10/12/16 Straight From The Trainers Mouth

Nicky Henderson

12.05 Cheltenham Domperignon Du Lys 3/1

won nicely at Newcastle last time and one thing I do expect is that he would have come on a lot for it. It looks a good race with Defi Du Seuil in the line up who was very impressive at the course last time and I was hoping to avoid him but someone has got to take him on so we’re in it and we’ll see how we fare, but he’s all good to go and should run a nice race. To be honest I’m not quite sure he’s up to winning, or even running, in the Triumph Hurdle as there is a lot of water to go under the bridge between now and then, and I have a few more juveniles to get out so time will tell how high up the pecking order he becomes.

★★★★☆

12.40 Cheltenham Different Gravey 11/8

was very good at Ascot when making a winning chase debut and I think the trip and ground are both good so you’d have to be hopeful that he can build on that. He was pretty straight enough to do what he did at Ascot but it was his first run so I’m sure will have come on for it a little bit too. I’ve always loved this horse and everything he did over hurdles was a bonus. Chasing is his game and hopefully he can end up very good over the larger obstacles.

★★★★☆

12.40 Cheltenham Whisper 2/1

has already had a run over fences a while ago when he was second at Exeter and we’re just trying to get back to the WHISPER of old. He’s schooled well at home and while he’s not the most flashy in his work, I’ve been perfectly happy with him. I can’t really tell you why he’s been a little disappointing of late but we need to get him started and so we’re having a go at this as the owner was keen to run here which is fine by me. I have to admit I do think he’s a lot sharper over a fence now than he was when we schooled him a couple of years ago.

★★★★☆

1.15 Cheltenham Vaniteux 3/1

is something of an enigma but does possess plenty of talent and it’s the the trip which is always a big question mark as he looks like wanting further when we go 2m, and then doesn’t appear to stay when we step him up. Hopefully the stiff 2m here, where he arguably ran his best race in the Arkle, albeit unseating, will be right up his street! He was flat out when chasing Douvan in that race, which no other horse was able to do, so without him to contend with this could be ideal for him.

★★★★☆

2.40 Doncaster O O Seven 8/15

I had O O SEVEN entered up at Cheltenham but it makes sense to go to Doncaster and I’ve been very pleased with him since his winning chase debut at the Open meeting. For a Grade 2 this looks like a very good race and extremely competitive but he likes good ground, which he’s got here so there are plenty of things in his favour. He won over three miles at Musselburgh last season over hurdles so I’m not too concerned about the trip. He does have to prove he can stay that far over fences. I was going to go to the Feltham on Boxing Day but it’s looking like Thistlecrack will run in that, although I hear they are also considering the King George so who knows! He’s done plenty of schooling since Cheltenham and I am extremely happy with his condition leading into today’s race.

★★★★☆

3.00 Cheltenham My Tent Or Yours 11/8

has come out Haydock well in what was a very messy race but I liked the way he travelled throughout before he just got bogged down on the very soft ground which he wouldn’t have liked, but we had to get him started somewhere so he would be ready for this race. There are no excuses at all here though as he receives weight all round, has his ground (as long as it doesn’t pour over night) so he has to bounce back and prove that he can do it again. Put it this way, if any horse deserves to win at Cheltenham, it’s him; he’s been second in three Grade Ones at the Festival, including two StanJames.com Champion Hurdle’s! But it’s a good race and one must never underestimate anything, particularly The New One and Old Guard who are previous winners of this prize.

★★★★☆

Daryl Jacobs

12.05 Cheltenham Domperignon Du Lys 3/1

I'm really looking forward to riding Domperignon Du Lys in the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday. He did it very nicely on his British debut at Newcastle and, while it was a bit of a muddling race, visually he was very impressive. Clearly Saturday represents a step up in class and Defi Du Seuil was very impressive when winning at the course last time. Going up against him will give us a fair idea of where we stand and where we should be aiming. My fellow will be fine on the ground here, in fact I think he wants good going.

★★★★☆

1.50 Cheltenham Kings Odyssey 12/1

Kings Odyssey is a great spare to pick up in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup. I'll speak to Paul Moloney about him and watch a lot of videos but he's a course and distance winner and Evan Williams is sure to have him cherry ripe for the big day.

★★★☆☆

2.25 Cheltenham Wholestone 5/2

I can't wait to ride Wholestone in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle. Obviously we already have plenty of form with West Approach and I think the step up to three miles is very much in my horse's favour. He's improving all the time, getting better with every run, and I'm sure he'll run a very big race.

