A good day to get your betting boots on!
Paul Nicholls is running some of his best horses and, obviously, it is going to be hard enough watching them.
Pride of place, of course, has to go to Master Minded in the Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase. He looked to be back to his best when winning at Ascot but, as I said here last week, the only one who could have given him a race that day, Albertas Run, fell at the third last.
It would, however, be churlish to be knocking Master Minded, it wasn’t his fault Albertas decided to head west.
Master Minded’s jumping was fast and accurate and he certainly gave the impression he was back to something approaching his best.
I know he has won two Champion Chases round Cheltenham, but actually think is better travelling in the other direction.
Twist Magic won’t run if the signs are good for Huntingdon on Sunday, so maybe Gauvain is the danger. My gut feeling is that if Master Minded is truly back to the horse we know him to be he’ll win well.
I flagged up Woolcome Folly when he won easily at Ascot last time, but am not so enthusiastic about him in the opener, a handicap chase.
He is a horse who is all about speed and the new track, where the race will be run, takes a lot of getting. As well as that he went up 12lbs for Ascot and is now burdened with top weight.
Another we recommended here recently, Sam Winner, has his second outing for Paul in the juvenile hurdle. He won 15 lengths at Cheltenham the last day and now returns to the scene of the crime.
When I tipped him up it was based on what I had seen at home, but I’m now told he has improved a ton. I believe this is a real good horse and will be disappointed if he doesn’t win. I can’t wait to throw my leg over him in a chase.
A watching brief may be best with Paul’s Picture This in the novice chase. He will gain valuable experience and might be one for the notebook later on, for a race such as the Scottish National.
Paul has abandoned Celestial Halo’s career over fences, at least for the moment anyway, and he returns to flights in the Relkeel Hurdle,
That’s no great surprise because he fell at Exeter and his jumping lacked fluency at Newbury subsequently. I won’t be shocked should he prove good enough.
Don’t forget Celestial Halo was going to put it up to Khyber Kim over today’s trip at Aintree when falling two out, breaking my arm in three places in the process, to add insult to injury.
Robinson Collonges has a good each-way shout in the seriously competitive Vote AP Gold Cup Handicap Chase.
He’s only had three runs over fences, but that didn’t stop Diamond Harry winning the Hennessy at Newbury.
The Grade 2 International Hurdle is some contest, bringing together Menorah, Cue Card and Silviniaco Conti.
Mind you, I cannot understand why Cue Card is running in this. He may well be a potential champion in the making, but has just two races over hurdles under his belt.
Why doesn’t he just stick to novice company and then take on these type of horses next season? Menorah has to be respected, but I’m a Silviniaco Conti fan.
He stays well and my one worry is the possibility of a lack of pace. But the race is on the stiffer new track and that massive run from the second last to the last will play to his strengths.
I will watch Join Together in the finale with more than a little interest. Paul felt I didn’t make enough use of him at Exeter and now he steps up in trip.
He is a big strong horse and his future is over fences. I was at Cheltenham as well yesterday for Channel 4 and Tony McCoy told me he expects a big run in this contest from Teaforthree.
Let’s have a quick look at Cork tomorrow, hopefully it will beat the weather, starting with the Grade 2 Hilly Way Chase.
Wille Mullins runs three, Golden Silver, Kempes and Scotsirish, and you’d expect the first-named to emerge as the best of them.
Golden Silver is a smart horse and won this a year ago doing handstands. Paul Townend gets on particularly well with him and Golden Silver made an excellent reappearance when chasing Big Zeb home at Navan.
Willie runs Bishopsfurze in a division of the maiden hurdle. He was a more than useful bumper performer, who has schooled okay.
Horses can often come on a bundle for their first pop over jumps and I’m reluctant enough to get too carried away with him for the moment. I think Blazing Tempo - I love her - will win the Grade 3 mares’ novice chase for Willie.
