CHELTENHAM

12.40pm

Chantry House

We had the option of going over 3m with him on Friday, but we stick to the shorter trip here.  He was obviously a high-class novice hurdler over 2m last season when third in the Supreme, and we had to be delighted with his chase debut at Ascot, even if his main market rival falling made his task more straightforward. He is clearly an exciting prospect and the slight step up to 2m4f should suit this winning pointer. It’s a much tougher examination for him here though with Fusil Raffles and Quel Destin in the line-up, and it will tell us a lot more about him.

1.15pm

Nietzsche

I haven’t sat on him before but he is a Greatwood Hurdle winner who is improving over fences, He finished a good third over 2m3f at Doncaster last time, and he has decent each-way claims once again. Stepping back in trip could suit him better in a race like this, too.

1.50pm

Champagne Mystery

Things didn’t go his way at the Festival but at least the handicapper has eased off him a bit, and has dropped him 4lb since that last run. He was pretty harshly treated after his Aintree win last November but I suppose his subsequent two runs in novices’ chases, latterly when bumping into Greaneteen at Fakenham, confirmed what a good horse he was. That Aintree win last season came first time out, so hopefully he can go well again fresh here, and hopefully his wind op has helped him, too.

3.00pm

Verdana Blue

Everyone knows how well she goes on good or quicker ground. Those are her ideal conditions, and not many would be giving her weight and a beating over 2m on fast ground. We aren’t going to get those here though and she has run below her best on two starts this season, but she gets weight all round as she hasn’t won since her Scottish Champion Hurdle win in April 2019 and that makes her dangerous to all. Hopefully, she still has a big win in her and the ground rides decent here.