★★★☆☆

3.35 Cheltenham Run Ructions Run 10/1

The closing OLBG Mares' Handicap Hurdle looks very competitive. I ride Run Ructions Run for Dr Newland whose horses continue in great form. She ran well in a Listed mares' race at Kempton last time and is another with a chance.

★★★☆☆

Paul Nicholls

1.30 Doncaster All Set To Go 11/2

Has been knocking on the door and while he is on a high enough mark now he has a chance with Harry Cobden, who has won on him before, taking off a useful 3lbs. The faster the ground, the better it dries out, the more it will suit All Set To Go who will also be suited by the flat nature of the track.

★★★★☆

1.50 Cheltenham Frodon 10/1

Was going every bit as well as Taquin Du Seuil last time until he made a bad mistake at the top of the hill which knocked all the wind out of his sails. Harry Cobden then wisely allowed him to come home in his own time. That came quickly enough after he won a race seven days earlier at Wincanton run at a searching gallop and he is in much better shape now, fresh and well and has a lovely racing weight. So Frodon has a live chance, too.

★★★☆☆

2.05 Doncaster Give Me A Copper 4/9

Is an exciting unbeaten recruit from Ireland where he won his only Point-to-Point before romping home in a bumper at Cork. We are still learning about Give Me A Copper who shapes like a smart prospect. As both his wins in Ireland came on very soft ground I was going to wait for a bit of rain for him but changed my mind when I saw this race was cutting up. We will check ground conditions at Doncaster before deciding if he runs.

★★★★☆

2.25 Cheltenham Anchor Man 4/1

Has a 4lbs penalty for winning an ordinary race nicely last time at Exeter and this is a big, big step up in class but he has to run somewhere. He came to us after showing promise in an Irish Point-to-Point on testing ground so I might think about pulling him out if the forecast rain doesn't arrive.

★★★☆☆

2.40 Doncaster Present Man 6/1

A different horse this season and has been on a bit of a roll apart from a blip early on at Wincanton. Basically he is a good, sound jumper and I loved the way he found more when challenged on the flat at Ascot last time as I'm sure he was idling in front and had more in the locker. Present Man is a progressive young horse who goes well for Jack Sherwood and will appreciate the good ground at Doncaster and the galloping track. But he does need to improve again on a career high mark of 139 having started the season on 120.

★★★☆☆

3.15 Doncaster Cliffs Of Dover 11/10

Has astounded me by his relentless progress since joining me in the autumn as a maiden on the flat with a lowly rating of 64. We gave him a well deserved break to freshen him up after winning five of his six races over hurdles in two months and, though he seems to have improved physically and is in good form, it is in the back of my mind that he might need the run now! Cliffs of Dover was raised to a new mark of 140 after bolting in at Wetherby six weeks ago and has forged a great partnership with young Harry Cobden.

If he wins here as I hope he will go for the Adonis Hurdle at Kempton and then the Triumph Hurdle.

★★★★★

3.35 Cheltenham Jessbers Dream 10/1

I am hoping for a nice drop of rain for Jessber's Dream who needs plenty of cut in the ground and has come on nicely for her first run for us at Kempton where she shaped with much promise until tiring in the closing stages. My first reaction was to bring her back in trip half a mile which I've done here as I'm far from convinced she stayed three miles that day. I only declared Jessber's Dream for this once I saw rain was forecast. She is in good form at home but I'll be checking the ground when I get to Cheltenham in the morning before letting her take her chance.

★★★☆☆

Tom Scudamore

11.55 Lingfield Chief Sittingbull 8/1

I ride Chief Sittingbull in the bumper at 11.55. I know very little about him but Emma has a good record in these races. Fortunately there don’t seem to be too many flat trainers with runners in the race. It will be interesting. Emma does well with her bumper horses, as she does with all her horses. Let’s hope this one goes well.

★★★☆☆

12.30 Lingfield Lautaret 5/1

I rode him around Lingfield the time before and I think I’ll ride him differently this time. My plan will be to challenge late on him. He’s the only four year old so gets all the allowances, and I can see him running a decent race. He ran better than his finishing position suggested last time.

★★★★☆

1.05 Lingfield Buster Thomas 9/2

He was second in a point to point and is very well related. He’s a half-brother to Shotgun Paddy who Emma has done so well with for the same connections. Let’s hope Buster Thomas is another Shotgun Paddy and maybe even better.

