Rubys Yankee
Kruzhlinen, Ultima H’cap Chase, 3m 1f, Tuesday, 2.50pm
Philip Hobbs’ runner looks well handicapped on the back of a tidy win at Sandown when beating Le Reve (winner since) and Grandad’s Horse (second since) – a few weeks ago.
He’s lightly-raced so there should be more to come and dodged a race at Kempton in the meantime so it looks like the yard has protected his mark to keep him for this handicap – the third race on the opening day. Also, holds an Aintree Grand National entry.
More of That, RSA Chase, 3m 1f, Wednesday, 2.10pm
The novices’ Gold Cup looks a match between JP McManus’s More of That and No More Heroes from Gigginstown Stud.
I’ve been impressed by them both his season and one mistake could decide it in the other’s favour.
Both travel, stay and jump well and can handle all types of ground.
More of That has been to Cheltenham four times and has won four times while No More Heroes was a close-up third in the Albert Bartlett novices hurdle last year. Four of the last six winners of the RSA Chase came from the previous year’s Albert Bartlett so there looks to be very little between them.
But More of That beat Annie Power in the World Hurdle two years ago and that looks the strongest form in the book to me.
Thistlecrack, World Hurdle, 3m, Thursday 3.30pm
Not the most original pick, but we’re in it to win it right? Colin Tizzard’s World Hurdle favourite looks bomb-proof in everything he’s done this year. He just has to maintain that form going into Thursday’s feature race.
He’s a good jumper, stays strong and travels well in his races – in short he ticks all the boxes.
Unbeaten this season and impressive in all his wins, it’s down to the others to reach – and then pass – the standard Thistlecrack has set if they’re going to take the Staying Hurdlers’ crown.
Squouateur, Martin Pipe, 2m 4f, Friday, 4.50pm
All the indications are that Gordon Elliott will send Squouateur to this conditional jockeys contest rather than the Coral Cup or County Hurdle where he also holds entries.
I finished fourth at Fairyhouse on Townshend behind Squouateur and he looked impressive.
Sandra Hughes’ Total Recall was sixth that day after a 10-month lay-off and subsequently won a decent handicap hurdle at Naas last Sunday to frank the form.
Looks to be improving all the time and that what you need in a race like this which Gordon has gone close to winning a couple of times.
Read more at
http://blog.paddypower.com/horse-ra...-have-at-cheltenham-2016/#48DGyeXrzGXe5Vhq.99
