Court won’t be caught
WILLOUGHBY COURT (1.25) has started his chasing career in great style with two wins from two to add to his three successes over hurdles and his two victories in bumpers.
He is proving a real moneyspinner for trainer Ben Pauling, inset, and can land another valuable prize today in the first of Cheltenham’s four televised races.
The gelded son of Court Cave stayed on strongly to land a Grade Two at Newbury last time.
He goes in a similar grade this afternoon and should again have the measure of Newbury runner-up Yanworth despite the latter being 5lb better off at the weights.
SAMTEGAL (2.00) is the pick in the Grade Three chase after a couple of good placed efforts on his two runs after a long absence.
He would appear to be gradually finding his best form again and was only run out of it when tiring late on in the Grand Sefton Chase run over 2m5f of the Aintree Grand National course in December.
He looks as though he is on a competitive mark and should be too good for his eight rivals. Samtegal will be ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies and the jockey’s father, Nigel, can be in the winner’s enclosure 35 minutes later when saddling ARTHUR’S GIFT (2.35).
The seven-year-old bids to land a four-timer after scoring at Worcester, Market Rasen and over this track and trip last time.
He has been climbing the handicap, but even off a careerhigh mark he might have enough improvement in him to defy the assessor.
Tom Humphries, who claims 7lb, gets on well with the selection, having partnered him to his last three victories. Paul Nicholls and Bryony Frost team up with OLD GUARD (3.10), who has three course wins to his credit.
Old Guard has been a model of consistency this season and scored in good style under Frost at Newbury in December.
He was far from disgraced behind My Tent Or Yours over 2m1f here in the same month and the extra distance of today’s race will suit him judged on that Newbury run which was over an extended 2m4f.