DEFI TO DELIVER
DEFI DU SEUIL can confirm himself as the new force in the two-mile division with victory in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase on day two of the Cheltenham Festival.
Philip Hobbs’ charge will be bidding for his third win at the showpiece meeting, having taken the 2017 Triumph Hurdle before adding the JLT - now known as the Marsh Novices’ Chase last term.
He looked a possible superstar after that Triumph win, but he lost his way over hurdles as a five-year-old before really shining when tried over fences.
Although there was a minor blip when beaten by the reopposing Chacun Pour Soi at Punchestown in May, he had suffered an injury niggle in the interim and it was the end of a long campaign too, so there were excuses.
Defi Du Seuil has hardly looked back since, taking the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham on his return before adding the Tingle Creek and a deeply impressive verdict in the Clarence House Chase on his final prep run.
Slate House could go well at a generous price in the RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase.
Colin Tizzard took the bold decision to run in the Cotswold Chase for his Cheltenham trial and he was found out by leading Gold Cup contender Santini, with Robbie Power wisely opting to call an early halt before jumping the last.
He had previously won the Grade One Kauto Star at Christmas, although it was by no means a vintage renewal, while he seemingly had the BetVictor Gold Cup at his mercy back in November before crashing out.
Slate House was well beaten in last year’s Arkle, but stepping up in trip combined with a wind operation during the summer seems to have improved him and any further progress would put him thereabouts.
It will be a huge shock if Envoi Allen is defeated in the opening Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.
He is viewed as one of the bankers of the meeting after winning each of his three starts over hurdles, including Grade One strikes on his last two runs.
Winner of the Champion Bumper last year, Envoi Allen looks thoroughly versatile and will surely take some stopping.
Galahad Quest won a Triumph Hurdle trial in January, but Nick Williams has opted to sidestep that engagement in favour of the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.
This contest, better known as the Fred Winter, looks eminently more winnable as the form of that trial was far from strong and Galahad Quest has already been put to the sword by leading Triumph fancy Allmankind once this season.
It is hard to look beyond Tiger Roll in the Glenfarclas Chase as he seeks a third win in the race and fifth Festival win overall.
Winner of the last two Grand Nationals, this event is the next stop along the road to a hat-trick attempt at Aintree next month - and after delighting Elliott in a racecourse school recently, Tiger Roll is now firing on all cylinders.