I’ve got some lovely rides to look forward to at Cheltenham over the next couple of days…

Saturday

Nick Williams does really well with his French imports and I ride Coo Star Sivola for him in the Triumph Hurdle Trial (12.40pm).

There are only five runners, so you couldn’t totally discount him, but the race looks pretty hot and hopefully he might grab a place.

Sausalito Sunrise (1.50pm) had a really nasty fall in Coneygree’s Feltham Novices’ Chase last Christmas and we gave him the rest of the campaign to get over a minor muscle injury.

We brought him back at Chepstow last month and he stopped pretty quickly and never really felt right at any stage.

Nothing ever came to light and I guess sometimes horses take a bit of time to get their confidence back after a heavy spill.

He schooled well on Wednesday and I’d hope we can put a line through that last run.

On his best novice form he must have a big chance, although really I’d just like to see him travel nicely, jump well and actually finish off his race.

I ride Cloud Creeper in the 2.25pm who did amazingly well at the backend of last season and is now paying the price for that.

He’s racing off a mark of 150 and the handicapper may just have hold of him at the moment.

The one big positive is that he has to be patiently ridden so in a fast run race like this, he may well be thereabouts at the end with the others coming back.

Kings Palace looks the class horse in the race and won so well at this meeting last year. He’ll stay every yard and looks the one to beat.

So Fine reappears after two years on the sidelines in the three mile handicap hurdle (3.00pm) and it would be an extraordinary training performance by Philip Hobbs to get him back to win here.

He’s a nine-year-old and has run well at Cheltenham before, but it’s a big ask and hopefully he’ll improve for the reappearance.

Charlie Longsdon holds Tjongejonge (3.35pm) in real high regard and he makes his UK debut in a competitive looking handicap hurdle.

It’s really guess work from the English handicapper and I suppose we’ll only know after Saturday whether his allotted mark of 130 is fair or not.

Charlie’s horses continue to be in great form, though, which has to be a big positive.

My best ride of the day comes in the mares’ bumper (4.05pm) where I’m on Copper Kay for Philip Hobbs.

She won her bumper at Warwick last year really well and the form has worked out well. She was impeded at Sandown when she finished fourth and would have been a lot closer with a clear run.

I was delighted with her reappearance win at Newton Abbot last month and the runner-up has been out and won since.

She is very straight forward, we haven’t seen the best of her and it will take a good mare to beat her.

Sunday

Drumlee Sunset takes his chance in the opener (1.00pm) and again faces Dan Skelton’s Mister Miyagi who beat us last time.

My fellow is a really nice straightforward horse and definitely has a chance re-opposing on 7lb better terms. If he doesn’t win on Sunday, I’m sure he’ll be winning very soon.

My best ride of the day is Garde La Victoire in the Arkle Trial (1.35pm) and we were delighted with his efforts at Uttoxeter on his chasing debut.

He has schooled nicely since and the yard couldn’t be happier with him.

He made a couple of errors early on at Uttoxeter, but I’d like to think he learnt a lot from that and he has come on plenty for the run too.

I’m on Mad Jack Mytton in the Greatwood (2.40pm) who was beaten by a well-handicapped horse of Dan Skelton’s last time who re-opposes us again.

He has realistic place claims in a wide-open 20 runner handicap hurdle. He can run a cracker and finish fifth or sixth, though.

My last ride of the weekend is Lisheen Prince (3.50pm) in the bumper who doesn’t show much at home but could easily be a different proposition on the track.

He’s got a lovely attitude and, if the forecast rain does materialise, that would only aid his cause.

Racing betting

READ: Richard Johnson: I’m amazed Coneygree isn’t favourite for the Gold Cup