The Wine Tipster: “They will have to put in some performance”

Lossiemouth is still considered Constitution Hill’s main challenger for the Unibet Champion Hurdle. So it is interesting that Paul Townend has stayed loyal to stablemate State Man, given he is bigger in the market for the Tuesday feature at the Cheltenham Festival.

Enjoy the weather at Leopardstown or Musselburgh, or watch #athome on ITV Racing and Racing TV.

Cheers,

The Wine Tipster.

Solness won when the race ran tactically here at the Christmas meeting when Gaelic Warrior was 3¾ lengths back. The assumption here is going to be that Gaelic Warrior reverses the Christmas form with Solness now he has a run under his belt. Still, it is a concern this time that Gaelic Warrior is wearing a tongue tie, though Solness did the job in good style, so might be capable of beating him again. He wound it up from halfway last time and had them beat two out, finding plenty for pressure and was nicely on top at the finish. Cheltenham is probably asking a bit too much of him, so there’s no reason why he won’t be fully wound up for this, and he looks the value shout to come out on top again.

Anglers Crag (nap) struck up a four-timer last season featuring the Eider Chase and a success here at Musselburgh. He failed to fire in the Scottish National and then on making his seasonal debut at Newcastle over just under three miles he looked in need of the run as he jumped poorly throughout. Anglers Crag then finished fifth on his next start at Market Rasen over 2m 5f in a Unibet Middle Distance Chase Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase when delivering an improved performance. This looks on his third start of this campaign to have been the plan and Anglers Crag looks sure to reward each way players. Unibet 11/1 each way

Dancing On My Own hasn’t been seen since finishing third to Calico at the October meeting at Cheltenham when having been prominent out until two out and then stayed on up the hill. That was over the minimum trip and Dancing On My Own’s four chase successes have all come at around this distance. Dancing On My Own is an interesting contender running over this trip and this sound jumper, who travels strongly, can get right in the mix if ready to go after more than three months since his last appearance. Unibet 16/1 each way Horantzau d’Airy looks a big price and could reward each-way support with five places on offer. He ran two smashing races in the autumn to be second to Flooring Porter in the Kerry National and Real Steel in the Munster version, and has been far from disgraced in the big handicap at Newbury and the Listed Chase at Christmas here, doing some good late work under a 7lb claimer when ridden off the pace. He’s always liked it here too, his full record here reading 2219, and in an open-looking-race, can work his way into the places again.

Unibet 28/1 each way