Good morning/evening to you all, the countdown to Cheltenham is continuing and we are now under the month marker for the 2015 Cheltenham Festival. We have a few more clues today including At Fishers Cross who was third in last year's World Hurdle, he is in action at Haydock and will be a short price for victory. Ascot stage a Grade One in the shape of the Ascot Chase where Ptit Zig takes on Balder Succes and Ballycasey as all of them have questions to answer. Among the other names on trial are Fletcher's Flyer, Arpege D'alene and Tea For Two with the last couple doing battle in Ascot's opener.
As always @OnTheOtherHoof have prepared a preview video as we look ahead to the afternoon of racing on Channel 4 and preview every race. Joining me on the panel this week are the regulars of @Adamwebb121 and @Calummadell from Timeform. You can watch the show live at 8pm of through the link below which will be posted after the show has finished.
Ascot Chase Day Preview
One more link to throw at you guys. This week I was part of a Cheltenham preview evening on Radio Yorkshire alongside Bobby Beevers and Sam Brydges. We had a star studded set of guests that joined us on the phone including Oli Bell, Nick Luck, Tom Scudamore, Jamie Moore, Mattie Batchelor, John Blance and Mark Pearson from Betfred. You can listen to the whole show live below and you can also listen to me live on William Hill radio tomorrow afternoon. Enjoy!
Radio Yorkshire Cheltenham Preview
Now onto the all important selections!
2:40 Ascot - Carole's Destrier
Neil Mulholland's Gelding had always promised to be a better chaser than hurdler and after four runs he has already improved on his hurdles rating. Saying he was still very useful over the small obstacles and defied a mark of 129 to win a Festival consolation race at Kempton last season.
He started of his chasing career at Ffos Las where he was just caught late in the race after being prominent throughout the contest. That left him with a lot of promise to go forward with and he improved to beat Carraig Mor and Return Spring off level weights at Exeter over three miles. His run next time can easily be forgiven as he was pulled up and has been seen to good effect since that disappointment. That came at Cheltenham over two miles and five furlongs but got caught for a bit of speed late in the day after travelling powerfully throughout the race. The try down in trip was well worth a go but connections appear to have made the right choice by stepping back up to three miles in what looks to be a weaker event. One of the most interesting factors is the jockey as Barry Geraghty takes over in the saddle from Michael Byrne who has partnered him in 9 of his 14 career starts. Neil Mulholland has has success with the Champion Hurdle winning jockey this season with The Young Master and can have further success this afternoon. (11/4)
3:25 Haydock - Kelvingrove
Despite Jonjo O'Neill and JP McManus both being doubly represented here, AP McCoy has chosen to ride Aqalim for John Ferguson. Preference however is still for the Jonjo O'Neill trained Kelvingrove who has built up a good rapport with Maurice Linehan recently and were unlucky together last time out.
He started off his racing career on the flat with the late Sir Henry Cecil but didn't come into his own until switched to Ed Vaughan's yard in handicaps and up in trip. It was a surprise to see him win a two mile novice hurdle as he defied a mark of 80 over the same trip on the flat which would indicate he is more stamina laden.
It is no secret that Jonjo O'Neill's yard were struggling for a bit of form around Christmas time and winners were hard to come by, however Kelvingrove was one of the horses who seems to have carried his form through the season. We last saw him when just touched off at Taunton over a trip just shy of two and a half miles which is likely to be too short for him. He was a bit unlucky on that occasion as he had just hit the front when becoming the meat in the sandwich between the eventual winner and the rail, even though it wasn't a major incident it cost him momentum at a key moment and was beaten only a short head. The step up in trip looks to be vital this afternoon as he was one of the first off the bridle at Taunton and stayed on in good style. Maurice Linehan partners him once more and claims a valuable three pounds in what is sure to be testing ground which shouldn't hinder him.
He may not be the class of his half brother Cavalryman, but he is taken to land this event and must do so if he is to make it to the Cheltenham Festival. (12/1)
NAP - Carole's Destrier
Nb - Kelvingrove
Good luck today and as always, happy punting!
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