11/11/16 Straight From The Trainers Mouth

Nicky Henderson

12.55 Cheltenham Ericht 7/1

ERICHT will be our first runner of the day at 12:55 in the Veterans Chase and ran well when second on his return at Newbury three weeks ago but my only concern is bringing him out again so quickly as at the time we didn’t even know this race was going to take place. Had I known about it I probably wouldn’t have run and saved him for this as he is now a qualified old aged pensioner so deserves to take his chance. He’s in great form and has come out of Newbury well and is lovely old stalwart who’s been around for yonks but he has run some good race around Cheltenham and I’d be hopeful of a bold showing.

★★★★☆

2.05 Cheltenham Theinval 10/1

THEINVAL is in good form too and is a proper good ground horse so we have to give it a go but this is obviously a very tough task.

★★☆☆☆

2.05 Cheltenham O O Seven 6/1

O O SEVEN is in good form, ready to go and the ground will suit and while I suspect he stays three miles, as he ran over that trip at Musselburgh last year, I wouldn’t want to start him over that trip so 2m4f is a good way forward. If we did begin over 3m we’d bump into Thistlecrack which I do not want to do at this stage! He’s a good solid performer and I have also got to say that he has schooled very well.

★★★★☆

2.40 Cheltenham Baden 11/4

I hope he will develop into a very good horse. He’s a big, gross animal that takes a lot of work and needs quite a bit of racing. The plan has always been to win a big one and it wouldn’t have been great if he’d lost his novice status in a smaller contest so we are lucky that he is able to maintain his novice status all season. We are throwing him a little bit in the deep end again but he has plenty of class and I am very happy with his condition ahead of this race. Obviously, it’s going to be tough, as they all will be this weekend, but he’s got bags of pace and I do like him. 

★★★★☆

3.15 Cheltenham Ballinure 14/1

I’m not quite sure if it’s right to be dropping BALLINURE back down to 2m as he’s been running over 2m4f and I really am not sure whether he wants to go down or up to three miles so what we are doing is going the shorter route and putting on a pair of cheek pieces and I hope it’s a combination that will work well to win the Handicap at 3:15. He travels well in his races but then flattens out a bit so it’s a little tricky. He was running in Point to Points so it may be the case that 3m will turn out to be his distance. He’s fit having been kept busy all summer which will serve him well against a few of these. 

★★★☆☆

Davy Russell

12.55 Cheltenham Realt Mor 10/3

I start aboard Realt Mor for Gordon Elliott in the Veterans’ Handicap Chase (12.55pm), that has replaced the abandoned cross-country chase. He was a really good winner at Down Royal and I’m hopeful he can be competitive again off a similar mark. I know him pretty well as I rode him a lot when we were both a lot younger. On a going day, he can jump brilliantly and if he puts it all together tomorrow he can go close. However, he does miss the odd fence here and there which is a worry.
★★★★☆
2.40 Cheltenham Crosshue Boy 33/1
I’ll be trying to maintain my 100% record on Crosshue Boy in the novices’ hurdle (2.40pm), although this looks a really tough task. I was aboard him when he won at Punchestown back in May, but this requires another huge step up. He hasn’t had that much luck recently and was brought down last time
★★☆☆☆

3.15 Cheltenham Tudor City 4/1

I’m thrilled to have picked up the ride on Tudor City in the handicap hurdle,although again I don’t know too much about him. It looks a hugely competitive race, but my fellow was a nice winner on the flat last month and I know his yard is in great form. I know Tony Martin was keen on getting some better ground at Cheltenham so the recent rain isn’t ideal, but he has plenty of form on a softer surface.
★★★★☆

Richard Johnson

12.55 Cheltenham Dunraven Storm 10/1

These are great races for the older horses and it’s nice that this one is over two-and-a-half miles, as they’re normally three miles plus. The step up in trip from two miles at the last meeting will definitely suit him. He’s not well-handicapped – I’m not sure if any of them are really – but he won well at Kempton back in May and comes here with an each-way chance. Shuil Royale looks like the one we all have to beat after a good win at Aintree last time.

★★★☆☆

2.05 Cheltenham Rock The Kasbah 6/1

I’m really looking forward to getting back on the horse Rock The Kasbah in the novices’ chase (2.05pm). It looks a very hot race, but he’s a horse I’ve always loved. I was very pleased with him at Chepstow. He jumped really well and that was a pretty good race. I schooled him on Wednesday and he went really nicely. He’s had a great preparation and I certainly wouldn’t swap him for anything in the race. He has to concede weight to all of them, though, so it’s not going to be easy. There’s going to be nowhere to hide. Barters Hill was a very good hurdler and we have to give him 8lbs. If he jumps fences well, which he looks like he should, he’s the one to be most worried about. Weight is always important, but at the same time a clean round of jumping is worth just as much. Having a run under your belt is definitely a bonus. Rock The Kasbah has got experience and he’s done it on the track. Let’s hope he can do it again.

★★★☆☆

2.40 Cheltenham Leith Hill Lad 25/1

I was second to him on one of Tom Lacey’s who won at Bangor on Wednesday so the form has been franked and Charlie Longsdon's horses are still in good form. That said, he’ll have to improve to be winning this. Wholestone and West Approach were first and second here last month and they have the strongest form. West Approach looks the biggest danger.

