Richard’s inmate tempting prospect to retain

GUITAR PETE can become only the second dual winner of the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

The only previous horse to achieve the feat was the Paul Nicholls-trained Poquelin, who landed successive renewals of a race that has had several different names in 2009 and 2010.

Guitar Pete, trained by Nicky Richards, ploughed through testing conditions to triumph 12 months ago and returns only 3lb higher and with a light weight on his back once again.

Last season the grey warmed up for this event by finishing a moderate ninth in the BetVictor Gold Cup the previous month, whereas this year he ran much better to pick up minor honours in third in that similarly competitive handicap.

That performance can be marked up as he fared best of those that were ridden with restraint and there is every chance he can at least close the gap on the two ahead of him, Baron Alco and Frodon.

Guitar Pete is clearly in good heart and double-figure odds are too tempting to pass up.

The withdrawal of Laurina takes a good deal of gloss off the Unibet International Hurdle, but at least it makes for an open renewal.

The vote goes to SUMMERVILLE BOY, who beat the topclass Kalashnikov twice last season, including in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle here in March.

The fact he managed to overcome a terrible blunder two flights from home to win the traditional festival curtain-raiser is testament to his ability and it is no surprise connections have decided to head down the Champion Hurdle route this season.

His claims for the two-mile hurdling crown suffered an early knock as he disappointed behind dual champion Buveur D’Air in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle a fortnight ago.

However, he was beaten at Stratford on his seasonal debut last season and deserves another chance on a track which clearly suits.

SELECTIONS

CHELTENHAM: 12.10 Fret D’Estruval, 12.45 Ok Corral, 1.20 Top Gamble, 1.55 GUITAR PETE (NAP), 2.30 Doux Pretender, 3.05 Summerville Boy, 3.40 Definitelyanoscar.

DONCASTER: 11.50 Golden Jeffrey, 12.25 Newtown Boy, 1.00 Amour De Nuit, 1.35 Coup De Pinceau, 2.10 Cliffs Of Dover, 2.45 Quel Destin, 3.20 Go Conquer.

DOUBLE: Guitar Pete and Summerville Boy.

101

102

103

104

105

106

107

7 declared.

BETTING–9-4 Fanfan Du Seuil, 3-1 Fret D’estruval, 4-1 Protektorat, 6-1 Katpoli, 8-1 Nelson River, 14-1 Ghost Serge, Swordbill. 201 112101

202 0P0-14

203 15-123

204 1516-1

205 22-232

206 12125

6 declared.

BETTING–9-4 Ok Corral, 7-2 Le Breuil, 4-1 Drovers Lane, Jenkins, 5-1 The Russian Doyen, 20-1 Dentley De Mee.

301 1-1325

302 4241-0

303 2335-1

304 4430-4

305 2U1P-0

306 4/23-1

6 declared.

BETTING–15-8 Bun Doran, 4-1 Yorkist, 9-2 Ozzie The Oscar, 5-1 Top Gamble, 7-1 Hell’s Kitchen, 8-1 Theinval. 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410

411 412 413 414

415 U60-23

15 declared.

BETTING–3-1 Rather Be, 6-1 Baron Alco, 7-1 Frodon, 8-1 Guitar Pete, 10-1 Mr Medic, War Sound, 12-1 Cepage, Casablanca Mix, 14-1 others. 501 /62-11

502 304-21

503 P1-1

504 1-32

505 3-354

506 20-145

507 20-202

508 /21-41

509 362

9 declared.

BETTING–9-4 Doux Pretender, 5-2 Aye Aye Charlie, 6-1 Supremely Lucky, 7-1 Danny Whizzbang, 8-1 Rockpoint, 12-1 Rocco, 14-1 Lisnagar Oscar, 25-1 Three Bullet Gate, 33-1 Lough Derg Diamond. 601 602 1-F1 F11 2122 4P14 1 2 3 350-12 122/21 1U12-B 4222-1 2-4014 6131-1 2341421F-22 1F33-U 421-1F

P02-5P 0100-U 00-43U 6000-3 4-2232 210P-0 JCB TRIUMPH TRIAL JUVENILE HURDLE (CLASS £25,000 added 3YO only 2m 1f Penalty Value £15,475 T R George 11 5 .......................

