shape of Ardalan. He has won over 3 miles but again the class was not this standard. May find a few too good. Sullumo has form on soft ground to back up his claims here. He has never been out of the first 3 so far in his career and has a good shout of continuing that run. – VE
Selection: Diablo
Danger 1: Valerius
Danger 2: Sullumo
Knockavilla is the favourite but could be anything. Unexposed and therefore a big risk but I fancy him to win here. Another unexposed horse is Edas but of the two Kockavilla has shown enough previously to be the selection. My dangers will come from Ela Re, who has had the benefit of a run and should enjoy conditions, European Dream or Smoothly Does It from the Jim Best yard. Overall a wide open race, I could bash on about all of them but luck will need to come into play, many in with chances but I'll side with Knockavilla with Ela Re and Smoothly Does It in the mix - AR.
Selection: Knockavilla
Danger 1: Ela Re
Danger 2: Smoothly Does It
Cheltenham 3:45 Racing UK Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) (3yo+,0-125)
Selection: Prince Du Beury
Danger 1: Busker Royal
Danger 2: Jocheski
- Beat The Boys
- Silverburn
- Laertes
- Diablo
- Knockavilla
- Prince Du Beury
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