01/01/17 Straight From The Trainers Mouth

Willie Mullins

12.20 Fairyhouse Cest Jersey 5/4

C’est Jersey (Ruby) runs in the 2m 4f maiden hurdle. He was second at Navan three weeks ago over 2 miles and we are hoping that he will improve over this longer trip. It is a hot enough race but we are hoping that he will have improved enough to go close.

★★★★★

12.55 Fairyhouse Bargy Lady 11/2

Bargy Lady (Ruby) goes for the 2 mile mares’ maiden hurdle. She finished fourth on her hurdling debut at Wexford in November and we are expecting her to improve on that today. It looks a competitive contest but we are hoping for a good run.

★★★★☆

2.40 Fairyhouse Arbre De Vie 6/4

Arbre De Vie (Ruby) runs in the 2m 5f beginners chase. His previous experience over fences will stand to him here. The trip will suit and he should be involved at the business end. Balko Des Flos looks the one to beat.

★★★★☆

3.45 Fairyhouse Next Destination 15/8

Next Destination (Patrick) has his first run for us in the bumper. He is a nice type who has won a point to point. This track will suit and he is fit and well and ready to start off.

★★★★☆

Nicky Henderson

12.15 Cheltenham Baden 4/1

I’ve always thought quite a lot of this horse and he’s running back at Cheltenham for perfectly legitimate reasons. He wasn’t earth-shatteringly impressive when winning at Wetherby the other day, I must admit, but he keeps coming along nicely and deserves his place in the lineup.

★★★★☆

12.50 Cheltenham Vyta Du Roc 8/1

skipped the Welsh National as it was always going to be difficult to beat Native River as he was so well Handicapped. We’ve been dropped a couple of pounds so we thought we might as well come here and be in with a decent chance. We have put a tongue tie on which may help him a little bit as well. He ran a very good race in the Hennessy and is in good form at home, therefore, I’d like to think this is a sort of contest that he should be competitive in. 

★★★★☆

1.25 Cheltenham Whisper 5/2

Was very good at Cheltenham on his first run back and I’d love to see him string two races together so we know that he really has come back to his best. He schooled yesterday and was very good and everything has been A1. He seems in very good form and must go there with a terrific shout as I think he has certainly come on plenty fitness-wise.

★★★★☆

1.25 Cheltenham O O Seven 3/1

Was very disappointing at Doncaster and I know not why. He didn’t jump with any zest and to be honest he didn’t do anything with any zest so I’m putting it down to an off day. Since then, though, I’ve been very pleased with him at home and I cannot see any reason why he shouldn’t run well. He’s won over the course and distance (albeit on the other track) but he knows the hill well! There shouldn’t be any excuses.

★★★★☆

1.35 Catterick Premier Bond 3/1

He ran ok behind Might Bite last time and should go well but needs to improve a bit. That said, he’s in great shape at home.  

★★★☆☆

2.00 Cheltenham Vaniteux 4/1

He is quite frustrating in the fact that it’s difficult to work out his best trip so we’re going right back up in trip again to 2m5f and I hope it is the right decision. It’s a real quandary with him as every jockey that rides him comes back in and says he wants further so we step him up and then they say he needs dropping down so we’re in no mans’ land really! He wants burying away, putting to sleep and ridden like he’s the best horse in the race, I think. He has lots of ability and will bag a decent prize before long, you mark my words. 

★★★☆☆

3.10 Cheltenham Protek Des Flos 12/1

He will probably struggle to be top class over the big ones at this stage so we thought we might as well have some fun over the small ones before going back chasing. If I was to have a small concern about this race it would be the ground as he likes to get his toe in so won’t want it to be too quick. He just loves it when there’s plenty of cut.

★★★☆☆

3.10 Cheltenham Lami Serge 5/1

He was jumping left handed over fences so I just want to see if he’ll find it a little bit easier over timber. He hasn’t run over hurdles since finishing placed in the Supreme behind Douvan in 2014 so we are in no doubt he has the talent. The trip is a bit of an unknown but it’s worth a go and I’m quietly confident of his credentials here. 

