1.30 Solix
I'm looking for good Cheltenham course form here and I thought Solix ran a belting race behind Champion Court in the Dipper, trying to give him 3 lbs. They go off levels today and I just feel Solix is a little less exposed than the Keighley runner and fancy he may well have progressed past him. Clearly Nicky Henderson has his string in tremendous form, Barry Geraghty is riding out of his skin, and having finished 5th in last year's Coral Cup he knows all about the hurly-burly of the festival.
2.05 Bellflower Boy
Spent hours looking at the Pertemps trying to spot plots and decided in the end to plump for an honest looking fella from a small yard with a likeable claimer on top. Dr Newland knows how to get a festival winner ready, having taken the 2007 Coral Cup with Burntoakboy, and Bellflower Boy has certainly struck form at the right time. He won a conditional jockey's handicap hurdle off 112 on New Year's Eve before sluicing up off 122 at the end of January under the excellent Jack Quinlan, who gets the ride today. Alan King's Godsmejudge was beaten 21 lengths, with Pause And Clause a further 18 lengths behind and Lucy Wadham's EL Dancer a further 6 lengths back in 4th. It may sound a funny thing to say about a 9YO but he looks really progressive and, despite being up 15lbs for his last win, he is certainly worth an e/w interest.
2.40 Somersby (NAP)
Is having his best ever season and today returns to what ought to be his optimum trip. Having won a graduation chase early in the season he finished a good 2nd behind Master Minded in the Amlin before running a desperately disappointing race in the Peterborough. TV pictures showed his tongue lolling out that day and that prompted Henrietta Knight to reach for the tongue strap for his next race, the King George. Coming down the back straight for the second time he was going as well as anything before patently failing to stay and plugging on for 3rd behind Kauto Star and Long Run. He then came back to 2m1f for the Victor Chandler and, in a stirring battle up the home straight at Ascot, just got the better of subsequent Champion Chaser Finian's Rainbow. He really went through with his finish that day, something he hasn't always done in the past, and clearly the tongue tie has done the trick and he can gain a deserved first festival victory here.
3.20 Big Bucks
Whoever said the World Hurdle was a crap race should wash their mouth out - king of the heavyweights Big Bucks trying to stretch his unbeaten record to 16 against some top class animals in Oscar Whiskey, Volar La Vedette, Thousand Stars, So Young and Smad Place among others. It seems like every time he runs people are looking to get him beat, but the great horse just keeps pulling out more and more and I expect him to add a 4th World Hurdle to his haul today, with the mare Volar La Vedette chasing him home.
4.00 Niceonefrankie
Won a shade cosily at Newbury last time and gets just a 5lbs penalty for that which gives him a tremendous chance here. He will appreciate the underfoot conditions today and has the ability to quicken off a decent pace as he showed with that Newbury success.
4.40 Start Me Up
Looking for an experienced jockey in this one and Nina fits the bill on Charlie Swan's gelding. He was in the process of running a decent race in the Albert Bartlett last year before being badly hampered by the fall of Jetnova 2 out and being pulled up soon after. Broke his duck over fences at the 3rd time of asking from Berties Dream and Carloswayback (both won next time out) and was just 5 lengths behind Sea Bass over christmas, giving Ted Walsh's horse 4lbs. He was going well before unseating his rider at the 3rd last in the Punchestown National Trial in February before showing his well being with a very close 3rd in a Grade 2 Novices Chase last time out. Although there was a shock winner in Lion Na Bearnai that day, the 2nd placed horse, Four Commanders, ran an absolute belter in the 4-miler yesterday behind Teaforthree so the form looks good. I expect Nina to make plenty of use of him and he will be staying on all the way up the hill.