★★★★☆

1.40 Lingfield Alternatif 6/1

He’s been a bit disappointing and he’s come down in the weights. This is the weakest race he’s taken part in for a while, so he will have a chance, but he wouldn’t be one to trust. He handles all kinds of ground. I think the class of the race will suit him.

★★★★☆

3.25 Lingfield Bella 6/1

She holds no secrets. She either runs brilliantly or not very well at all. She seems in great form at home and David seems to have found a nice opportunity for her. She is probably my best ride of the day

★★★★☆

Davy Russell

12.40 Cheltenham Whisper 2/1

He’s not been seen since being well beaten in last season’s World Hurdle and has obviously had his fair share of problems.

I haven’t sat on him but Nicky Henderson must still feel it’s worth revisiting the bigger obstacles, having aborted his chasing career after just the one start and defeat last January.

If he retains any of the ability that saw him win a Grade One over hurdles, I’m sure he is going to be an exciting novice chaser.

★★★★☆

Richard Johnson

12.05 Cheltenham Coeur de Lion 15/2

My first ride of the day is on Coeur De Lion for Alan King in the juvenile hurdle (12.05pm). He won well on his first start over hurdles at Wetherby a few weeks ago. I know Charlie Longsdon likes his horse that finished second so hopefully the form should be decent enough. He showed a good attitude that day, staying on well, so you’d hope Cheltenham will suit him. Alan always does well with his juveniles and he wouldn’t be bringing him here if he thought he couldn’t hold his own. Philip Hobbs' Defi Du Seuil is definitely the one we all have to beat. I won on him at Ffos Las back in October and he then won well here last month. The further he went the better he looked that day. He looks like a nice horse for the future. The only concern would be the ground. He clearly loves soft ground and we don’t know how he’ll handle a quicker surface.

★★★☆☆

1.50 Cheltenham Village Vic 6/1

It’s always a pleasure to ride Village Vic (7/1) at Cheltenham and hopefully he can win the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup (1.50pm) for the second year running. He ran really well off a big weight last month. It was nice to see he can run up to his best form from his mark.

He’s a little bit higher this time, but I can’t see any reason why he won’t run another massive race. He thrived on his racing last season and it was his seasonal reappearance last time.

He’s developed into a high class horse and absolutely loves the course and the trip. Although he handles soft ground very well, I think the decent conditions will be more of a help than a hindrance. It’s much harder to concede weight in very soft ground. Everyone knows his running style. He’s enthusiastic, he jumps and gallops. Let’s hope he gets into a nice rhythm again. I certainly wouldn’t swap him for anything else. I’m riding the best horse in the race. He has the best form and everything points to him running a big race. It’s just whether there’s an improver in the field, that’s my biggest worry. I suppose Venetia Williams' horse Aso (15/2) could be the one. He was travelling well last time and if he was to come on for that, he would have a good chance.

★★★★☆

3.00 Cheltenham The New One 3/1

I’m on The New One in the International Hurdle (3.00pm). My Tent Or Yours is on a bit of a retrieval mission after Haydock where you’d have to admit that he was disappointing. He needs to improve, but he loves Cheltenham. The same can be said about my ride, though, and I wouldn’t put anyone off him. He’s been ready to go for a few weeks and has won this race a couple of times in the past. With a few question marks about the others I think The New One is very solid and will put up a good show.

★★★★☆

3.35 Cheltenham Midnight Tour 5/1

My last ride is on Midnight Tour (4/1) for Alan in the closing mares’ handicap hurdle (3.35pm). She did it well the last day. I won on her for David Loder last season and she’s since moved to Alan’s yard. It’s a shame for Wayne Hutchinson that he’s picked up an injury and misses out. Hopefully he’ll be back soon. Midnight Tour is in good form and let’s hope she can improve some more in what looks a very competitive race.

★★★★☆

Malcom Jefferson

3.35 Cheltenham Card Game 25/1

She did very well last season and we were very pleased with her second at Market Rasen on her seasonal debut. The winner hasn’t really franked the form but it looked fully tuned up for the run whereas our mare needed the run. We put a line through her last run as we didn’t expect a drop back in trip on quick ground to suit her. If the ground is genially good, or ideally they get the forecast rain, then we expect a good run from her. Jamie rides as he gets on with her very well and the extra 3lb he claims is a bonus.

