Charli Parcs to plot course for Cheltenham target

The BetBright Genius Adonis Hurdle (1.50) has, in recent years, lost its potency as a Cheltenham Festival pointer, but that trend may well be reversed if Nicky Henderson’s Charli Parcs can, as expected, build on his impressive winning British debut over course and distance in December.

The race went through a purple patch from 2007 to 2011. Of those five winners, four went on to run at Cheltenham a few weeks later, yielding two wins and a fourth in the Triumph Hurdle plus a close second in the Supreme Novices Hurdle. Since then only three winners of today’s race have later contested a festival event and all were sunk without trace.

What seems particularly relevant to today’s contest, however, is that in those glory days, Henderson regularly used the race as a springboard to Cheltenham, winning it on three occasions with Soldatino, Binocular and Punjabi, who all later performed well at Prestbury Park. Charli Parcs holds an entry in both the Triumph and the Supreme Novices and today will surely help connections decide which way to turn with their horse.

A number of the runners in the BetBright Handicap Chase (3.35) have question marks over them, including my selection Aso, who is unproven at this three-mile trip. However, the distance here is not as testing as it is on many courses and the drying ground will also help. There is no doubting his class and attitude and I have a strong suspicion Aso will find himself well suited by the demands he faces.

Michael Scudamore celebrated his 33rd birthday yesterday by winning the Devon National at Exeter with 20/1 chance Kingswell Theatre and can secure another staying handicap chase over an extreme distance when he saddles Mysteree in today’s Eider Chase at Newcastle over four miles and a furlong.

Mysteree looked very much a horse to follow when beating solid handicappers at Haydock with some style in November, but he disappointed badly next time, being pulled up when joint-favourite for the Sussex National at Plumpton.

In contrast to his Haydock performance, he was never going that day and it is quite possible that he is one of the many horses that have failed to find a rhythm over that up and down course, especially on fastish ground. His Haydock form is far too solid to write off and Mysteree is well worth a chance to confirm the view that he is a stayer with a future.