I’ve seen him have multiple winners on a card before and I can see him doing it again on Saturday. I honestly think that Gordon [Elliott] will have five winners or at least go very close.
In the opener, I thought Cougar was good the last day, but he'll find it very tough to give weight to Old Victoria SP (12:53), a son of Doctor Dino who has a good reputation from France. If they were racing off level weights you’d side the horse with recent experience, but the fact Gordon’s get so much from the top horse.
Foxfire Glow SP (13:23) is another really interesting recruit from France. He was bought for €315,000 from the Arcana sale year and has been given plenty of time by his trainer. It doesn’t look the strongest of maiden hurdles, so he might have just been found a nice starting point. It could be a quickfire double for Gordon.
The best race on the card is the Grade 1 Champion Chase and you’d have to think that Galvin 1/1 (14:32) is going to be so tough to beat. Obviously, he’s had the benefit of a run and comes here in grand form. His connections have said that his is Gold Cup, whereas his other rivals will be seeing this as a starting point for their seasons. It would be good to see Envoi Allen return to something of his former self. He didn’t live up to the hype last season, but maybe this longer trip might suit him now he’s older.
Due to the fact he’s got a great record when fresh, I’m siding with Fury Road SP (15:07), to give Gordon another winner. I think Delvino needs to improve a stone or more and Fighter Allen needs to improve the best part of half a stone to beat these. So of the other two in the field, Fury Road’s record after a break has made me stick with him.
Take nothing away from Gavin’s (Cromwell) Vanillier. He’s a proper horse but I wasn’t too impressed with him over fences last season and think he might just take some revving up.
The eagle-eyed among you will notice that King of Kingsfield SP (16:10) has been really well supported for the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham this week. He’s going to have to be winning to live up to that hype, but the word is that he’s good and that could cap of what could be an unbelievable weekend for team at Cullentra.
Over in England, I’d like to see Jacamar 15/2 run well in the Grand Sefton (14:11) at Aintree. His jumping was a mixed bag last season, but he won a good race at Kempton over Christmas and I wonder if the Grand National fences might suit him better than the standard fences. He was fourth on his comeback but his stable are going great guns and that would have put him spot on for this.
Sceau Royal 11/10 (15:00 Wincanton) bids for another win in the Elite Hurdle and although, like all of us, he’s not getting any younger, he gets his conditions, so I’d love to see him win for the third year in a row and the fourth time in total. He’s been a total start for Alan King; he must be a real joy to own and train.
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