NOBLE YEATS CAN SEE OFF OLDER RIVALS
NOBLE YEATS can plunder a valuable prize at Cheltenham today as he plots an unfamiliar path on the road back to the Grand National.
The 2022 Aintree hero is being given a more low-key prep in a bid to regain his crown in the world’s greatest steeplechase.
Last season he was kept busy and was fourth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup before occupying the same position in the National.
Noble Yeats had a spin over hurdles at Limerick after Christmas and is fancied to win the Mccoy Contractors Cleeve Hurdle.
The staying hurdle division is wide open and his three main rivals are veterans – Paisley Park (bidding for his fourth win in the race), Champ and Dashel Drasher.
Older
By comparison Noble Yeats is still only nine and he can see off his older rivals.
IL RIDOTO (1.15, nb) was touched off by Fugitif in one of the races of the season in December Gold Cup over today’s course and distance and can gain compensation.
His reward for being mugged on the line is a 5lb rise in the weights and the Paddy Power Cheltenham Podcast Handicap Chase is almost as competitive.
Victtorino and Jetoile have strong claims while Bill Baxter is worth an each-way look.
LOVE ENVOI (3.00) returns to the scene of her 2022 Cheltenham Festival triumph in the Unibet-sponsored
International Hurdle.
She will strip fitter for her Sandown second last month and her 3-1 price has more appeal than the odds-on favourite Lossiemouth, who won the Triumph Hurdle last March but makes her first start of the season.
JONBON (2.25) should take care of his four rivals in the rescheduled My Pension Expert Clarence House Chase.
If he is not on his A-game then last year’s winner Editeur Du Gate will be waiting.
Dried
The ITV cameras are also at Doncaster for an excellent Great Yorkshire Chase card.
The ground has dried out and should be ideal for the progressive FORWARD PLAN (3.15) in the Sbk-sponsored big race.
He beat one of today’s rivals Mister Coffey at Town Moor in December and the handicapper has only put him up 4lb.
Famous Bridge is progressive but may prefer it softer while Kandoo Kid has come in for market support and is a big player if he stays the trip.
ASHROE DIAMOND (2.05) is a Grade One winner and is preferred to younger stablemate Gala Marceau in the SBK Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle.
And there is a strong turnout for the River Don Novices Hurdle where DESTROY THEEVIDENCE (2.40) will love the ground and can repel his rivals.