★★★☆☆

David Pipe

1.40 Lingfield Alternatif 4/1

He has dropped to a reasonable mark and on the pick of his form he would have a decent chance

★★★★☆

3.25 Lingfield Bella 9/2

Bella ran a cracker when just touched off at Towcester last time but is 4lbs higher this afternoon for getting beaten.  She is a 5/1 shot and should run her usual honest race.  Conditional jockeys David Noonan and Michael Heard have also picked up some outside rides at the meeting.

★★★★☆

Mark Usher

2.15 Lingfield Spice Fair 10/1

he last won off 114 and runs off 130 so he remains, probably at his age, at the wrong end of the Handicap. This afternoon we are looking for him to run well and that he and Zac come back safe and sound on ground that should be fine for him; he remains the Stable stalwart and star!!

★☆☆☆☆

Roger Charlton

11:55 Lingfield - Tambour 3/1

Tambour is by Notnowcato and a brother to High Church who won twice for us before being sold to Australia where he was second recently in a Group 3. Tambour was ready to run last week but he proposed taget at Exeter was frosted off. He is a fine big horse who should have a good future over hurdles. I have to admit that I am a little in the dark as to the standard required to win a race of this nature, it may be hard to maintain our statics of 3 wins out of 3 runs in bumpers.

★★★★☆

Dan Skelton

11.55 Lingfield Hatcher 4/1

Hatcher is a really nice horse. I’m a bit surprised to see fourteen runners in the race. Normally they get around six or seven runners in these all-weather bumpers. It looks a strong race but our horse is a nice horse for the future. I do like him but I see him more as a jumper.

★★★☆☆

12.40 Cheltenham Zarib 25/1

Different Gravey could probably be different gravy! Whisper if he’s over his problems will also be a tough rival. Zarib jumped nicely round Towcester and he wouldn’t be he had he not. Different Gravey does set a stiff standard, but after that he could be competitive for a place

★★☆☆☆

1.15 Cheltenham Savello 16/1

He ran moderately at the November meeting. He seems in good form at home and he’s getting a bit of weight of Vaniteux which is ideal, but there are a few in there underneath him in the handicap that are younger and probably have a bit more room in their marks than him. We’re just going to go there and see how he gets on. He doesn’t owe anyone anything. Hopefully we’ll pick up a race during the season. At the end of the day he’s a ‘Saturday horse’ and he’s running on a Saturday at Cheltenham which is what it’s all about.

★★☆☆☆

2.15 Lingfield Mister Grez 6/1

He was pulled up at Haydock the other day in his first run back from an injury. I’m in the dark with him. He was never a horse that shows much at home anyway. So I don’t really know what to expect. I’d like to think that he could go and get some confidence up, and then win in January, February time, when the races aren’t as strong.

★★☆☆☆

2.25 Cheltenham No Hassle Hoff 4/1

He surprised us all a little bit with the way he won last time as at home he doesn’t show a great deal. He went to Fontwell in a moderate two runner race and was going to win on the bridle when he came down at the last. He then made amends at Hereford, but he could have beaten trees that day and we just wouldn’t know. This is obviously a much bigger test. I have a lot of respect for both West Approach and Wholestone. If you can beat one of them you can beat both of them as they are basically pound for pound the same horse. The others are in the same boat as we are, not knowing if they good enough. I do fancy our horse a bit. He’s not without a chance and West Approach and Wholestone have to give him 7lbs. He’s a definite stayer, the track will be fine, so let’s go and see what he can do.

★★★☆☆

3.00 Cheltenham Mister Miyagi 7/2

I’m really looking forward to running Mister Miyagi. I couldn’t be happier with him. We have My Tent Or Yours to beat and he gets all the allowances. We only have to give him 2lbs which is ideal. Some of the other horses have to give him 8lbs, and give us 6lbs, and I think that’s very much in our favour. If My Tent Or Yours turns up in Champion Hurdle form then we aren’t going to beat him. If he turns up in the form he showed at Haydock we could. It’s a funny old race but I’m happy with our horse.

★★★★☆

3.35 Cheltenham Debdebdeb 8/1

Debdebdeb hasn’t run since Chepstow in October. She ran a tidy race that day. They didn’t go all that hard and I wish they’d just gone faster on the day. She’s back in against other ladies here but it’s a very strong race. I didn’t expect it to be quite this strong. Our horse is not without a chance, and I’m very happy with her, but this is as competitive a mare’s handicap hurdle as you will ever see.

★★★☆☆