Cheltenham Festival Trials Day

12:55 - GRUMETI looked to be romping in at Newbury last time before coming down at the second last and assuming he is none the worse for it he should be the one to beat. BABY MIX burst an early Festival bubble when beating Hinterland (runs in 4:15) comprehensively. It was his first start in England that day and he could hardly have been more impressive, however this race looks more competitive and he has to give Grumeti 3 pounds. PEARL SWAN won on his first start in this country for the champion trainer at Taunton however will need to improve on that to challenge to main protagonists today. COLEBROOK won last time out at Sandown and is the most exposed of the lot today, it could be argued the form of that race isnt very strong but it was the way he won it that impressed me, off the bridle from before 2 out kept digging in and finding more, you would have to think today will be too much for him though. TANGO DE JUILLEY has run well on his 2 British starts and is his first time experiencing good ground today, although may be another that comes up just short. HOLLOW TREE is held on the form line with Hinterland but Donald Mccain's comments have been encouraging about him 'i would have thought Hollow Tree is the one they all have to beat but apparently not!'. If that isnt talking a horse up then i dont know what is. For that reason i'm willing to take Mccain's competitor who himself has done nothing wrong in his early career.

1:30 - ROALCO DE FARGES won impressively at Newbury on Hennessy day beating a big field, but failed to carry on with some improvement last time out with a poor run. ROYALE'S CHARTER unseated James Reveley last week at Ascot, although not seeming to make a mistake. His jumping is usually better and will need to be round Prestbury park, could go close though. CARPINCHO ran a nice race behind Time For Rupert and won at Fontwell last time out, he looks to be a big improver and is sure to run his race again. MISTER CHOW had won really easily at Taunton before tipping up at Southwell last time, this is a step up in class and although a well handicapped horse you would wonder if this is too much. THAT'LLDOBOY and NIGHT ALLIANCE have already competed a finish at this track this season, the latter's jumping let him down last time and the former fell at Kempton on boxing day when in contention, both best watched today. If CHARMINSTER'S form figures are anything to go by he should be second today but he is upped in class today and may be a bit high in the weights. My selection for this race is Maurice Linehan's MISTER HYDE it seems Jonjo is very careful about what horses he puts Linehan on and a big race today is very notable. The horse himself is very useful and has found his form as of late, he could just be a well handicapped horse and should go very close today.

2:05 - You couldn't help but be impressed with how AERIAL won at Ascot but is upped 12 pounds for that win and that could just find him out in a competitive race. The other Paul Nicholls horse is no stranger either in WOOLCOMBE FOLLY who is tumbling down the weights but could still be just a tad high in the weights even with Ryan Mahon's 3 pound claim, note that he is coming down to a winning weight though. CHANCE DU ROY has enjoyed himself this year winning at Newbury and coming second at Chepstow but may just want a bit more give in the ground. Paul Nicholls final runner is in the race also needs no introduction in POQUELIN and with Harry Derham's claim making life easier for him should be there thereabouts. He has had a little break to freshen him up after unseating here last time out but is undoubtedly the class horse of the race after being sent off favourite for the Ryanair twice. THE GIANT BOLSTER has been called just about every name under the sun in his career but last time put in an improved run when second to Time For Rupert. However when visiting Cheltenham his strike rate of completing isnt the best in the world. For that you would have to have doubts. Forgive ARALDUR'S last run and he should enter notebooks while TAMARINBLEU was back to winning way's last time out.

2:35 - The most exciting race on the card with a few festival bubbles to be burst no matter what. There has been a bit of hype about TIDAL BAY in the build up to this race but to say he is difficult is an understatement, he will however be staying on strongly up the hill and does enjoy himself around Cheltenham. DIAMOND HARRY has to give some weight away and we still dont really know how good he is after being taken out of the King George. However i get the feeling he is a little over rated and just short of top class (watch him romp home today). TIME FOR RUPERT has beaten 2 horses running earlier and we could get a form clue seeing how they run (carpincho and the giant bolster). Saying that though he is a very classy animal himself and absolutely loves it round Cheltenham. If he has any Gold Cup dreams then he MUST win today. MIDNIGHT CHASE is a Cheltenham specialist and is sure to come on from his last run, connections have also said he will be ridden more prominently today which is no secret how he prefers it. I on the other hand have quite a strong fancy for CAPTAIN CHRIS who could be one of the biggest bubbles to be burst today but the question is his staying which i dont have any problems with after his King George run.

3:10 - POLISKY has been disappointing and it would appear he is not the horse that was originally thought of him. FORGOTTEN GOLD ran a cracking race behind Barbatos last time out and if he can re-produce that run he should go close and ruffle a few feathers. KNIGHT PASS was mighty impressive with the way he won at Kempton and was sent off 7/1 for the champion bumper last year. He may just come up short against BROADBACKBOB here though who has done nothing wrong and beat Cinders and Ashes (albeit a tad fortunate). He has looked like one of the class novice hurdler's this year and should win this if he is going to follow up in March. BATONNIER beat Forgotten Gold last time when giving him 10 pounds, this is reversed today with Alan King's horse carrying 7 pound less. That should account for Forgotten Gold and at the same time see him go very close.

last two races to follow up