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Eoin Lambert, Dublin: What sort of ground are you hoping to get for Detroit City and Fair Along? Richard Johnson: Both horses would like good or good to soft ideally but they have managed to win on soft. The Old Course has not been used since November so it will be fairly fresh ground on the first day and they are the second and third races. They will handle it but hopefully it will dry a small bit and that would be slightly nicer. John Kelly: What are their biggest dangers? RJ: I think My Way De Solzen and Don't Push It for Fair Along as both are very talented. They are suited by a bit further but the testing ground cetainly brings them into contention. I am hoping that My Way De Solzen goes for the Ryanair Chase - that would be a big plus for us. In the Champion Hurdle, I have been impressed with Hardy Eustace all year and he and Brave Inca look the two to beat. Nigel O'Brien: There are plenty of front runners in the Arkle, are you worried about getting into a battle up front? RJ: When he won at Sandown he was upsides My Way De Solzen all the way down the back straight and up the home straight so I think that he has settled down a little more than last year. The fences make him have a look and stop him rushing along quite so much so it is not a big concern. It would be nice to get an easy lead and go from there but he does not have to be out on his own and he has grown up and uses his head - that has been shown on his three runs over fences. If conditions are testing, I don't think any of us will want to go too quickly as we won't get home. Iain R Wilson, Ashford: Do You think that Detroit City might find things happening a bit too quickly in the Champion Hurdle? RJ: If you had asked me that question last year I would have said 'yes'. But whether he has just strengthened up or become better in himself I don't know but this season he is a lot sharper and alert. In the Triumph last year I got outpaced down the back straight but he still does prefer slightly better ground. That said, the slower the going the more it will bring his stamina into play - and he does have that in abundance. He should not have a problem with the pace of the race. Paul Wainwright: What are your thoughts about his win over Hardy Eustace at Cheltenham before Christmas? RJ: It was a funny race with only four runners and we wanted a more-strongly run event. But it was very bad conditions that day and we didn't want to bottom Detroit City. It was proabably the same for Hardy Eustace, we didn't go very quickly and just raced from the top of the hill. In a way, it showed how much Detroit City has come on as I always thought he would need a real test of stamina to win but he quickened up well down the hill and perhaps just idled on the run to the last as Hardy Eustace stayed on again to finish close up behind him. I was very pleased with him that day so hopefully a strongly-run race will suit even better. I would like to sit second or third so he doesn't have to do his own donkey work. Paul A. Taylor: Do you think that Brave Inca is as good as he was last year? RJ: It is very hard for me to tell as we don't see an awful lot of him over here - he comes to England just for Cheltenham. He looks a very good, tough horse again and thrives on a race like the Champion Hurdle so remains one of the main rivals to beat. There is no reason why he won't be as good as he was 12 months ago. Graham Sewell, London: After winning a Triumph Hurdle on Detroit City in 2006, how would you rate Liberate's chances in comparison this time around? RJ: I think he has a fantastic chance. I think he's the second top-rated juvenile to have run over here at the moment. He was giving weight all around when he just got beaten at Kempton over Christmas and I think this stiffer track will suit him. Unfortunately, he is definitely a good-ground horse and will struggle on the soft - that is the major negative. If it was genuinely good ground, he would definitely be one of my best rides of the week. Peter Hawney: If the ground is on the soft side, how would you rate Mighty Man's chance in the World Hurdle? RJ: Again, I would prefer it to be good going as he likes to bounce off the ground. He won't be in love with it - I rode him in some exercise around Bangor after racing on Sunday - it was basically a canter round rather than some work. He will handle soft ground but is a much better horse on decent ground and you need everything in your favour to be winning a World Hurdle at the Festival. Who would you see as the likely winner if conditions are soft underfoot? RJ: For me, Blazing Bailey is the one horse who will certainly cope. His juvenile form from last year is very strong and has done little wrong this season. Paddy@Riverford: Do you like the chances of Massini's Maguire at the Festival? RJ: To be fair, he's just a little a bit of a funny character and it can be tricky to predict what sort of form he might turn up in. When he beat Wichita Lineman he was great but then found very little next time a Newbury and was very disappointing. But then he was a good third back a Cheltenham again so is frustrating as he never seems to run two races alike. He goes in the Ballymore Properties Hurdle and I reckon he has still got a great each-way chance. When he does get it right on the day, it takes a good one to beat him. Jason Sharp: If you had the choice of a mount from any other stable than the ones you are involved with, what would it be? RJ: I think David Pipe's Well Chief. He won so well at Newbury, did it easily and did not have a hard race. He was an exceptional five-year-old when he won the Arkle and then the following season when he was up against the likes of Moscow Flyer and Azertyuiop. That form is far superior to the two-mile chasers just at the moment where the likes of Voy Por Ustedes still have it to prove while Well Chief has it in the book. He seems to be in fantastic order and will take all the beating in the Champion Chase. Mark Rowbottom: Which do you think is the toughest race to win at the Festival RJ: Races like the County Hurdle need a lot of luck as you not only have to be on the right horse but also have to try and not get knocked over or hampered. A lot of the bends, particularly at the top of the hill, are very sharp and you sometimes just can't get a run when you want it. You can finish second or third and feel very frustrated and it is not necessarily anyone's fault. The horse has run well but you just haven't had the perfect run round. John O'Riordan: What would be your best chance of a win in one of the handicaps? RJ: Despite what I said above, my best chance at the moment looks to Fair Along in the County Hurdle. As long as he comes out of the Arkle on Tuesday okay, then the plan is to run him on Friday. He has only got 10-7 and I think that weights are going to stay the same as topweight Desert Quest looks likely to run. He has a got a fantastic chance judged on his hurdle form last year and does look really well handicapped if he runs up to his Triumph form.
Simon Clark: If the ground is soft do you see an upset in the Gold Cup or is Kauto Star still the one to be on?
RJ: I don't think Kauto Star will win on heavy ground. I think the going will be very testing by Friday on the Gold Cup course and I think he is far too classy to get three-and-quarter miles in a slog.
That would be my big worry - I think he is a very short price so I would look to something each-way at bigger odds.
Jack Allison: What is your best Festival memory?
RJ: Without doubt riding Anzum to win the Stayers' Hurdle. It was my first Festival winner so was very special as it had taken me three or four seasons to get off the mark there. It was for my old boss David Nicholson, who got me going and without him I would not be where I am today so it was my best Festival moment and probably of my career.
James Loton: What do you consider to be your best ever ride?
RJ: Probably Anzum again. I was a bit keen at the time and we got an awful long way behind but perseverence paid off.
James Loton: Finally, what is the best horse you have ridden?
RJ: I would have to say Looks Like Trouble. He was fantastic and had everything but unfortunately injury stopped him from challenging for more Gold Cups while he was still at the top of his game.