★★★★☆

3.40 Cheltenham Daphne Du Clos 6/1

I like her. She won her bumper in France and goes very well. We don’t know what the competition is like but we know how good ours is 

★★★★☆

Davy Russell

12.15 Cheltenham Joe Farrell 12/1

He was an impressive winner of his maiden hurdle at Ffos Las back in November before slightly disappointing last time on softer ground at Newbury. Hopefully, the combination of a little break and some better ground will help him in what looks a very competitive race.

★★★☆☆

12.50 Cheltenham Racing Pulse 16/1

I ride another for Rebecca Curtis in the staying handicap chase (12.50pm) in the shape of Racing Pulse who was brought down in the melee here back in November. In fact, since winning impressively at Chepstow in January, Racing Pulse has form figures of P-0-P-U-BD so could do with a change of luck.

★★☆☆☆

1.25 Cheltenham Whisper 5/2

Whisper gave me a real nice feel when winning here at the last meeting and that will have done his confidence the world of good.

I’m really looking forward to getting back on him here.This won’t be an easy task though as he was penalised for that win, meaning he has to carry 5lbs more than the likes of Clan Des Obeaux.

★★★★☆

2.00 Cheltenham Top Gamble 7/1

This won’t be easy off top weight and he loves soft ground so could do with a bit of rain. He is now 6lbs higher than when finishing third in this race 12 months ago, but he has won two Grade Two prizes since then. The likes of Village Vic and Vaniteux will be hard to beat.

★★★☆☆

Richard Johnson

12.50 Cheltenham Lamb Or Cod 11/2

Lamb Or Cod won really well at Chepstow last time and the good ground is perfect for him in the long distance handicap chase (12.50pm). He has always wanted a sound surface and has won round the track before. He should have a good chance, but it is a very open race.

★★★★☆

2.00 Cheltenham Village Vic 6/1

Village Vic won this race 12 months ago (2.00pm) and he has come out of his last run really well. We all know about him now. He loves the track and should put up another bold display. I definitely think this race is less competitive than his last two, so if he can run up to those performances he shouldn’t be far away. As De Mee was a very good winner at Aintree last time. That form looks decent and he is definitely one of the main dangers.

★★★★☆

2.35 Cheltenham Fingal Bay 12/1

Fingal Bay has been disappointing this season, but hopefully he can bounce back in the handicap hurdle (2.35pm). He has been dropped a few more pounds in the handicap and if he could find his old form he will be very hard to beat. He seems fine at home and if you had stopped the race at the end of the back straight last time at Sandown, you would have thought he was travelling the best.

★★★★☆

3.40 Cheltenham Shearling 11/2

My final ride of the day is Shearling for Brian Ellison in the bumper (3.40pm). She’s won two bumpers so she must be pretty smart.

She also gets the mares' allowance which helps. Brian wouldn’t be bringing her down if he didn’t think she could hope. She should have a good chance.

★★★★☆

Paul Nicholls

12.40 Exeter Touch Kick 7/1

Has been too keen for his own good in his first two races over hurdles so we are trying him in a hood to help him relax. It seems to work on him at home so we hope it will help him take a step forward at Exeter. There is no doubt that Touch Kick has the ability to win races but he won't do it with the choke fully out.

★★★☆☆

12.50 Cheltenham Arpege Dalene 7/1

Shapes like a thorough stayer and kept on all the way to the line last time to finish a creditable second to the smart Singlefarmpayment at Cheltenham just over three weeks ago.

I swerved the Coral Welsh National with him because he prefers the better ground he should get here at Cheltenham.

I expect him to go very well and am already thinking he could be just the right type for the Scottish National over four miles at Ayr in April.

★★★★☆

1.15 Exeter Far West 10/1

Very smart on his day, he missed the whole of last season with a tendon injury. While he has done well and has been showing plenty of zest in his work I suspect he will improve for the run.

★★★☆☆

1.15 Exeter Capeland 9/4

Has been progressive for us winning both his bumpers including the Listed one at Cheltenham 12 months ago. He ran very well on his debut over hurdles when he was a bit unlucky before winning snuggly next time at Newton Abbot. Capeland was entered at Kempton over Christmas but I felt the longer trip and stiffer track at Exeter together with softer ground should suit him better. He has been given a workable mark of 122 and should go well.

