Cheltenham: three more top races

The other three races are also extemely competitive, and the 3 mile handicap chase at 15.40 CET sees Paul Nicholls´ Star de Mohaison (Ruby Walsh) with top-weight. His rating his suggests that he is almost good enough for the Gold Cup, but his trainer has 3 better horses in the yard for Fridays big race. It would certainly be an outstanding performance to score off this weight, and we prefer course specialist Wichita Linesman (Jonjo O´Neill/ Tony McCoy), with French raider Millennium Royale (Francois Doumen/ Barry Keniry) the main danger. Best of the Irish should be Cailin Ailann Charlie Byrnes/ Davy Russell), an eay winner last time but whi has fallen on both his previous starts here. TRhe cross country, a handcap over 3 miles 7 furlongs at 17.00, has been dominated by Irish trainer Enda Bolger and he can take this event for the 4th time in 5 years. However he sets a problem by running 4 horses, all in the colours if JP McManus. Garde Champetre (Nina Carberry) is a course spe cialkist who won this last year and scored again here in December, always with this talente rider in the saddle, but it is not clear that he can condede weight to L´Ami (John McNamara), while Drombeag (Robbie Power) and Heads onthe Ground (Paul Carberry) are certainly not out of it with their light weights. Finally there could be a vuctory for German breeding in the mares hurdle over 2 1/2 miles at 17.40, where United (Lucy Wadham/ Dominic Elsworth) is clearly one for the short list, along with Quevega (Willie Mullins/ Ruby Walsh), Gaspara (David Pipe/ Tom Scudamore) and Caroles Legacy (Nicky Henderson/ Tony McCoy). Their task has been easier by the decision to run last years winner Whiteoak (Donald McCain/ Jason Maguire) in the Champion Hurdle, where, with all due respect , she seems unlikely to improve the poor record of mares in that championship event.