CHELTENHAM – WEDNESDAY

1:30 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle

Champ (Barry Geraghty)

Some people have knocked the Challow Hurdle form and said winners of that race don’t win at Cheltenham, and they may be right, but Champ doesn’t know that and I thought he was very good at Newbury when he was quite free but finished his race very well. Obviously he has a lot riding on him because of his name but he’s definitely on an upward trajectory and his work and jumping have been excellent. We pretty much started his season in May last year which was good as he was able to gain valuable experience, have a break and then come back for the start of the season proper. He’s done nothing wrong since and I was going to give him another run but there didn’t seem to be a need for it so we’ve kept him fresh and he’s fit and well. He’s got bags of toe and is not slow, as you all saw at Newbury, and I’m very hopeful.

2:10 RSA Chase

Santini (Nico de Boinville)

Everyone knows what a frustrating 8/9 days it’s been with this horse and we’ve had shoes on, shoes off, poultices on and poultices off which is absolutely not ideal going into a race like this but he’s perfectly sound now and seems to be over his troubles so we are going to Cheltenham. He was impressive on chase debut at Newbury and I don’t think was disgraced in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase as the track wouldn’t have suited him and he’d probably have liked it a little softer too. He’s always been a high class horse and chasing has always been his game, therefore I hope we can finally get to see the finished article. He jumped and worked beautifully at Newbury two Sunday’s ago which is ironic as that is where all our problems started and ideally I would have liked to run him in the Reynoldstown but due to the equine flu we were forced to miss that engagement. I’m now completely happy with him and am looking forward to seeing what he can do.

On The Blind Side (Noel Fehily)

Ideally I’d liked to have got another run into him but for various reasons I have been unable to do so but he jumped and won well at Kempton and has done plenty of schooling since so we’re in a good place with him. He frightened himself on chase debut at Cheltenham, which is often the case with horses there first time out, so we went back to the drawing board and gave him lots more education. I think he wants three miles and he’s in great form.

2:50 Coral Cup

William Henry (Nico de Boinville)

He’s goes well fresh which is a major plus in race like this and Hannah, who rides him and Buveur D’Air most days, reports him in fine shape. I do have a slight inkling that he may be better going right handed but he’s won and run well here in the past so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him put up a bold show.

Burbank (Jerry McGrath)

We ran him in a Novices’ Chase at Leicester in January on what was his first start since April and he ran ok without really looking in love with the jumping so we’re switching back to Hurdles and going back up in trip. He’s had wind surgery so that should help him if the ground is really soft and his work has been fine so he could go well at decent odds in the cheek pieces but this is a very competitive affair.

Apple’s Shakira (Barry Geraghty)

I think she could be the interesting one here. Put a line through her run at Sandown where she faced a virtually impossible task giving weight all around on bottomless ground first time out so Barry, quite rightly, pulled her up. She loves Cheltenham and for a while didn’t think there was another race course in England! But I think the step up in trip will really suit and while she’s always pretty lazy at home, she does seem in good spirits and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see her run a very big race.

3:30 Champion Chase

Altior (Nico de Boinville)

There’s not much more I can add that hasn’t already been said. He had a spin around Kempton a few weeks ago and enjoyed that and we’ve popped him over a few fences to keep his eye on the ball and he’s just loving life. You’re always under a certain amount of pressure with these type of horses because you want them to remain unbeaten but I fear one day that may change; hopefully it never happens but it’s always in the back of your mind. Min was very impressive in the Dublin Chase at Leopardstown so he’s the obvious danger but he’s schooled, he’s worked and everything is great and I couldn’t be happier with his condition.

4:10 Cross Country

Vyta Du Roc (Daryl Jacob)

He has been to the course and had a but of fun and frolicks jumping banks and hedges up hill and down dale and bar planting himself at the top of one to have a good look around, he seemed to enjoy himself sop we thought we might ass well give it a go. We don’t have too many runners in races like this so we’re very much novices but this may give him back so of his sparkle and I’ll be interested to see what happens.

Terrefort, Top Notch and Epatante spearhead the challenge on Thursday so be sure to check back here for my thoughts on their chances.