Cheltenham: County Hurdle, Foxhunters and Albert Bartlett

The Vincent O´Brien handicap hurdle over 2 miles 1 furlong is one of the biggest betting races of the meeting and used to be run as the lastrace, but today it is being staged as the second race at 15.05 CET with 28 runners. Nocky Hemnderson´s Dave´s Dream (Barry Geraghty) is almost certain to start favourite wfter winninmg te Imperial Cup last saturday, which puts him in line for a big bonus should he score today. As he has been raised 13 lbs for that win a today must only carry a 5 lbs penalty he is officially 8lbs "well in", but the race bristles with dangers, among them Sunnyhillby (Jonjo O´Neill/ Tony McCoy), who has won his last 3 races, Aachen (Venetia Williams/ Sam Thomas) -still unbeaten- Group captain (Hugh Collingridge/ Richie Killoran) and Cockney Trucker (Philip Hobbs/ Richard Johnson). The Albert Bartlett hurdle 35 minutes later is for novices over 3 miles. Preode of Dulcote (Paul Nicholls/ Ruby Walsh) could start favourite, but strangely enough he has never comp leted in 3 starts with Walsh in the saddle. This could be coincidence but it sill reduces confidence. Cape Triubulation (Malcome Jefferson/ Phil Kinsella) has won 4 of his 5 starts and left several of these opponents behind him when winning last time at Concaster., However it is worth remembering that On Raglan Road (Howard Johnson/ Denis O´Regan) was hot favourite then and still in contention when falling 3 out. The Foxhunters Chase over the Gold Cup course at is another race frequently won by outsiders. Todays field of 24 includes two past winners in Kingscliff in 2003 (!) and German-bred Amicelli last year, but our main ancy is Juveigneur (E O´Sullivan/ John McNamara), a smart handicapper when trained by Henderson and now a leading point-to-pointer in Ireland.