Rest of Cheltenham

After yesterday´s shock results, anything seems possible today, bu we hope to find a winner or two. The TRiumph Hurdle for 4yo´s, which opens proceedings at 14.30 CET, is traditionally a race whiuch produces some surprises, but three horses seem to stand out: Far West (Paul Nicholls/ Ruby Walsh), Rolling Star (Nicky Henderson/ Barry Geraghty) and Our Conor (Dessie Hughes/ Bryan Cooper), all of them unbeaten over hurdles.

There is no way of comparing the form, but we think it is time for an Irish winner here and narrowly prefer Our Conor. The Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle over 3 miles at 15.40 also has several serial winners in the line-up, including At Fishers Cross (Rebecca Curtis/ Tony McCoy), who outstayed Wednesday´s impressive winner The New One here last time out, ex-French Utopie des Bordes (Henderson/ Geraghty) and African Gold (from the in-form team of Nigel and Sam Twiston-Davies). With the Irish form working out so well, we just prefer Ballycasey (Willie Mullins/ Walsh).

There could be another Irish winner in the Foxhunters at 17.00, where Rofdger and Colman Sweeney´s Salsify is favourite to repeat his success of last year. Another Irish traider Backstage (Gordon Elliott/ Jamie Codd) could be the main danger, while Chapoturgeon (Richard and James Barber) - runner-up in 2012- looks best of the Brits.

The 3 handicaps are as usual ferociously difficult with maximum fields in every case. We shall take 3 against the field in each and hope for the best. In the County Hurdle at 15.05 we go for Hissabaat (Dermot Weld/ Michael Nolan), Punjabi (Henderson/ Geraghty - and winner of the 2009 Champion Hurdle here!) and Il Fenomeno (Noel Meade/ Paul Carberry). David Pipe would obviousy like to win the race named after his father at 17.40, so Gevrey Chambertin (Tom Bellamy) goes on the short list together with Double Ross (Twiston-Davies/ Adam Wedge) and First Avenue (Laura Mongan/ Nathan Adams), going for a big bonus. Nicky Henderson launches a strong challenge in the race named after his father at 18.15; he has 6 runners, of which French Opera with stable jockey Geraghty and top-weight Petit Robin (Nico de Boinville), who has mainly been racing over hurdles but is also pretty smart over fences, could be the best. If another trainer is to claim this prize, it might be Tom George with R ody (Paddy Brennan).

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Our Conor - Far West - Rolling Star
2. Race: Cotton Mill - Tennis Cap - Ifandbutwhynot
3. Race: At Fishers Cross - African Gold - Utopie Des Bordes
4. Race: Bobs Worth - Sir Des Champs - Silviniaco Conti
5. Race: Salsify - Chapoturgeon - Cottage Oak
6. Race: Gevrey Chambertin - Edeymi - Ma Filleule
7. Race: Alderwood - Ulck du Lin - Kid Cassidy