Bookies wary of Tidal threat
Tidal Bay is favourite for both the Royal & SunAlliance Chase and the Arkle with Coral after landing a hat-trick of wins over fences in the Boylesports.com Fon-A-Bet Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.
The Barking firm quote him at 7-1 and 10-1 respectively for the Festival races after the high-class hurdler scored under Denis O’Regan.
The Howard Johnson-trained 5-6 favourite was safe and sensible and quickened away from the second-last for a comfortable five-length victory from Gold Medallist.
Johnson said: “He is a lovely horse but was a bit novicey last time at Carlisle so we brought him down here to give him some more experience.
“I’ll try and give him another race before the Festival and he will be entered in both the SunAlliance and the Arkle as an end-to-end gallop will suit him.”
Franchoek remains just about favourite for the JCB Triumph Hurdle despite defeat to Gordon Elliott’s 10-1 shot Harper Valley in the Boylesports.com Best Odds Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle.
A 1-3 shot here, Franchoek attempted to make all the running but Harper Valley travelled beautifully for Tony McCoy and pulled a length and a half clear - despite a game effort from his rival.
The winner, a maiden from two previous starts, was receiving 7lb from Franchoek but was cut to as short as 12-1 for the Triumph.
“Putting blinkers on him sharpened him up but with his size, whatever he does over hurdles will be in preparation for fences,” said Elliott.
“The plan was to come back here for the Fred Winter, but we might have to go for something else now.”
Franchoek’s trainer Alan King reported: “I still think he’s good and he could come back here in January or run in the Finale at Chepstow.”
Richard Johnson is evidently feeling no ill-effects from his recently broken metatarsal bones as he produced a relentlessly persuasive ride aboard O’Toole (9-2) in the Jenny Mould Memorial Handicap Chase.
O’Toole had been pushed along from some way out but responded gamely to take victory by three-quarters of a length.
Trainer Philip Hobbs said: “He has had a couple of nice wins in moderate races and they have done his confidence good.
“He has done it well and jumped nicely, but has had a busy time of it lately so he might have a break now.”
King and Robert Thornton enjoyed better luck later in the day and registered a double, initiated by Pouvoir (8-1) in the Steeplechase Company Centenary Relkeel Hurdle.
The grey, who had been close in three competitive handicaps this season, stormed up the hill for a highly-convincing success.
“I am thrilled he’s got his head in front and he’s a proper horse,” said King.
“I decided he’ll go over fences next year, we’ve upped him in trip and it’s made all the difference.”
Pouvoir was given a 20-1 quote by the sponsors of the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.
They completed their brace as Nenuphar Collonges took the Grade Two Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, with the 4-1 shot rallying at the death to foil the belated challenges of Gone To Lunch and Souffleur.
King added: “I imagine we will aim him at the Brit Insurance at the Festival and he will have one or possibly two runs before then.”
