Simply a winner in waiting at Cheltenham

Simply The Betts can register a third successive victory at Cheltenham by winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup tomorrow.

Harry Whittington’s seven-year-old has become something of a specialist at the Prestbury Park track, winning at the Festival Trials meeting in January and the Festival itself in March.

His first triumph came at the expense of Imperial Aura, who has franked the form with his own success at the Festival and in the Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase at Carlisle recently.

Simply The Betts doubled up in the 23-runner Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Advisory Plate – one of the toughest races at Cheltenham’s premier meeting.

A rise of 8lb in the ratings is understandable. But Simply The Betts looks to have further improvement in him – and graded races, including possibly the Ryanair Chase next spring, surely beckon after this.

Fusil Raffles can take his perfect record over fences to three in the From The Horse’s Mouth Podcast Novices’ Chase. After getting off the mark over the bigger obstacles at Uttoxeter last month, Nicky Henderson’s five-yearold again landed the odds with a solid display at this venue to beat Sir Valentine by nine and a half lengths.

Fusil Raffles was a class act over hurdles, as he showed when landing a Grade One novice at Punchestown and running in last season’s Champion Hurdle. He could go all the way to the top over fences.

Arthur’s Gift could be the answer to the South West Syndicate Handicap Chase.

The nine-year-old, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, may have only won one race over fences – but he has contested some of the major long-distance handicaps, including the Welsh and Midlands Grand Nationals.

He is relatively lightlyraced and has not been seen since falling in the Edinburgh National at Musselburgh in February, but he is sure to be fit enough to do himself justice.

Judicial lifted the Betway Golden Rose Stakes in blistering fashion 12 months month ago, and can repeat the trick in the Listed heat at Lingfield.

Julie Camacho’s admirable sprinter made light work of a wide draw to bound away from the opposition in the final furlong.

On that performance, he would have been a leading contender for the all-weather championships had they not been lost during the lockdown. The eight-year-old had a successful campaign on turf instead but has had two months off and should be refreshed for a return to the allweather. Dubai Warrior can take the other fast-track qualifier on the card, the Betway Churchill Stakes.