Good Morning/Evening to you all, you join me after a great day of racing and a fantastic day for the blog as we saddled three winners and a big priced placed horse. But the stars of the day were undoubtedly Jamie and Gary Moore who finally won a festival race with Sire De Grugy who was a brilliant winner of the Champion Chase.
However I am really short on time as we are celebrating a friends birthday this evening so without further ado, lets get onto today's selections.
JLT Novices' Chase - Wonderful Charm
Wonderful Charm had a tall reputation over hurdles and has finally come right when switched to fences and looks somewhat a natural unlike others in this field. I was amazed to see him at the same price as Oscar Whisky who in the form book he has well held over today's trip. Daryl Jacob may have not given him the best ride that day after travelling so well but wasn't able to cope with his rival's speed on the day. The ground today will be near perfect for him and a strong pace will help him out no end as he has looked to get further than this and was in last year's World Hurdle. Wonderful Charm to land the JLT on his way to bigger things... Just like we said about Faugheen and he also carries the tag of today's NAP.
Pertemps Network Final - Josies Orders
Jonjo O'Neill's second string just sneaks in the bottom of the weights here after improving twenty two pounds so far this season. But he has shown no rise of stopping this improvement and Maurice Linehan is used for the first time this Festival taking off a valuable five pounds. His improvement began when first fitted with blinkers and since then he is two from two winning easily both times with Linehan in the saddle last time. The return to better ground could bring around more improvement and despite a few obvious main rivals, the race doesn't look the hottest renewal. Josies Orders to continue his rapid improvement and defy a 14 pound rise in the weights.
Ryanair Chase - Hunt Ball
This season's Ryanair looks far from vintage renewal and with a horse like Dynaste as favourite a chance is taken on Hunt Ball to return to form. A lot of people say Hunt Ball isn't the force of old after his brief spell in American as a result of making the headlines for the wrong reasons. He failed to sparkle in three outings across the pond but for me there is a simple explanation for that after he showed he hasn't lost any ability last time out. American's dont know how to ride in Jumps races and ill explain what I mean by that. In this country (which is what Hunt Ball is used to) the horses go a true gallop throughout and its a stamina test no matter what distance. In America they crawl until around three or four furlongs out then sprint at the end which caught Hunt Ball flat footed each time. For that reason Hunt Ball is taken to return to form with a bang today over a trip that is near perfect for him at a ludicrous price.
Ladbrokes World Hurdle - Big Buck's
Big Buck's needs no introduction here as a four time winner of the race, although he does have a new challenge this year in the form of Annie Power. He returned from injury in a disappointing manner last time for many, however there were more positives than negatives for me. Firstly he showed the sparkle is still there and has lost very little ability if any at all after getting tired late on after a long break and with a jockey who is unfamiliar with the horse. Sam Twiston-Davies will have learned a lot that day and the better ground is a big bonus for him as well as having a few more front runners to aim at. The question mark hanging over Annie Power is simple, does she stay? Big Buck's we know will stay all day when fully fit and with Celestial Halo setting a good gallop out on front the mare will be fully found out today. Big Buck's to return as King of the staying hurdle division.
Byrne Group Plate - Johns Spirit
I have looked over this race time and time again and the one I cant get away from is the Paddypower Gold Cup winner, Johns Spirit. Many people will argue that the handicapper is in control of him now after finishing fifth to Double Ross when last seen back in December, but that was his third big run in just under two months. Since then he has been given a break and will turn up here absolutely spot on with Richie McLernon on board who knows him so well. The addition of Champion Court saves him from the welter burden of top weight and he gets away with a nice weight of 11-3 which is more than competitive for him. Looking back at his last run fills you with confidence as it shows it was probably just one run too many in such a short period of time, but he does have to reverse form with Colour Squadron. Nonetheless, Johns Spirit is taken to land another big Cheltenham handicap after a well earned break.
Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase - Indian Castle
Indian Castle appears to be the name on everyone's lips this season and his price reflects that unfortunately, but a winner is a winner of course. Last season it was Super Duty who was strongly fancied by the same connections but Indian Castle can go one better this time around. The jockey booking is a huge one in these amateur riders events as there are few better than Derek O'Connor and he will be hungry to avenge last years narrow defeat. There are few that jump off the page here and after his big handicap win last time out over a shorter distance back here at Cheltenham Indian Castle can handle a five pound rise. One last thing is that his form with Many Clouds and Pinerolo from Wetherby looks particularly strong and we may not have seen the best of him yet. Indian Castle to set the record straight for connections this year.
NAP - Wonderful Charm
Nb - Johns Spirit
Have a great day everyone and as always, happy punting!!
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