IT’S PERFECT TIME TO GET IN THE SPIRIT
1.20 MARSH CHASE
ENVOI ALLEN has looked the real deal over fences this term and it is hard to envisage a scenario where he is beaten providing he stands up. a grade one winner over hurdles and fences, including the former at this meeting 12 months ago, he has looked imperious in three chase starts, winning with authority on each occasion. there is a real feeling he is yet to be fully tested in an 11-race career. Chantry house returned from a break to win well at Wetherby, jumping proficiently to score tidily and may edge out shan Blue for the forecast berth.
SELECTION: ENVOI ALLEN
DANGER: CHANTRY HOUSE
2. 0 RYANAIR CHASE
Vintage Clouds proved on day one that persistence can be rewarded at Cheltenham and supporters of
MELON will be hoping that adage applies in this race. the selection has finished second at the last four Festivals and hasn’t enjoyed much more fortune this season. But he is likely to have a host of horses keen to provide pace for him to run at late on, and that also applies to Mister Fisher who ran with credit at last year’s meeting and has his favoured decent ground here.
SELECTION: MELON
DANGER: MISTER FISHER
3.05 STAYERS’ HURDLE
THE signs at ascot before Christmas in the long Walk hurdle were that 2019 champion Paisley Park was back to his best, and his supporters will believe the absence of big rival thyme hill opens the door for the admirable nine-year-old to regain his title after heart problems. however, this looks a strong staying event with reigning champion lisnagar oscar, Flooring Porter and SIRE DU BERLAIS involved, as well as dangerous lurkers such as the storyteller. sire du Berlais, who loves Cheltenham, narrowly saw off the storyteller 12 months ago in the Pertemps and that could prove a good form line to follow.
SELECTION: SIRE DU BERLAIS
DANGER: THE STORYTELLER
3.40 PADDY POWER PLATE CHASE
THERE is a sizeable bonus up for grabs if THE SHUNTER can supplement his success in the Morebattle hurdle at Kelso last time and connections have settled on this race from a raft of options this week. the irish raider beat two lightly raced improvers in night edition and Faivoir last time, and has already proven his prowess over fences at Fairyhouse and Cheltenham, with an impressive win in the greatwood hurdle. he could well sit close to a strong pace courtesy of Coole Cody and is narrowly preferred to Farclas, who has also been laid out for a tilt at this race judging by some eye-catching performances in ireland this season.
SELECTION: THE SHUNTER
DANGER: FARCLAS
4.15 MARES NOVICES’ HURDLE
LAURINA and limini both won this race following success in the solerina hurdle at Fairyhouse, so ROSEYS HOLLOW makes plenty of appeal following her game defeat of track specialist Royal Kahala and gauloise. the quicker ground is something of an unknown quantity for Jonathan sweeney’s mare. But as a daughter of Beat hollow, she should cope with a sounder surface and displayed plenty of qualities — not least a terrific determination to win — last time, so she should go well again. having won all five renewals of this race, it would be madness to write off the Willie Mullins quartet and gauloise may emerge as the best of the foursome.
SELECTION: ROSEYS HOLLOW
DANGER: GAULOISE
4.50 FULKE WALWYN KIM MUIR CHASE
HOLD THE NOTE has knocked on the door on all three of his Cheltenham starts, but he could gain reward for a series of solid efforts today. this race should set up well for the selection with the prospect of a strong pace courtesy of Milanford, storm Control and Morning Vicar. that could allow rider Johnny Burke to enjoy a nice tow into the race. Burke boasts form figures of 223442 aboard the selection, who displayed the benefits of a wind operation to run well behind the talented enrilo at newbury. shantou Flyer has been placed in the ultima handicap and the last two runnings of the Foxhunters, so is hugely respected, while the novice Mount ida is also extremely interesting.
SELECTION: HOLD THE NOTE
DANGER: SHANTOU FLYER
1.55 PERTEMPS NETWORK FINAL
TRAINER dan skelton has made it his business to target some of Cheltenham’s toughest handicaps and SPIRIT OF THE GAMES could be worth chancing at a price to lower the colours of fancied rivals imperial alcazar, the Bosses oscar and haydock eyecatcher Champagne Platinum, who should run well with the cheekpieces reapplied. the selection should relish the long run from the second-last hurdle to the last as he is ridden very patiently and his record for harry skelton when he has completed reads 1421151433522, so he should be in the mix. imperial alcazar and the Bosses oscar are lightly raced hurdlers, so it would be no surprise to see them go close.
SELECTION: SPIRIT OFT HE GAMES (NAP)
DANGER: THE BOSSES OSCAR