āHeās been improving at home and his work has been really goodā
Kargese won a Grade 1 hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival, and she is obviously going to be getting 7lbs from the geldings which will help.
Weāve got a strong contingent with Majborough, Storm Heart and Bunting all in there ā I wouldnāt be surprised if any of those improved past Kargese. At the time those horses had only had two runs over hurdles, whereas sheād already had four.
Outside of that, it is a very open contest. I wouldnāt be particularly strong on anything here, but Bunting and Ethical Diamond are two that could certainly run well at a big price.
Weāve got a lot of runners in the County Hurdle, with one of those being Absurde, who was a high-class flat horse, winning the Ebor and running very well in the Melbourne Cup. He improved on his previous form to be fourth over hurdles at the Dublin Racing Festival against Ballyburn and Slade Steel. The rain wouldnāt have helped his cause, but hopefully it will have dried out a bit by Friday. Heās got a lovely weight of 10st 10lbs and I can see him running a big race. Heāll be dropped in and running on late, so anyone backing him shouldnāt be worried if they donāt see him early in the race.
Another that Iād give a good chance to is Zenta. She was third in the Triumph Hurdle last year behind Lossiemouth and has since gone on to win a Grade 1 at Aintree. She disappointed on her first run over fences, so we switched her back over hurdles and she ran very well at Leopardstown in the big handicap hurdle there. I think she could improve and is another one in with a big chance.
This is a race that weāre pretty strong in with Readin Tommy Wrong, Dancing City, and High Class Hero all towards the top of the market. Dancing City won a Grade 1 at the Dublin Racing Festival, but he wasnāt overly fancied there and Iām just not sure how to rate that form.
High Class Hero has the right profile for the race, having already had a few runs over hurdles, which is usually what you need here in terms of experience. Theyāve been lesser class races, but by design we wanted to keep him to a lower class, and heās been improving, so he could run well.
I do really like Readin Tommy Wrong. He ran really well to beat Ile Atlantique in the Lawlorās Of Naas, and I think the step up to three miles will really suit him. Heās a very relaxed horse and he jumps well, so I think heāll go through the race smoothly and I think heās a very strong each-way bet.
Shishkin being out obviously helps our chances here because he is a very good horse, but nonetheless I still think Galopin Des Champs will win. He was very impressive at Leopardstown over Christmas, and he was the same in beating Fastorslow the last day at the Dublin Racing Festival.
He comes here as the reigning champion and the slower ground will help him. 3m2f suits him really well, he is a strong stayer and I do think he will win. Iād imagine Paul Townend will wait to see how the race pans out and he wonāt have to make the running, but he certainly can if need be.
Weāve got a nice chance in the Hunters Chase with Billaway. He ran very well in his first run at Naas when second to Its On The Line. Heās a horse with plenty of experience at Cheltenham and heās won this race before.
He is a 12-year-old now and I suspect some of the other horses with younger legs might have a bit too much for him.
Weāve got a couple of great chances here, both of which are very experienced round Cheltenham. Allegorie De Vassy was second in the race last year whilst Dinoblue was the runner-up in the Grand Annual.
Dinoblue looks to have improved plenty having picked up a Grade 1 in Leopardstown earlier this year, before going on to finish second behind El Fabiolo last time out. I think she is the class animal in the race.
Allegorie De Vassy is a very good mare and she improved to win at Naas the last day. I donāt think the rain will have helped her and any drying ground that comes would suit her. I would hope that both will have a bit more class than the rest of the field, with Dinoblue probably the one to win.
I think you can make a case for both of our runners having a chance in the Martin Pipe. Ocastle Des Mottes ran for the first time this term in the Betfair Hurdle last time out and I thought he did quite well in finishing eighth. The step up in trip along with a little more experience will help him.
I do like Quai De Bourbon at the top of the market. Heās had a couple of runs in France and didnāt show it all. He was a bit of a surprise winner of his maiden at Naas, but he improved again to win over two miles at Clonmel the last day. Heās a really laid back horse and the step up to 2m4Ā½f should bring out the best attributes in him. Heās been improving at home and his work has been really good, I do really like him, and he has a good, strong pilot in Michael OāSullivan on his back.
Best of luck,
David
