CHELTENHAM – FRIDAY
3:30 Cheltenham Gold Cup
Might Bite (Nico de Boinville)
I think he slips into this year’s race slightly under the radar which is good as it takes much of the pressure off. He’s had a couple of away days, we’ve tinkered with his wind, given him a full MOT and he is as good as I can get him. As you’d expect it’s a very tough race and the soft ground is a slight worry but he’s in fine form so it’s up to him to go out there and do his very best. I’m confident he retains all his ability.
1:30 Triumph Hurdle
Adjali (Daryl Jacob)
I’ve always like him and his form is up there with the best of the English Juveniles. I thought he ran a good race on Trials day but will be much happier on the soft ground here. His work has been very good and I think he is a serious each way player at decent odds.
Pentland Hills (Nico de Boinville)
This is a big step up but Nico got off him after Plumpton and said he was very impressed with his jumping and felt like he’d been doing it for years where he jumped and travelled very well. Obviously he has to improve again, and about 30lbs to get anywhere near Sir Erec but he’s an experienced horse who could be suited by a race of this type. I’m not saying he’s win material by any means but I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him run a huge race.
2:10 County Hurdle
We Have A Dream (Daryl Jacob)
He won nicely at Kelso last time and has been in good form ever since. He’s ended up with almost top weight so that’s going to make things difficult but he’ll have no worries on the ground and I liked the way he worked earlier in the week. He’s fit and well so a good run wouldn’t surprise.
Countister (Barry Geraghty)
She’s been off the track for exactly a year for various reasons, mainly because I just couldn’t find a suitable race for her and then we were going to go for the Betfair Hurdle but couldnbt because of the flu vaccination, but her form is quite good and it will be interesting to see how competitive she can be off her mark of 133 because I do think it’s certainly an attractive rating. She enjoyed a nice easy piece of work on our grass gallop the other day with Call Me Lord and Altior and I was very happy with her. It will be a very good performance if she can win this first time out but she’s a very good mare who won’t be far away.
2:50 Albert Bartlett
Birchdale (Barry Geraghty)
I’ve always thought a great deal of him and he hasn’t let me down yet. He’s not slow by any means and we could even go back to 2m4f if we wanted but we had Champ for the Ballymore so it made sense to run Birchdale in this and I hope we’ve made the right decision. He’s a fine big horse who is built to go chasing but it would be nice to take this in en route. His work has been very good and I’m very hopeful of a bold show.
Dickie Diver (Aidan Coleman)
He’ll like the ground and is a very smart horse with a bright future. I was pleased with the manner of his victory at Chepstow last time and he seems to have improved a lot at home since then. He’s learning all the time but is extremely talented and he won’t be far away.
4:50 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual
Whatswrongwithyou (Nico de Boinville)
He took a hefty rise in the Handicap for winning last time but it did at least mean we got into this race and I think he’s the sort of person who will run very well in a race like the Grand Annual. A fast run 2m is right up his street and he jumps well so should give a good account of himself. The ground is also in his favour and he’s been in very good form at home.
5:30 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle
Style De Garde (Ned Curtis)
He looks up against it and we’re switching back to hurdles after an inauspicious career chasing. He’s owned by a very enthusiastic group of owners who will no doubt have a great day and if he can do as well as last year when second in the Fred Winter we’ll all be very happy but he does face a stiff task, realistically.
Pym (Richard Patrick)
He’s a lovely horse with a touch of class but I’m not entirely convinced that a hurly burly race like this on soft will really suit him; that said, the trip will suit and he’s been in good spirits at home so he could finish in the money of getting some luck.
