Who are your big fancies from among the novice hurdle brigade?
Gordon Elliott I like a couple of our own horses – Battleoverdoyen, who won a Grade 1 at Naas last month and who goes for the Ballymore, and Commander Of Fleet, who won a Grade 1 at Leopardstown last week. He goes for the Albert Bartlett.
Paul Nicholls Battleoverdoyen of Gordon Elliott’s has caught my eye. Getaway Trump is definitely one we’ve not seen the best of yet and he’ll hopefully end up at Cheltenham in March; the same goes for Kapcorse, who’s lightly raced and has a big future, along with Quel Destin in the Triumph.
James Bowen We obviously haven’t seen a horse who has stood out except for Champ, who has been great so far this season. Mister Fisher, who I rode at Haydock, would look to go to the Supreme with a chance and is still improving.
Matt Williams I’m not giving up on Vision D’Honneur just yet. He ran a fair race when beaten by Klassical Dream at Leopardstown and under very different conditions in the Supreme he’d do for me at a price. Battleoverdoyen in the Ballymore. Relegate jumps like she needs more practice but the Albert Bartlett trip should help and I have her down as good bet material if she lines up for it.
Paul Kealy I’ve backed Al Dancer for the Supreme. He looked fast to me when winning at Cheltenham and I hope they get the Betfair Hurdle on soon enough. One horse I’ve become interested in at a big price wherever he ends up is Sams Profile. Given the mistakes he made he did really well to be beaten under three lengths by Battleoverdoyen last time and if he brushes up his jumping he’ll be a factor.
Padraig Hassett Apart from the Triumph, the other three novice hurdles look very open. Mister Fisher and Commander Of Fleet are two horses I like.
And which novice chasers do you expect to see challenging for honours?
Gordon Elliott If the ground is on the good side on the first day then I think Le Richebourg will be difficult to beat in the Arkle, and I think we have a big chance with Delta Work in the RSA. Defi Du Seuil looks good for the JLT.
Paul Nicholls Topofthegame has always been a horse I love. His second behind La Bague Au Roi reads very well now following her Grade 1 victory at Leopardstown this month, and I cannot wait to see him in the RSA Chase.
James Bowen I think we have seen some good novice chasers this season and I’m looking forward to seeing them clash at Cheltenham.
Matt Williams I’ll back Defi Du Seuil if he runs in the Arkle but he’s favourite for the JLT, and I don’t like him nearly as much for that. Santini for the RSA; forget his run at Kempton, where I thought Nico de Boinville half looked after him on a track he didn’t enjoy.
Paul Kealy I genuinely think Topofthegame should be joint-favourite for the RSA. He was in front of Santini when he probably should have won the Kauto Star and nearly won the Coral Cup off a mark 11lb higher than Delta Work won the Pertemps. I’ve still got high hopes for Lalor in the Racing Post Arkle, but you have to fear Le Richebourg.
Padraig Hassett Ok Corral was very good at Warwick and will be very difficult to beat in the four-miler. Cilaos Emery was very good at Gowran and might fit the bill in the Arkle, while Delta Work has done everything right all year and should be favourite for the RSA.