★★★★☆

1.25 Cheltenham Clan Des Obeaux 5/4

I think the world of this horse and you could see why after he put in a faultless display last time at Newbury on his second start over fences. Sean Bowen was blown away by the way he travelled and jumped against decent opposition. While Clan Des Obeaux continues to thrive at home I would like to see plenty of rain for him ahead of this race. But he will run provided the ground is safe.

★★★★☆

2.00 Cheltenham As De Mee 9/2

Put in a brilliant, career best performance last time over the National fences at Aintree, jumping boldly among the leaders and keeping on willingly to win with something to spare. That was in marked contrast to his previous effort at Cheltenham when he was always struggling in the rear. Aintree showed that he wants riding positively so that is what Sean Bowen will set out to do. Although this looks extremely competitive As de Mee will relish the good ground and remains in good form so he is definitely in with a chance.

★★★★☆

2.35 Cheltenham Rainy City 7/1

The faster the ground the better for Rainy City who has had a busy time, winning twice in the summer and will have a break after this ahead of a spring campaign. Any rain that falls at Cheltenham would be a negative for him. If he shows he gets this three mile trip well we could bring him back for the Pertemps final at the Festival.

★★★☆☆

3.10 Cheltenham Adrien Du Pont 12/1

In contrast I'd like to see some rain for Adrien Du Pont who showed last time in a valuable Grade 1 race at Auteuil that he is suited by this sort of trip. This is a proper horse who wasn't beaten far in third place that day. Like a few of my nicer young horses he is marking time until he goes over fences next season. If I think conditions are too quick for him I could pull him out.

★★★☆☆

3.10 Cheltenham Old Guard 8/1

Ran a lot better last time at Cheltenham when third to The New One after getting stuck in the mud at Haydock on his return to hurdles. The likely good ground here will suit him very well and I'd say he is crying out for this step up to two and a half miles at a course where he excels.

★★★★☆

3.40 Cheltenham Dynamite Dollars 14/1

A lovely prospect who ran very well on his debut for us in a muddling race where they went no gallop before it turned into a sprint. While that didn't suit him he has improved enormously for that run. This looks competitive enough which you would expect given the prize money but he has a chance.

★★★☆☆

Gordon Elliott

12.20 Fairyhouse Woods Well 5/2

He ran well on his first start over hurdles at Cork and he should be better for that run. It looks like another good maiden hurdle and you'd have to be afraid of Willie Mullins's C'est Jersey who was second in a good maiden hurdle at Navan the last day. Our lad is fit and well, and he'll love the soft ground so I'd give him a solid each way chance.

★★★☆☆

12.30 Tramore Broughtons Star 9/4

He's making a quick reappearance after he was only beaten by half a length up at Down Royal on St Stephen's Day. It is a quick turnaround for him but he came out of the race okay and we're hoping to cash in on the good form he's been in lately. The ground and trip will be fine for him and he has another good chance.

★★★★☆

12.55 Fairyhouse Monastery 5/1

She's schooling well at home and while she will probably learn a lot for this experience of jumping hurdles for the first time, she is as fit as I can have her at home. She did it well in her bumper win at Limerick, staying on nicely under Lisa O'Neill. I'd be fairly hopeful she can run well and she'd be the pick of my two in this race.

★★★☆☆

12.55 Fairyhouse Synopsis 16/1

He was a decent horse on the Flat for Ger Lyons and this is his first start over hurdles. We're looking forward to starting him but he's likely to need the race and this will be his first real experience of jumping hurdles, so it will be a learning curve for him.

★★☆☆☆

1.05 Tramore Berry Des Aulmes 9/4

He ran well over this course and distance last time out and I think if he runs to that sort of level again he'll have a good chance of winning. It was good to see him get back into form after a couple of poor runs and I think this sort of trip suits him. Course form around Tramore is always a plus.

★★★★☆

1.05 Tramore Monchengladbach 20/1

He was very disappointing at Navan and he'll obviously have to improve a great deal to get involved here. We're hoping the step up in trip will suit him.

★★☆☆☆

1.40 Tramore Dawerann 7/2

He ran well for our racing club at Leopardstown on St Stephen's Day and similarly to Broughtons Star, he's in really good form so we're happy to let him go again so soon. He's been good fun for the owners and he should have no problem coming up to this sort of trip. If he ran to the form of Leopardstown run, he'd likely be the one to beat.

