SATURDAY – CHELTENHAM

1:10

Valsheda (Will Biddick)

He’s a good staying chaser who looks the part and I do feel we are yet to hit the ceiling with him. He has a lovely attitude and is very solid, but I do fear he might come into this needing the run slightly. This is a good place for him to though start and Will came and had a sit on him last week which always helps. 

1:45

Pentland Hills (Nico De Boinville)

I must admit I’m not a fan of running horses first time out over fences at Cheltenham but he’s a ‘winner’ without a penalty (ha ha!) after his walk over at Huntingdon, but had there been another runner he wouldn’t have to carry a penalty anyway because it wasn’t a Class One or Two, so it’s all irrelevant really, but we had to go there to sort of prove a point. Anyway, this horse’s biggest weapon is his jumping which is why I’m prepared to let him take his chance here and we’re so short of races because I need the two miler at Warwick next week for Jonbon and then there’s a two mile two at Kempton on Monday week which I want for Balco Coastal so I’ve got to try and spread them out. Pentland has schooled very well and I am excited about what he can do over fences. 

2:40

Mister Fisher (James Bowen)

It’s going to be an incredibly difficult task carrying top weight but he’s in that sort of category whereby he’s not quite up to Grade One level so ends up being forced into races like this. He’s in excellent shape, however, and the ground has come good for him. He is a very classy horse and if he can get into a nice rhythm, I’d be hopeful that he can run a big race, but he might obviously be vulnerable to a few down towards the bottom. 

2:55

On The Blind Side (Nico De Boinville)

He’s in good form but has two shoulder top weight, and again, what do you do with a horse like him because he isn’t going to be going down the Stayers’ Hurdle route but is so consistent therefore doesn’t get any respite from the Handicapper. He’s got to have a run and then we’ll have a look and see where we might go after. 

3:30

Time Flies By (James Bowen)

It’s taken him a long time to win a race but he finally got the job done last time so I’m hoping that has done his confidence a bit of good, but this is obviously another big step up. He was running in Novices’ all last season so does actually have quite a lot of experience which bodes well for this sort of race. The ground should be ok, although he wouldn’t want it too quick.

Wiseguy (Nico De Boinville)

He’s only had two runs over Hurdles and should be unbeaten in both but things didn’t go right at Fontwell then he won easily at Doncaster after that. The form of his Bumper win couldn’t have worked out any better (beat Hillcrest) and he’s a person we think an awful lot of. He does lack experience but he’s a very capable horse and an Intermediate race like this suits him so I hope he’ll run a very good race. He works nicely and is a promising horse. 

4:05

Luccia (Nico De Boinville)

She was very impressive in a Listed Bumper at Sandown in the spring but I’m afraid that race couldn’t have worked out any worse and she seemingly beat nothing. However, she doesn’t know that and she is a mare we think quite a lot of. I thought it was kinder to give her another run in a bumper, just to get her going again, before we go hurdling because she jumps very well. She is a high class mare.