★★☆☆☆

3.15 Cheltenham Excellent Result 12/1

Excellent Result goes in the handicap hurdle (3.15pm). He’s only run twice over hurdles, but was a decent horse on the flat. There are 19 runners so it’s a wide open race. He has to carry top weight and hopefully the handicapper’s got it right. Tim Vaughan’s Debece is a nice horse who won really well at Kempton in May. He probably needed it at Southwell last time and is open to improvement 

★★★☆☆

Paul Nicholls

14:40 Cheltenham – Pilansberg 10/1
A decent stayer on the flat in France before running below expectations on his only start for us in the Adonis Hurdle at Kempton. He's been gelded and also had a breathing operation before winning an ordinary novice hurdle at Fakenham four weeks ago despite running a bit green.
I'm sure he's better than he looked that day and he'll need to be to play a part here. While the galloping nature of the track at Cheltenham will suit him I do think he needs plenty of experience and he could be one for handicaps later in the season.

★★☆☆☆

15:15 Cheltenham - Lou Vert 12/1
Had his share of problems last year but seems a different animal at home now and was one of our bankers the day we had five winners last month. But he didn't really fire at Fakenham, and ran too free before finishing third. It is also possible that we rode him wrong there. The only positive from that run came when the handicapper dropped him 5lbs which allows him to get into this more competitive novice handicap. We've put a hood on to try to help him settle and if he doesn't win this he will be going novice chasing as he jumps fences too well.

★★★☆☆

David Pipe

1.30 Cheltenham Impulsive American 15/2

 Impulsive American takes in the two mile handicap chase at 1.30pm and it is very competitive as you would expect.  The Post make our four year old a 7/1 chance - he always seems to run his race and seems to go on any ground.  This is as hard a test as he has faced but he still has each-way prospects under Tom Scudamore.

★★★☆☆

3.50 Cheltenham For n Against 40/1

For 'n' Against is partnered by stable amateur Rex Dingle - he has been in good form this season but would need to improve again to figure here.

★☆☆☆☆

3.50 Cheltenham Top Wood 8/1

This is another open looking race and I would not put you off backing Top Wood

★★★★☆

3.50 Cheltenham What A Moment 5/1

This is another open looking race and I would not put you off backing What A Moment

★★★★☆

Martin Keighley

1.30 Cheltenham Johnny Og 12/1

 Johnny Og runs in the Two Mile Chase under Andrew Tinkler and is in good order following his recent win at Stratford.  He runs off his highest ever mark so he will need to improve again but that is what he seems to keep doing and if he does so again today he won't be far away.

★★★☆☆

3.15 Cheltenham Jazzy 33/1

Jazzy runs in the Novices' Handicap Hurdle over 2 miles - he has a very light weight as he has a bit 3 year old allowance.  He'll love the decent ground and although he's a big outsider I wouldn't be surprised if he ran a nice race.

★★★☆☆

Ed Dunlop

11.45 Lingfield Sparkle 6/1

Sparkle arguably ran her best race yet at Haydock and shaped as if this 7f trip will unlock some improvement. The form of that Haydock race has worked out well and I hope she can run well here in what is a competitive race. Picking out some dangers, Hersigh has been well supported and is likely to be ridden positively given the manner of her Chelmsford win over a mile, Jet Setter has two solid pieces of form and is also likely to improve for this seventh furlong. Twiggy has had five runs in Maiden company but she is not without hope on her handicap debut.

★★★☆☆

3.40 Lingfield Gloryette 8/1

She has the right man on board in George Wood but the draw has not been kind to her out in stall 12. She has showed she possesses ability in Maiden company but has proved to be very frustrating since she has moved into handicaps. This looks to be her best opportunity yet and I hope the application of blinkers can help bring out some improvement. It is a very open race with none of the field in fantastic form but Bamako Du Chatelet won two races over course and distance earlier in the year and given how well he has been supported, he has to rate the biggest threat

★★★★☆

Roger Charlton

4.15 Wolverhampton Zefferino 5/2

Zefferino has had a little break after his run at Sandown, where there was no pace and he found himself a little far back. He stayed on well in the final furlong. It’s a very strong race for the middle of November at Wolverhampton with horses with good form and top class pedigrees. He is in good form and if he can negate his slightly tricky draw, then he must go close.

★★★★☆

6.50 Wolverhampton Dance On The Hill 16/1

Dance on the Hill came from France and has not been here all that long. It is very tricky to assess the form from France but she has been placed and won. 71 is the mark the English handicapper has given her and we learn more today as to whether she is well in or not. She looks well and we look forward to getting her on the track. 

★★★☆☆

Malcom Jefferson

3:25 Newcastle Mayo Star 5/1

Mayo Star joined us this season from Kevin Ryan and has previously ran twice in bumpers. His first run was good but he looked unsuited by Kelso. He is a big tall horse and we probably won’t see the best of him until he sees obstacles but we wanted to get a run into him and the course will suit. Like most bumpers there are horses who could be something in there but we will be delighted if he runs well.

★★★★☆

Nigel Twiston-Davies

12.55 Cheltenham- Astracad 4/1
Hasn't been out since early May and goes well fresh and usually goes well here. Looks to be on a good mark of 131 considering he won from a pound higher just over a year ago. Arguably is best trip today too so looks set for a good run and be right there in the mix. Jamie Bargary takes off 3lbs.
★★★★☆
2.05 Cheltenham- Flying Angel 10/1
Won comfortably at Perth two outings ago, his Chase debut, before falling two out at Chepstow last time. Over a similar trip here, he should be right there where it matters provided his jumping holds and looks to be good each way value. Ryan Hatch aboard.
★★★☆☆
2.40 Cheltenham- Wholestone 5/1
Has three wins from five outings to his credit including his debut bumper and last two novice hurdles, the last here at Cheltenham. He meets the second that day on three pounds worse terms for 1/2 length but this trip is 3f shorter and with improvement to come has every chance of completing the hattrick. Daryl Jacob rides and a good run expected.
★★★★☆