★★★★☆

2.05 Fairyhouse Sutton Manor 2/1

I think the step up to this 3m trip will suit him and the ground should be fine for him as well. He did it nicely at Wexford the last day although that probably wasn't the strongest race in the world. He's taken a while to come to himself but he's in good form and I'd give him another good chance of winning here in what looks like another winnable race.

★★★★★

2.15 Tramore Roi Des Francs 5/2

We've had this race in mind for him for a while and we're looking forward to running him. He ran a cracker first time out at Thurles when trying to give away weight to two classy horses in Champagne Fever and Lord Windermere. Hopefully that race will have brought him on and if it has, he should go close with Jack Kennedy taking the ride.

★★★★☆

2.15 Tramore Clarcam 5/1

He's just a difficult to place at the moment but we're happy for him to go here as there is good prize money on offer. He would probably want better ground but he wasn't too far away from Alelchi Iniois in the Clonmel Oil Chase last month so it wouldn't surprise me if he got involved in the finish again.

★★★☆☆

2.40 Fairyhouse Fagan 100/30

He is a horse we like a lot and he ran a cracker to finish second to Unowhatimeanharry in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham last season. We missed a bit of work with him through the middle part of the season so that's why he's been delayed coming back. He'll probably need the run as he hasn't been in a race since April but he's in good form and we're really happy with him.

★★★☆☆

3.15 Fairyhouse Riverside City 12/1

He ran well on his previous run at this track when the ground probably wasn't soft enough for him. The ground he's likely to get here should suit him and he will be suited by the trip as well. He won the Troytown Chase for us last year and we're hoping he can return to that sort of form.

★★★☆☆

3.45 Fairyhouse Gers Lad 7/2

He's a nice horse that we're looking forward to starting off here in a bumper. Willie Mullins's horse Next Destination might be the one to beat but Ger's Lad should run well and learn plenty from the experience.

★★★★☆

Tom Scudamore

12.50 Cheltenham Doctor Harper 14/1

He’s going to win a nice race one of these days. It will fall right for him. He ran better than his finishing position suggests last time at Cheltenham. He didn’t quite get home that day in the ground. At some point it will all fall right. There’s a nice race in this fellow and he’s worth persevering with. It’s a couple of furlongs shorter than last time and I think that will suit him. He travelled and jumped well for a long way last time. He’s a horse with a lot of potential that hasn’t yet been fulfilled.

★★★☆☆

2.00 Cheltenham Tenor Nivernais 10/1

He’s been a great servant for Venetia Williams. If the rain comes he would have a good chance. He does seem to be better on soft ground. He will run another solid race regardless as he is a consistent performer.

★★★★☆ (if rain comes)

3.40 Cheltenham Sweeping Beauty 25/1

Sweeping Beauty. I haven’t ridden for Mark for quite some time. I always enjoy riding for him. It’s probably got to improve a bit on his firm to date to win this.

★★☆☆☆

Dan Skelton

12.30 Musselburgh Does It In Style 6/1

Does It In Style is quite a nice horse. He was travelling well the other day but got brought down on the bend and is lucky to escape unscathed because it was one hell of a crash. He probably just needs to get some confidence back after that, and that is the priority first and foremost. We want to see a clear round with him.

★★★☆☆

1.40 Musselburgh Pain Au Chocolat 13/2

He probably had an impossible task last time trying to beat Cloudy Dream giving him weight, but I think this trip is good for him. He will like the better ground and I expect him to be competitive here.

★★★☆☆

1.55 Fakenham Djarkalin 5/4

I think Djarkalin probably has a favourite’s chance in this. He’s been second three times and just keeps bumping into one. He probably just made things difficult for himself last time by wiggling around at Ludlow but he’s got an obvious chance in this.

★★★★☆

2.10 Catterick The Bay Oak 6/4

I think The Bay Oak has a great chance in this. Valadom has a high chase rating and they are trying a novice hurdle with him so he’s clearly a danger, but I think we have a good chance of beating him. He’ll be fine with the small field, he stays this trip and I think he’ll go well.

★★★★★

2.50 Musselburgh Superb Story 13/2

He had three great runs last term and then it was a bit of a disaster at Galway. I’m really happy with him and looking forward to running him. He’s won around the track and I’m hoping that this puts us back on track for the season ahead.

★★★★☆