No hiding my disappointment if Big Buck’s fails todo the business in World Hurdle
I sat on Big Buck's last week and he looks great. He is mad fresh and as fit as a flea, a credit to Paul Nicholls. We know he loves Cheltenham, that he has won this race for the last two years and it will take a mighty performance from one of rivals to turn him over.
I respect Grands Crus, who goes form strength to strength and we simply don't know how good he is. We'll find out now.
I think Mourad is the best of Willie Mullins' two runners. Fiveforthree was off for a long time, before coming back to win at Punchestown, and has a bit to prove.
Mourad has had a terrific season and taken to Cheltenham like the proverbial duck to water. He might even improve for the good ground.
Anyway, I believe Big Buck's is a heck of a good horse and if one of these can beat him then good luck to them.
I kick off for Paul aboard Robinson Collonges in the Jewson. He was in good form in the early part of the season and then took ninth to Poquelin in the A P McCoy Gold Cup at Cheltenham.
Paul then put him away for this and he has had a break of 96 days. Robinson will love the ground and has an each-way shout.
Willie Mullins and I are enjoying a good week and we try again with Sivota in the Pertemps Final.
It's wide-open and you can only be hopeful. Sivota ran a nice sort of race when fourth at Leopardstown in January and Willie will have him absolutely spot-on.
He should stay, although any easing in the surface would be welcome. Sivota has 10-7 on his back and that's perfect, because he is a small horse.
This, however, could house a real handicap snip in last year's Aintree Grand National winner, Don't Push It.
In some six weeks he will be back at Aintree, carrying top weight in the National, and Sivota has to give him 2lbs now!
I'm hoping Poquelin can finally break his duck in Grade 1 company in the Ryanair Chase.
What he is a particularly good handicapper and, generally speaking, that should not be good enough in top-class contests.
But, for my money, this is very much a sub-standard Ryanair. His best form is on the new track here and that's where the race will be run.
If this was a high-class renewal, I wouldn't be in any way cocky that he will deliver. But the more I look through the contest the harder I'm finding it to nominate what can beat him.
I know Albertas Run trounced us in the Ryanair last year, but he has been running very badly this campaign. To sum up, I have to be reasonably confident Poquelin will prove equal to the test.
Tuesday was a great day, with three winners, but there was no major celebration that night. I went for a swim, had a little dinner and was in bed at 10.45. Friday night will be time enough to let our hair down a little.
Yesterday, it wasn't so good and I never really had the sniff of a winner. Master Minded was well beaten when making a mistake two out in the Champion Chase.
I was worried about the ground, but that's not what beat him. He's probably not the horse he was and now seems to need to go further.
I was confident about So Young in the Neptune, but his jumping wasn't good enough His technique was just too novicey and, as a result, I nearly ended out in the Guinness village!
Mikael D'Haguenet was going well when falling in the RSA Chase, but it was too far from home to be drawing any sort of conclusions.