A King 11 5 ........................................ Mrs S Leech 11 2 ......................................... Dr R Newland 11 2 ................................. A Carroll 11 2 ........................................... D Skelton 10 12 ............................................. I Williams 10 12 ....................................................

RYMAN NOVICES’ CHASE (CLASS 2) £25,000 added 4YO PLUS 2m 5f Penalty Value £15,475

Miss R Curtis 6 11 8 ........................ N Henderson 6 11 5 .................................

B Pauling 6 11 5 ...........................................

C Tizzard 5 11 5 .....................

N Williams 5 11 0 ...

N Henderson 8 11 0 .....................

CHELTENHAM CLUB HANDICAP CHASE (CLASS £30,000 added 4YO PLUS 2m Penalty Value £18,570 P Hobbs 7 11 12 ................... N Henderson 8 11 9 .................................

T R George 7 11 7 ........................... Kerry Lee 10 11 5 ................................

H Fry 7 11 2 ...........................................

D Skelton 10 10 11 ........................................ P Nicholls 6 11 12 ................................. G L Moore 7 11 0 ..................... N Henderson 7 10 11 .................................. P Hobbs 9 10 8 ....................................................... D Skelton 6 10 5 ..................................... R Walford 7 10 5 ............................................. Miss V Williams 6 10 5 ........................... N Henderson 6 10 5 .....

A King 5 10 4 .......................................................

Dr R Newland 6 10 4 ...................

N Twiston-Davies 10 10 1 ................. G L Moore 6 10 0 ......................... P Nicholls 6 10 0 ........... N Twiston-Davies 9 10 0 .....

N Richards 8 10 0 .................................. 2)

2)

CASPIAN CAVIAR GOLD CUP HANDICAP CHASE (GRADE 3) (CLASS 1) £130,000 added 4YO PLUS 2m 5f Penalty Value £74,035

ALBERT BARTLETT NOVICES’ HURDLE (REGISTERED AS BRISTOL NOVICES’ HURDLE) (GRADE 2) (CLASS 1) £32,000 added 4YO PLUS 3m Penalty Value £18,006

N Henderson 5 11 1 ................................

F O’Brien 6 10 12 .........................................

P Nicholls 5 10 12 .................

Miss R Curtis 5 10 12 ..............

C Tizzard 5 10 12 .............. N Twiston-Davies 5 10 12 ............

C Tizzard 5 10 12 ................................................

D Skelton 6 10 12 ..................

R Dickin 5 10 12 ................................

UNIBET INTERNATIONAL HURDLE (GRADE 2) (CLASS 1) £140,000 added 4YO PLUS 2m 1f Penalty Value £78,778 P Nicholls 7 11 6 ....................................... N Twiston-Davies 10 11 6 .......

603 U6-112

604 2311-4

605 111-34

606 22-U23

607 UF2F-4

608 4265-5

8 declared.

BETTING–5-2 Summerville Boy, 5-1 We Have A Dream, 6-1 Brain Power, 7-1 The New One, Old Guard, 15-2 Western Ryder, 8-1 Silver Streak, 10-1 Vision Des Flos.

E Williams 5 11 4 ..............................

T R George 6 11 3 ............... N Henderson 4 11 3 ............... C Tizzard 5 11 2 ....................... N Henderson 7 11 0 ...................... W Greatrex 6 11 0 .................

OLBG.COM MARES’ HANDICAP HURDLE (CLASS 2) £30,000 added 4YO PLUS 2m 4f Penalty Value £18,570 M Keighley 7 11 12...

H Daly 5 11 7 ..................................................................

Noel Williams 5 11 3 .......................................

W Greatrex 6 11 1 ...........................

A King 5 11 0 .........................................

H Daly 7 10 11 ....................................

H Fry 5 10 10 ......................................

F O’Brien 6 10 10 ......................................

D Skelton 5 10 10 ............................................... N Mulholland 6 10 6 ....... 01 100-3P

02 3145-1

03 1302-1

04 155-42

05 50-611

06 -32120

07 12-F21

08 63-154

09 /521-4

10 13-422

10 declared.

BETTING–7-2 Ratoute Yutty, 4-1 Definitelyanoscar, 6-1 Petticoat Tails, 7-1 Chilli Filli, Sensulano, 8-1 Oscar Rose, 10-1 Giveaway Glance, 12-1 Brillare Momento, 14-1 others.

Picture: Getty Images. Guitar Pete in full flow at Leopardstown.