Cheltenham
12.45pm
Mister Fisher
His form tailed off a little bit after he beat Bright Forecast at Haydock – and that was obviously very smart novice hurdle form – but it isn’t as if he ran at all badly in the Supreme or the Swinton. I was very happy with his chasing debut behind Torpillo at Haydock, where the year-younger winner was getting 7lb – and Torpillo clearly didn’t run his race next time – and I think the step up to 2m4f will suit him. He has a good chance in a strong race with that run under his belt.
3.05pm
Pentland Hills
It is often hard for Triumph Hurdle winners in their second season against older battle-hardened performers and he carries a 3lb penalty, but this race has been the plan for a while and it is all systems go for him. He pleased us in his away-day at Newbury recently and you certainly cannot fault what he did last season, winning smoothly at Cheltenham with just a Plumpton win to his name beforehand, and his form has worked out, too. The Triumph runner-up looked very good when winning at Down Royal this season, and the Aintree defeat of Fakir D’Oudairies – where he showed he could really battle – is clearly very classy form, too. He is obviously a horse of some potential, and this could tell us just how much.
