Cheltenham
1.50pm
Global Fame
I rode him when he finished second to a good horse in Harry Senior at Chepstow last season – the winner went on to take a Grade 2 here – and he was impressive when going one better under Connor at Wetherby next time. He wore a tongue-tie at Wetherby and has his wind tweaked since, and we are very happy with him coming into this. It is a hot race and he meets some higher-rated horses, but he won’t be disgraced. The more rain the better for him, though.
2.25pm
Ask Dillon
This is another hot race, and the front three already boast some very smart chasing form, notably Gordon’s Galvin. But at least they have to give us 8lb and Ask Dillon proved himself a decent hurdler last season with his Sandown second and hopefully there is a lot more to come with this point winner over fences. Wednesday’s rain was very welcome for him and he would want more. He has schooled really nicely and he is an exciting horse for us.
3.00pm
Imperial Elysian
He has progressed really well, recording his third straight win after a break at Southwell in July, and then he went to Perth the following month off an 11lb higher mark and was not all disgraced in finishing a close third. The second has come out and won since and we race off the same mark here, so I’d like to think he has an each-way chance. That Perth race was very messy, too – we hacked, then sprinted – so I think he will be even better suited to a race like this, in which they look sure to go a good gallop.
3.35pm
Dotiforthevillage
He is 2lb out of the handicap here and does tend to need a couple of runs to put him straight, so I imagine he will be one of the outsiders here, especially as he is also an 11yo facing a lot younger and less exposed rivals. But he is a course and distance winner who is coming back down to a fair mark once again, so hopefully he gives connections something to build on here.
4.10pm
Art Approval
Pipesmoker is probably going to take some beating, and there are a couple of others in here who could be decent too, but we were delighted with Art Approval’s debut second at Market Rasen and that initial outing will have done him the world of good. We learned a lot about him there.
