Flyer looks just Champion
A high class hurdler, who often threw down the gauntlet to the great Istabraq, he comes here in peak condition, following an uninterrupted preparation.
The progressive nine-year-old warmed up for this test with a smooth success at Punchestown early last month.
Conditions were very testing, but Moscow Flyer made light of them to beat Copernicus by nine lengths.
He had that won a long way from home, but almost paid the penalty when lack of concentration almost had him on the floor at the last.
Overall, however, he is a spectacular and brilliant jumper, as he proved when landing the Arkle a year ago.
Moscow Flyer produced a breathtaking exhibition to slam Seebald and there is every reason to believe a similar diplay may be forthcoming on this occasion.
Edward O’Grady’s Pizarro can get us off to the ideal start in the Royal and SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle.
He showed, when taking the bumper twelve months ago, that the hill holds no fears for him and he will take a lot of beating.
The selection has done well since going over hurdles, although his jumping is something a minor concern.
He won his pre-Cheltenham contest, a moderate event at Down Royal, in a canter, but what really points one in his direction is his defeat of the high class Solerina at Navan earlier in the campaign.
Keen Leader has to be the choice to provide the solution to the Royal and SunAlliance Chase.
He is a possible Gold Cup winner of the future and can emphasises that such thinking is close to the mark by outstaying his rivals.
A safe jumper and a powerful galloper, John Joe O’Neill’s gelding is a reasonably confident choice, granted luck in running and a clear round.
The Coral Cup is its usual almost impossible to solve puzzle, but a little each-way on Emotional Moment may not go too far astray.
He continues to make dramatic improvement and there was an awful lot to like about the manner in which he slammed Over The Bar to the tune of five lengths at Navan last time.
Selections
2.00 Pizarro (n.b)
2.35 Keen Leader
3.15 Moscow Flyer (nap)
4.00 Emotional Moment
4.35 Stormez
5.10 Europa
5.45 Liberman
