Malystic all set to click for champ
WINNER MACHINE
DUAL CHAMPION jockey Brian Hughes has passed the 100-winner mark already this season, putting him in a clear lead as he chases a third title.
And on a low-key start to the November meeting at Cheltenham, Hughes (below) can bag a rare winner at the track.
MALYSTIC started his fencing career with a fine second to Protektorat at Carlisle and, without reaching the heights that promising run suggested, he has been first or second in six of his seven completed chases and is a noticeably fluent jumper.
On his comeback run at Kelso, he hit the line hard to take second place behind today’s rival Gold Des Bois, and that effort should have put the Peter Niven-trained runner spot on for the Mucking Brilliant Paddy Power Handicap Chase (1.45).
Irish trainer Philip Rothwell was in tears in the winner’s enclosure here 12 months ago after 33-1 chance Mc Alpine ended a 15-year drought since his previous success at Cheltenham. He goes for the same race again — the Valdo Energy Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (4.00) — with GREAT REALISATION and has a each-way chance with another big-priced runner.
On a previous raid from Ireland, Great Realisation finished second at Ascot, passing seven horses from the last flight which suggests the Cheltenham finishing hill will suit him.
NIETZSCHE, who once won the Greatwood Hurdle here, should give a good ride to Emma SmithChaston in the Markel Insurance Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle (1.10). Chaston is having a good year, winning five races on one horse, Larry Looby, for her boss Micky Hammond, while Nietzsche ran well at Ayr’s Scottish National meeting in April and is fit from the Flat having won at Catterick in September. TODAY’S SELECTIONS Nietzsche (ew)
1.10 Cheltenham Malystic
1.45 Cheltenham
Great Realisation (ew) 4.00 Cheltenham