Cheltenham Day 4

A mixed week for many at the Cheltenham Festival, but Paul Jacobs came through with the Gold Cup winner, Kauto Star, who put in a brilliant run. 

2.00 – Last year’s Triumph won by Fair Along turned out to be a vintage of its kind and I fancy this year’s renewal will be pretty sound as well.

Katchit is obviously the yardstick here having won all but one of his starts over hurdles and also has the advantage of having won over the course, so this stiff uphill finish holds no terrors for him; in fact one of those successes, where he beat Goodbye Simon and company is arguably the best juvenile form on display.

However, this is mightily open and I can put forward clear cut cases for at least six of these with Poquelin, Punjabi and Lounaos my favoured three.

The former wasn’t going to run here a week ago after the ground was reported to be very testing, but with the track having dried out, Paul Nicholls rather fancies his chance. Punjabi may have had the run of the race at Kempton, but he galloped on strongly and Micky Fitz has managed to persuade the trainer that he should take his chance here.

However, I shall side with LOUNAOS. She has a decent turn of foot at her best and was far from discredited when fourth in the AIG. The drying ground is massively in her favour and she maybe the best of a vintage crop. I feel the classy Degas Art may not get his own way in front (if he does he is a big player to be punted or laid in running) but Liberate could go well if there is no overnight rain.

2.35 – Last year’s Bumper heroine Hairy Molly comes to this race with only two runs over hurdles, but promises to leave her single success well behind over this trip.

But this looks a really tough heat with a lot more strength in depth than the 2006 event won by Black Jack Ketchum and I suspect there are at least 12 of the runners with realistic chances of winning.

Joacci has returned to hurdles with vengeance after losing his way over fences. Considered a Gold Cup horse last year, the only blot on his hurdling campaign this year came in very deep ground at Haydock, this surface will suit much better and at double figure odds I shall be having a saver on him to save the stake on my selection BLACK HARRY.

The Willie Mullins’ trained seven-year-old has gone from strength to strength this season and when tried over this trip last time out absolutely flew home and the faster going should not prove a problem.

Dangers abound in the form of the underrated but tough Chief Dan George, the classy Flight Leader and northern charge Skippers Brig. But I make Wichita Lineman the biggest danger following his success in the Challow at Newbury. However the selection is likely to be at least three times the price and is the call here.

3.15 – With the ground having dried out now I can’t have Beef or Salmon or Neptune Collonges (my original ante-post hopes through a very wet winter) I do not agree that the former does not act around Cheltenham as his fast finishing fourth to Best Mate in 2004 shows, all he needs is a slower pace so he can pick up a rhythm. However, the weather has once again played against him and they will surely go too quick in the opening exchanges.

And while L’Ami, Exotic Dancer and State of Play are all respected now the ground has dried out I can’t see a danger to KAUTO STAR.

I was not so much worried about his jumping but more about the trip in a slog through the mud, but that side of things has evaporated and speaking to Ruby Walsh on Wednesday night he is super confident of him winning what I would call a below average Gold Cup.